DID YOU KNOW THAT ABOUT HALLOWEEN?

A great number of people consider Halloween an American holiday. But in

fact, it originated in Celtic Ireland. The old Celts used to have a big meal
before the winter started. They also used to leave their houses cold,
without light during the night because they hoped to stop spirits wanting
to live there. It was believed that the souls of dead people could come back
if they find a person to stay in. Another habit was wearing scary masks
and costumes to make the spirits go away.
The classic symbols of Halloween are horror characters: black cats, spiders, witches and
ghosts and big orange pumpkins. Great Britain and the USA celebrate Halloween every
year on the last day of October. Here are some traditions people follow:
Apple Bobbing
Apples are put into a large container full of water and contestants
have to try to take a bite out of an apple without using their
hands. Also, they are not allowed to push the apple against the
side of the container.
Dressing up
People choose costumes to dress up as ghosts, vampires, witches
and many other things.
Carving Jack o'Lanterns
People choose a big pumpkin. They empty it and then carve holes for the mouth, nose
and eyes. A candle is then put inside and the pumpkin is often put in front of the house
to frighten off evil spirits!
Trick or treating
Children go out knocking on their neighbours doors to ask for sweets. The sweets are
the treat and if they don't get any, they might play a trick on you!
COMPREHENSION CHECK
1. How did the old Celts use to celebrate Halloween?

2. Say at least three symbols of Halloween.

3. What happens during Apple Bobbing?

4. What do people dress up as during Halloween?

5. What is Trick or treating about?

VOCABULARY
TASK 1: Look at the underlined expressions in the text. Match them to these
meanings:
a. to wear clothes for a special occasion
b. (not) have permission to do something
c. actually
d. terrifying
e. disappear
f. keep traditions
g. to come from a place
h. to think of something/someone as something
i. to say you want something

TASK 2: Fill in the gaps with some of the underlined expressions from the text.
1. Her witch costume looks really _______________________ !
2. A few children knocked on our door and asked us _____________ some sweets.
3. Halloween isn´t an American holiday. In _________________ , it comes from Ireland.
4. What are you going to dress _________________ as? A ghost?
5. Do you ___________________ any Halloween traditions?