Unmasking Halloween: Exploring its Origins and Traditions

Unmasking Halloween: Exploring its Origins and Traditions

Learning Objective

At the end of the lesson, you will be able to explain the origin of Halloween and describe the different rituals and customs associated with it today.

What do you already know about Halloween? Share your thoughts with a partner.

Slide 1: Introduction

Halloween is a widely celebrated festival, but do you know where it came from? Let's explore its history!

Slide 2: Celtic Origins

Halloween has its roots in the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, which marked the end of the harvest season.

Slide 3: The Thin Veil

According to Celtic beliefs, on the night of Samhain, the boundary between the living and the dead became blurred.

Slide 4: Halloween in Christianity

With the spread of Christianity, the Church incorporated aspects of Samhain into All Hallows' Eve, which later became Halloween.

Slide 5: Jack-o'-Lanterns

One popular Halloween tradition is carving pumpkins into jack-o'-lanterns. But do you know why?

Slide 6: Trick-or-Treating

Trick-or-treating is a beloved Halloween activity, but it has evolved over time. Let's explore its history!

Slide 7: Modern Halloween Customs

Today, Halloween is celebrated with costumes, parties, and haunted houses. Let's discover some modern customs!

Slide 8: Recap and Reflection

Now that we've learned about the history and customs of Halloween, take a moment to reflect on what you've learned.

Write down 3 things you learned in this lesson.

Have students enter three things they learned in this lesson. With this they can indicate their own learning efficiency of this lesson.

Write down 2 things you want to know more about.

Here, students enter two things they would like to know more about. This not only increases involvement, but also gives them more ownership.

Ask 1 question about something you haven't quite understood yet.

The students indicate here (in question form) with which part of the material they still have difficulty. For the teacher, this not only provides insight into the extent to which the students understand/master the material, but also a good starting point for the next lesson.