The Hallowe’en quiz, and myth or fact
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The Hallowe’en quiz
1 Where does the name Halloween come from?
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All Hallows’ Eve. The name comes from All Hallows’ Eve: the evening before All Hallows’, or All Saints’, Day. Britannica
2 What is a turnip lantern called in the Isle of Man?
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A moot. In the Isle of Man the turnip lantern is a ‘moot’. To make one, cut off the top, level the bottom so it sits, hollow it out with a spoon, then draw and cut your design. Culture Vannin
3 What does “Hop! T’an Oie” mean?
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It is the Night!. In Manx, “Hop! T’an Oie” means “It is the Night!” Culture Vannin
4 In the old calendar, when did Hop tu Naa fall?
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11 November. It is celebrated on 31 October. In the old calendar it fell on 11 November, Old Hollantide Eve. Culture Vannin
5 Before turnips, what did Manx children bang on doors?
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Cabbages on sticks. Before turnips, children put cabbages on sticks and banged them on people’s doors. Culture Vannin, toolkit
6 Which of these is a traditional Manx turnip design?
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Peel Castle. Traditional Manx turnip designs include Peel Castle, witches and Manx cats, not just scary faces. Culture Vannin
7 In the story, where was Joney Lowney locked up?
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Peel Castle. In the story, Joney was found guilty of witchcraft, locked up in Peel Castle for 14 days, fined £3 and made to stand at the market cross in Castletown, Peel, Ramsey and Douglas. Culture Vannin
8 What are Hollantide fairings?
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Ginger biscuits. Today children get sweets, chocolate and sometimes money for singing. Long ago they got butter taffy, apples, bonnag and Hollantide fairings, which are ginger biscuits. Culture Vannin, toolkit
9 Which pope moved All Saints’ Day to 1 November?
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Gregory III. In the 8th century Pope Gregory III moved it to 1 November, Britannica says perhaps partly to replace pagan holidays. Britannica
10 What did a ring in an Irish báirín breac mean?
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The next to marry. The báirín breac was the traditional Irish Halloween cake. A ring baked inside meant whoever found it would be next to marry. National Museum of Ireland
11 What were carved turnips called in Scotland?
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Tumshies. In Scotland the carved turnips were ‘tumshies’, given evil faces to scare off fairies and ghosts. Historic Environment Scotland
12 When did Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF begin?
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1947. Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF began in 1947, when a teacher and her husband in Philadelphia asked children to collect spare change for UNICEF instead of sweets. Britannica
Myth or fact?
Eight statements. Some are true, some are myths.
1 Jack-o’-lanterns started out as pumpkins.
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Myth. The jack-o’-lantern began in the British Isles, where people carved large turnips or other vegetables, not pumpkins. Britannica
2 Hop tu Naa is the oldest continuously existing tradition in the Isle of Man.
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Fact. Hop tu Naa is the oldest continuously existing tradition in the Isle of Man. Culture Vannin, toolkit
3 “Hollowmass” fires were banned in Stirling in 1589.
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Fact. In 1589 “hollowmass” fires were banned in Stirling, Scotland. Britannica, Samhain
4 Black cats are thought unlucky everywhere.
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Myth. Not everywhere fears black cats: in Scotland and Japan a black cat can stand for good fortune, and in ancient Egypt cats were sacred to the goddess Bastet. Britannica
5 Soul cakes were usually made with oats.
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Fact. A soul cake, or soulmass-cake, was a small round cake, more like a biscuit, usually made with oats and perhaps spiced with nutmeg, cinnamon and ginger, with raisins or currants. English Heritage
6 All historians agree All Saints’ Day was moved to replace Samhain.
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Myth. In the 8th century Pope Gregory III moved it to 1 November, Britannica says perhaps partly to replace pagan holidays. Britannica Britannica’s Samhain article says these Christian holidays were set on these dates by the Roman Catholic Church in the 9th century, entirely independently of Samhain. Britannica, Samhain
7 Manx children once disguised themselves by wearing clothes inside out.
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Fact. Long ago, children had no elaborate costumes: they disguised themselves by wearing clothes inside out or back to front and covering their faces. Culture Vannin, toolkit
8 Mexico’s Day of the Dead is just Halloween with another name.
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Myth. Mexico’s Day of the Dead, from 31 October to 2 November, is a separate festival, with altars of flowers, candles, food and photos. Britannica