celebrate Halloween, thought are hollowed out pumpkins
to be the one night of the year with a face cut in one side when ghosts, witches, and and a candle put inside. In the old days fairies are especially active. people lit fires to scare away bad spirits. So what do people do on They believed light had power over Halloween Day in England? darkness. Today Jack-o-lanterns are supposed to frighten away ghosts and witches.
One Halloween party
game is called ‘bobbing for On Halloween, when it was believed that bad Children in costumes apples’. Apples spirits came back to the earthly world, people go from house to are put in a big bowl thought they would meet ghosts if they left house in their full of water. The players, their homes. To avoid being recognized by neighbourhood, often in sometimes blindfolded must take ghosts people would wear masks small groups, in order to ask an apple out of the water without when they left homes after dark so that the for treats such as sweets, using their hands. ghosts would lollipops, chocolates or mistake them for fellow money. When someone spirits. That’s why answers the door, the Halloween children say: ’Trick or treat?’ costumes are The "trick" is a threat to traditionally perform mischief on the monsters such as homeowners or their property vampires, ghosts, witches and devils. if no treat is given.
Texts adapted from: www.projectbritain.com and www.wikipedia.org
Answer the questions. When is Halloween celebrated? _________________________________________ What is put in a bowl full of water? _________________________________________ What costumes do children usually wear on Halloween? _________________________________________ Why do people put a candle inside Jack-o-lantern? _________________________________________ What do children say when they call at people’s door? _________________________________________ Why did people wear masks when they left houses in the past? _________________________________________ Is Halloween celebrated in your country? _________________________________________ What are the traditions and superstitions of Halloween in your country? _________________________________________ What’s your favourite costume? _________________________________________ 10. Do you go to Halloween parties? _________________________________________ 11. Do you like Halloween? Why?/Why not? _________________________________________