Where does Halloween come from?

Ta r g e t a u d i e n c e : E n s i n o F u n d a m e n t a l 2

The Celts, people who lived in Europe more than two thousand years ago,
celebrated the end of summer on November 1st. They believed that ghosts
visited the living on October 31st. Then, they dressed up like ghosts so the
spirits would not harm them.
Many countries still remember the dead on November 1st. It is called All
Saints Day or All Hallow’s Day. The day before, October 31st, is called All Hallow’s
Eve, or Halloween for short.
That’s why Halloween is celebrated on October 31st.
Halloween is an old tradition in Ireland, Scotland and England. In those countries, people wore costumes
and carried lanterns made of turnips. When people moved from Ireland and Scotland to the United
States, they started using pumpkins. This is where the jack-o-lantern comes from.
They also had a tradition of giving food to the spirits. Later, they gave the food to poor people. This is
where trick-or-treating comes from.
Halloween has changed a lot since its origins. New traditions were brought in, and old ones were changed.
What do you think Halloween will be like in the next two thousand years?

Answer the questions:

1. What is this story about? 3. Who did the Celts think visited the living on
a. Ghosts. October 31st?
b. The origin of the Halloween tradition. a. Spirits of the dead.
c. Ireland and Scotland. b. Irish people.
c. Their relatives.
2. When did the Celts live in Europe?
a. More than 2,000,000 years ago. 4. Why did the Celts dress in costumes?
b. More than 200 years ago. a. To scare poor people.
c. More than 2000 years ago. b. So spirits would not hurt them.
c. To go trick-or-treating.

Photocopiable – Student’s copy

Where does Halloween come from?
Ta r g e t a u d i e n c e : E n s i n o F u n d a m e n t a l 2

The Celts, people who lived in Europe more than two thousand years ago,
celebrated the end of summer on November 1st. They believed that ghosts
visited the living on October 31st. Then, they dressed up like ghosts so the
spirits would not harm them.
Many countries still remember the dead on November 1st. It is called All
Saints Day or All Hallow’s Day. The day before, October 31st, is called All Hallow’s
Eve, or Halloween for short.
That’s why Halloween is celebrated on October 31st.
Halloween is an old tradition in Ireland, Scotland and England. In those countries, people wore costumes
and carried lanterns made of turnips. When people moved from Ireland and Scotland to the United
States, they started using pumpkins. This is where the jack-o-lantern comes from.
They also had a tradition of giving food to the spirits. Later, they gave the food to poor people. This is
where trick-or-treating comes from.
Halloween has changed a lot since its origins. New traditions were brought in, and old ones were changed.
What do you think Halloween will be like in the next two thousand years?

Answer the questions:

1. What is this story about? 3. Who did the Celts think visited the living on
a. Ghosts. October 31st?
b. The origin of the Halloween tradition. a. Spirits of the dead.
c. Ireland and Scotland. b. Irish people.
c. Their relatives.
2. When did the Celts live in Europe?
a. More than 2,000,000 years ago. 4. Why did the Celts dress in costumes?
b. More than 200 years ago. a. To scare poor people.
c. More than 2000 years ago. b. So spirits would not hurt them.
c. To go trick-or-treating.

Photocopiable – Teacher’s copy