Traditional Festivals

Hallowe'en

Level: Beginners/Lower Intermediate

Time: 45 - 50 minutes

Topic: Traditions/Celebrations: Hallowe’en; Guy Fawkes’Day

Skills:Speaking/Writing

Worksheet

A.

1. Before you read make a list of Portuguese festivals and celebrations.

2. How do Portuguese people celebrate them?

B.

Now read the text and decide if the statements below are True or False. Correct the
False ones.

In America, Hallowe’en is a time of monsters, ghosts and scary nights. It is the last night in
October, when (according to tradition) all the ghosts and witches come out.

The fun of dressing up in spooky costumes, and the need for a little mystery have brought
the idea of celebrating Hallowe’en back to Britain from America. Until very recently the only
festival in Britain at the end of autumn and the beginning of winter was Guy Fawkes’ Night
(5 November). In fact these festivals are one and the same thing: a celebration to mark
the end of the traditional Celtic year.

Because, in the year 1605 Guy Fawkes was caught trying to blow up the Houses of
Parliament a few days after All Hallows Eve (Hallows is an old name for All Saints’ Day), the
date of the celebration shifted: ‘Remember the Fifth of November! Gunpowder, Treason
and Plot’.

1. Hallowe’en is a big occasion especially in Britain.

2. This popular festival originated in America.

3. Today people dress up in scary costumes to frighten away ghosts and spirits.

4. Guy Fawkes’ Night was popular in Britain long before 1605.

5. In the past Guy Fawkes’ Night and Hallowe’en were just one festival.

6. Hallowe’en is the night before All Saints’ Day.

C.
Try to fill in the blanks with the following words.

Hallowe’en, dead , children, lanterns, pumpkins, guy, Bonfire, fire festival, eve, witches,
tricks, parties.

Guy Fawkes’ Night and ________ were once the same thing: an ancient ________
honouring the ________ and the Celtic New Year’s ________ celebration. ______ Night is
often called Guy Fawkes’ Night . _______ make a man called a _____ and put it on the top
of the bonfire. Today Hallowe’en is a festival of fun. Children dress up as _______ and
ghosts. They have _______ and play _____ on people; they also make _______ from
________ to have fun.

D.

Find out more about the main features of Hallowe’en and Guy Fawkes’ Day
( games, favourite tricks...).

Hallowe’en Guy Fawkes’ Day

e.g. A favourite trick is to ring a e.g. People build bonfires and there are fire
doorbell and hide. displays.

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