HALLOWEEN

The pagans who lived in Britain 200 years ago celebrated New Year

on 1 November. Then the Christians came and celebrated

“Hallowmas”, a festival between 31st October and 2nd November.

31st October slowly changed the name to Halloween.

In the past, people believed that bad spirits came in winter.

They wanted bad spirits to go away, so they made fires

outside and used pumpkins to make jack o’ lanterns.

To make a jack o’ lantern, people cut a

hole in a large fruit. Then they put a candle in

the hole, and cut a face in the side.

Another thing people do is to dress like witches and ghosts to

make the bad spirits go away. People often put up decorations for

Halloween parties, and they play games: “ bobbing for apples”.

Children go “trick or treating”. They dress like witches and ghosts,

and go to the houses in small groups.When someone answers the

door, the children say: TRICK OR TREAT? and the person in the house

must decide. They may give the children a treat ( chocolate, fruit,

sweets…) or the children will play a trick on them . The children

sometimes throw eggs at the house.