Halloween: A Spooky Celebration

• Engels
• Basisschool
• Groep 8

Halloween: A Spooky Celebration

When you think of Halloween, you probably think of pumpkin lanterns, fancy-dress costumes and children asking for sweets. And if you think of a country that celebrates Halloween, you probably think of the United States first. Americans and Canadians have adopted Halloween in a big way, but did you know that Halloween traditions actually come from Ireland, Scotland, England and Wales?

Origins of Halloween

Halloween originated from an ancient Celtic festival called Samhain, which marked the end of harvest season (when farmers get the food from their land)  and the beginning of winter. The orange colour stands for harvest and the black colour stands for death and winter.

 Trick-or-Treating

Trick-or-treating is a popular Halloween tradition where children dress up in costumes and go door-to-door asking for candy.

If the children do not get a treat (candy) they can play a trick on that neighbour.

Jack-o'-Lanterns

Jack-o'-lanterns are carved pumpkins with a lit candle inside. They were originally used to ward off evil spirits. Many people make pumpkin lanterns to decorate their homes at Halloween. They remove the inside of the pumpkin, cut shapes for the eyes, nose and mouth and place a candle in the empty pumpkin to make a scary face. 

Costumes

People of all ages dress up on Halloween. In the UK some of the most popular costumes include witches, vampires, ghosts, skeletons, zombies and monsters. We can trace this tradition back to the Celts, who were afraid of the ghosts that came on Samhain. If they went outside after dark, they covered their faces with masks. They hoped any ghosts they met would think they were ghosts too and would leave them alone.

North Americans wear all kinds of Halloween costumes and not just scary things like witches and ghosts. This is because in the late 19th century, people tried to make Halloween less about ghosts and more about celebrating the season with a party for neighbours and family. 

People wear costumes on Halloween to dress up as their favourite characters or creatures. It's a fun way to celebrate this day.

Halloween is a spooky celebration with origins in an ancient (very old) Celtic festival. It involves traditions like trick-or-treating, jack-o'-lanterns, and dressing up in costumes.

Halloween actually comes from ...

1. Canada
2. The United Kingdom
3. France
4. Ireland

What do you like better?

halloween

sint maarten

A carved pumpkin is called

1. A scary face
2. A haunted soul
3. A Jack-o'-lantern
4. A mask

In the United Kingdom most people dress up as

1. scary characters
2. aliens
3. funny characters
4. pumpkins

If a neighbour does not give you a treat, you .....

1. can wait at the door
2. can play a trick
3. can come back later
4. can cry about it