Halloween

On Halloween—October 31—many American children dress up in funny or scary costumes and go "trick or treating" by knocking on doors in their neighborhood. The neighbors are expected to respond by giving them candy or other small gifts. Children and adults also might celebrate Halloween with costume parties.


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Halloween Safety

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Halloween Facts and Fun

  • Halloween Around the World
    Festivals commemorating the dead can be found in many cultures. Learn more from the National Endowment for the Humanities.
  • Halloween at the White House
    Photos of White House Halloween festivities from years past.
  • Halloween by the Numbers
    How many millions of pounds of pumpkins are produced each year in the U.S.? And how many pounds of candy does an American eat annually? The U.S. Census Department knows.
  • Halloween Capital of the World
    Did you know that Halloween has a capital? Find out where, from the Library of Congress.

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Especially for Kids

  • Halloween-Related Patents
    The Little Shop of Patent and Trademark Horrors—an online exhibit of the somewhat macabre, gruesome, and fantastic.
  • Halloween Word Scramble Game
    Unscramble the letters to find out how you can stay safe while trick-or-treating.
    (PDF | download Adobe Reader )
  • Send a Halloween E-Card
    Choose from six different Halloween e-cards, including a spooky cat, Frankenstein, and the Germ Monster.
  • Spooky Space Sounds
    Elusive sounds of howling planets and whistling helium that are sure to make your skin crawl, from NASA.

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History of Halloween

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Halloween Recipes

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