October Cultural Events

There are two U.S. holidays in October: Columbus Day and Hallowe’en. The first is a national holiday on which banks and governmental offices (most notably, post offices) are closed. The latter is observed in personal lives to varying degrees.

Columbus Day This holiday, originally October 12, is now observed on the second Monday of the month. It commemorates the European “discovery” of North America.

Hallowe’en This holiday is celebrated the last day of October by children and adults as well. It includes parties, wearing costumes, and soliciting “treats” from one’s neighbors.

Other activities this month: deer hunting season, pumpkin carving, corn mazes

Quiz on Hallowe’en (answers below)
1. The name Hallowe’en is an abbreviation of All Hallows Evening, which ____.
       a. commemorates the medieval disappearance of King and Queen Hallow from their castle in England.
       b. celebrates a daylong dance festival originating in Hallow, Scotland.
       c. is the day before All Saints Day in the Christian church.
       d. is a translation from the Welsh language, meaning “Greetings to you and your dead           ancestors.”

2. All Saints Day ____.
       a. recognizes all people who have died before us.
       b. is the same as Dia de los Muertes.
       c. comes on November 1.
       d. All of the above

3. Conservative Christians do not celebrate Hallowe’en in the United States because ____.
       a. they are afraid of ghosts, skeletons, and witches.
       b. they believe that Hallowe’en is a way to honor evil spirits and even the Devil. 
       c. they do not think children should receive free candy from strangers.
       d. the color of Hallowe’en is a symbol of Satan.

4. The primary colors of Hallowe’en are ____.
       a. orange and black.
       b. black and white.
       c. pink and black.
       d. red, white, and black.

5. For Hallowe’en, many Americans ____.
       a. decorate their houses with symbols of death and scary objects.
       b. carve faces into pumpkins, put lighted candles in them, and display them at their houses.
       c. wear costumes at parties and escort costumed children around the neighborhood in search of candy and other treats.
       d. All of the above

6. The most acceptable time for trick-or-treating from house to house is _____.
       a. from 6:00-8:00 PM on Hallowe’en evening.
       b. best learned from a colleague or person in your neighborhood.
       c. from dusk till midnight.
       d. the Saturday evening before October 31.

Baby in pumpkin costume

Quiz on Columbus Day (answers below)
1. According to historians, Christopher Columbus ____.
       a. was the first European to set foot in the Americas.
       b. arrived in North America in 1492.
       c. sailed his three ships back to Spain loaded with riches in 1493.
       d. was looking for a faster route to India and discovered the Americas by mistake.

2. Where did Christopher Columbus never visit?
       a. Cuba and Hispaniola
       b. North America
       c. Central America
       d. South America

3. Christopher Columbus was born in ____.
       a. Italy
       b. Spain
       c. Portugal
       d. Colombia

4. Native Americans today protest the celebration of Columbus Day because ____.
       a. he isn’t really Colombian.
       b. they know Leif Erikson was the first European to land in the New World.
       c. his exploration introduced disease, slavery and genocide of native people, and eventual European colonization of the Americas.
       d. he is commemorated in places like the District of Columbia, Columbus Ohio, and Columbia Missouri.

5. Most Americans celebrate Columbus Day by ____.
       a. watching parades.
       b. taking their families on vacation.
       c. flying American and Italian flags.
       d. None of the above

6. Fewer Americans celebrate the historical significance of Columbus Day, including the states of ____, where the focus of the date has been altered to reflect more culturally appropriate accomplishments.
       a. Michigan and Tennessee
       b. Hawaii and South Dakota
       c. Oregon and New York
       d. All of the above

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ANSWERS

Hallowe’en
1. c. is the day before All Saints Day in the Christian church.
2. d. All of the above
3. b. they believe that Hallowe’en is a way to honor evil spirits and even the Devil.
4. a. orange and black.
5. d. All of the above
6. b. best learned from a colleague or person in your neighborhood.

Columbus Day
1. d. was looking for a faster route to India and discovered the Americas by mistake.
2. b. North America
3. a. Italy
4. c. his exploration introduced disease, slavery and genocide of native people, and eventual European colonization of the Americas.
5. d. None of the above
6. b. Hawaii and South Dakota