What is Halloween?

What is Halloween?

Halloween was first celebrated many centuries ago in Ireland and Scotland by Celtic priests called Druids. They observed the end of autumn and the beginning of winter. The Druids thought that Halloween was the night when the witches came out. As they were afraid of the witches they put on different clothes and painted their faces to deceive the evil spirits. They also placed food and small gifts near the doors of their houses for the witches. This was, as they say now, the beginning of the expression “trick or treat’’ (meaning “give me something or I’ll play a trick on you”).

It is considered that Halloween was brought to America by the immigrants from Ireland and Scotland. In the 19^thcentury they celebrated Halloween according to their old traditions (the integral part of the festival was a lantern made of a pumpkin with holes in the form of eyes, a nose and a mouth, and people believed that during the celebration all pumpkins were leaving their vegetable gardens to dance in the streets). As time went by, grown-up people lost interest in Halloween, and it was celebrated almost entirely by children. Dressed very strangely, children held festivals. During their carnival and after it, groups of children visited nearby houses and asked for candies. “Trick or treat! Trick or treat!” was heard everywhere.

In recent years, grown-up people have begun taking part in Halloween. In New York, for example, young and old take part in parades together. On the 31^st of October a great number of people get together in one of the streets. They are dressed as witches, demons, and other evil spirits. There are hundreds of large orange “pumpkins” in their hands. After the parade the festival lasts almost till early morning.

This is how the Americans celebrate Halloween.

1. CompleteUUH the sentences according to the text.

1. The Druids though that Halloween was the night …

2. It is considered that Halloween … from Ireland and Scotland.

3. The integral part of the festival was …

4. ...was heard everywhere.

5. They are dressed as …

1. Say if the statements are true to the text or false.

1. Halloween was brought to America from England.

2. It is a special night, an exciting and funny holiday.

3. There are apples on the windows, they look like faces.

4. Children dress like witches and ghosts.

5. There are hundreds of oranges in their hands.

1. Put the sentences into the right order.

1. “Trick or treat! Trick or treat!” was heard everywhere.

2. In the 19^th century they celebrated Halloween according to their old traditions.

3. There are hundreds of large orange “pumpkins” in their hands.

4. They also placed food and small gifts near the doors of their houses for the witches.

5. Dressed very strangely, children held festivals.

1. Answer the questions.

1. Where was first Halloween celebrated?

2. What did they do to deceive the evil spirits?

3. How did they celebrate Halloween in the 19^th century?

4. What did the children do during their carnival and after it?

5. Do people again take part in the celebration of Halloween?