Part 2 in a 5 Part Series: Educational and Fun Halloween Games, Fun Facts and Riddles

If you have a Halloween Party planned or want to keep Children entertained during the Weeks coming up to Halloween and don't want to spend tons of money you can find some educational fun Games, Believe it or not fun facts and Riddles in the following Pages. Yes, you grumpy People from Part 1 can sit down now and listen too.

Fun Facts

Folklore has it that if you see a Spider on Halloween crawling around your house it is one of your Ancestors or departed Family Members watching over you.

Black Cats are believed to be a Witches Familiar who are fabled to protect their Powers. Due to this common myth thousands of black cats get hurt during the Halloween Season by idiotic fanatics. Please keep your Cats safely inside during Halloween or the weeks leading up to it.

In 1962 the Count Dracula Society was founded. (Dracula, did you do that?)

Snickers are listed as one of the top 10 Candy Bars for Trick or Treating Candies.

Halloween has been created after the ancient Holiday of All Hallows Eve / Samhain. Masks were worn to confuse the evil spirits roaming the earth on the day when the veil between the Worlds is believed to be the thinnest. By dressing up as Monsters we made it difficult for the Spirits to know who was Monster and who was Human.

Folklore tells you that if you hear footsteps behind you on Halloween it is the dead following you. If you turn around you will join them soon in the grave

Have a Bat fly in your House on Halloween? This has to be a real live Bat! Don't be surprised if Ghosts are about, they are the ones said by folklore to have let them in.

It is said that a Person born on Halloween can see and talk to Spirits.

Did you know that in Britain people believed that the Devil was a nut gatherer? For that reason they wore Nuts as Charms against evil.

See a candle flame turn blue and you know that a Ghost is nearby.

Do not sit under a Hawthorn Tree on Halloween or you may be carried away or enchanted by Fairies!

Do you want to scare evil spirits away on Halloween? Simply ring a Door Bell.

Riddles:

What was placed on Children's heads by superstitious householder on Halloween to protect them from Evil?

The Answer is found in your Spice Cupboard. Oatmeal and Salt.

A Sprig of Rosemary and a sixpence placed under a girl's pillow was supposed to do what?
Folklore tells us that a sprig of Rosemary and a sixpence placed under the young maidens head was suppose to show her future husband in her Dreams.

What are Owls said to do in regards to the Dead?

Owls are said to eat the Souls of the Dead by swooping to earth on Halloween.

According to folklore what does it mean when a Bat flies around the House three Times?

It is said to be a Death Omen.

What are you suppose to do to keep bad luck away?

Knock on Wood.

Many People in the United States and in Europe still believe that it means this when you cast a headless Shadow or no Shadow at all.

They believe that if you don't cast a Shadow or a headless Shadow you will die within the next Year.

What should you do on Halloween at Midnight and continue until Sunrise to be the recipient of good luck?

Light a new orange Candle on Midnight on Halloween and let the candle burn until Sunrise.

How much did they World's largest pumpkin weight?

1,337 lbs was the recorded weight of the World's largest Pumpkin according to the Book of Records.

What is "Samhainophobia?"

The fear of Halloween according the Phobia List.

When was the first Halloween Greeting Card made?
The first Halloween Greeting Card was made during the early 1900's.

This Custom started to find out who would get married first.

Popping for Apples was that custom. It was believed that the first person to bite an Apple was the first to get married next.

Which Country has the "Halloween" Tradition of eating candy skulls?

Mexico celebrates their cultures Halloween by among other things eat Candy Skulls.

What is drink originated in Irelands around the 18th Century "Lamb's Wool" made off?
It is made out of roasted, crushed apples and milk.

Which famous Person passed away on Halloween?

River Phoenix passed away on Halloween.

Which Priests celebrated the Holiday we know today as "Halloween?"

The Druids are the first recorded Priests celebrating the Holiday we know as Halloween.

Let the Halloween Games begin.

Tag - you - are - it Story Telling

This game can be played with any age group. From ages 3 on up. The Rules are simple; one person starts a scary or funny Halloween Story. (No retelling you have to make it up). An Egg Timer is set for about 2 minutes. The Person tells the Story until the Timer goes off and then the Person to the left takes over for the next 2 minutes on the Timer. Each continuing the Story until each person has had a Turn.

(This is great for learning Story Telling abilities)

Keyword Stories
What you need are Pads of Paper and Pencils for everyone playing. You make a list of about 30 Words including Monsters, adjectives, verbs, actions etc. Each person playing has to write a Story using each of the Words only once, but use all of the Words given. The best Story gets to pick a Treat for everyone from a list of Treats (Snacks you have at home).
This is great for practicing Story Telling, word usage and writing.

Boo Who?

This guessing Game lets everyone take a turn. You start out. Describe a Halloween Item, Monster, Treat, Trick etc and everyone else has to guess what it is. The first person to guess correctly takes over and describes a Mystery Guest. Set the Categories before you start playing to cut arguments down.

Printable Games

You can find Mazes, coloring book pages and other printable games on the internet and won't cost you more then the price of crayons and printer paper / ink.

http://www.benjerry.com/fun_stuff/holidays/halloween/printnplay/index.cfm

http://www.dltk-cards.com/dominos/index.htm

http://www.apples4theteacher.com/coloring-pages/halloween/index.html

Make sure you come back for Part 3 in the Series of Articles. For now please excuse me, I think I have lost the Zombies down at the Supermarket again. I better find them.