LESSON 1
5
We celebrate Halloween every year on October 31st. Where does the holiday come from? The holiday originally comes from a people called the Celts. The Celts lived in Europe more than 2000 years ago. These people lived in what is now Ireland, the UK, and parts of Northern France. November 1 was their New Year's Day. They believed that the night before the New Year (October 31) was a time when the living and the dead came together. More than a thousand years ago the Christian church named November 1 All Saints Day (also called All Hallows.) This was a special holy day to honor the saints and other people who died for their religion. The night before All Hallows was called Hallows Eve. Later the name was changed to Halloween. Like the Celts, the Europeans of that time also believed that the spirits of the dead would visit the earth on Halloween. They worried that evil spirits would cause problems or hurt them. So on that night people wore costumes that looked like ghosts or other evil creatures. They thought if they dressed like that, the spirits would think they were also dead and not harm them. The tradition of Halloween was carried to America by the immigrating Europeans. Some of the traditions changed a little, though. For example, on Halloween in Europe some people 1. Discuss. a. Do you know why Halloween is celebrated? b. What do you think is the best thing about Halloween? c. What do you think the word “Halloween” means? 2. Read the text and answer the questions in your notebook: a. Who were the Celts? Why did they get dressed? b. Why nowadays children dress themselves on Halloween? c. What is the trick-or-treating tradition? d. Who celebrated the All Saints Day and why? e. How the tradition changed when the European immigrants carried Halloween to America? 1. Look at the words from the text and underline the correct definition a. Holiday: a day when most people do not go to work or school/ a day when most go to church to pray. b. Dead: a being that remains alive/a being that is no longer alive. c. Costume: the clothes worn by somebody to make him/her look like something else/ clothes that people wear to look elegant d. To Dress up: to put on special clothes to pretend to be somebody or something different/ to put on special clothes to go to cemeteries e. To Harm: Damage that is caused by a person or an event/ to become frightened f. Trick: a prank or mischievous act/ a social event in which entertainment, food, and drinks are provided g. Treat: a delightful surprise or especially pleasant occasion/ a profane or obscene expression of anger SPEAKING AND READING
Transcript of LESSON 1
SPEAKING AND READING
1. Discuss.
a. Do you know why Halloween is celebrated?b. What do you think is the best thing about Halloween?c. What do you think the word Halloween means?
2. Read the text and answer the questions in your notebook:
a. Who were the Celts? Why did they get dressed?b. Why nowadays children dress themselves on Halloween? c. What is the trick-or-treating tradition?d. Who celebrated the All Saints Day and why?e. How the tradition changed when the European immigrants carried Halloween to America?
We celebrate Halloween every year on October 31st. Where does the holiday come from? The holiday originally comes from a people called the Celts. The Celts lived in Europe more than 2000 years ago. These people lived in what is now Ireland, the UK, and parts of Northern France. November 1 was their New Year's Day. They believed that the night before the New Year (October 31) was a time when the living and the dead came together. More than a thousand years ago the Christian church named November 1 All Saints Day (also called All Hallows.) This was a special holy day to honor the saints and other people who died for their religion. The night before All Hallows was called Hallows Eve. Later the name was changed to Halloween.
Like the Celts, the Europeans of that time also believed that the spirits of the dead would visit the earth on Halloween. They worried that evil spirits would cause problems or hurt them. So on that night people wore costumes that looked like ghosts or other evil creatures. They thought if they dressed like that, the spirits would think they were also dead and not harm them.
The tradition of Halloween was carried to America by the immigrating Europeans. Some of the traditions changed a little, though. For example, on Halloween in Europe some people would carry lanterns made from turnips. In America, pumpkins were more common. So people began putting candles inside them and using them as lanterns. That is why you see Jack 'o lanterns today.
These days Halloween is not usually considered a religious holiday. It is primarily a fun day for children. Children dress up in costumes like people did a thousand years ago. But instead of worrying about evil spirits, they go from house to house. They knock on doors and say "trick or treat." The owner of each house gives candy or something special to each trick or treater.
1. Look at the words from the text and underline the correct definition
a. Holiday: a day when most people do not go to work or school/ a day when most go to church to pray.b. Dead: a being that remains alive/a being that is no longer alive. c. Costume: the clothes worn by somebody to make him/her look like something else/ clothes that people wear to look elegantd. To Dress up: to put on special clothes to pretend to be somebody or something different/ to put on special clothes to go to cemeteriese. To Harm: Damage that is caused by a person or an event/ to become frightenedf. Trick: aprankormischievousact/a social event in which entertainment, food, and drinks are providedg. Treat: a delightful surprise or especially pleasant occasion/ a profane or obscene expression of anger
2. Complete the sentences using some of the words in exercise one
a. In my country, Christmas in the most important _______________ of the yearb. Iron Man was one of the most post popular Halloween _____________ of 2013.c. Artists in the circus usually ___________________ to add mystery and magic to the show.d. Puritans of Salem believed in witches and their ability to________________ others.e. A zombie is a ___________ person who moves slowly and consumes flesh of the living.
GRAMMAR: PASSIVE VOICE IN PAST SIMPLE
Subject + auxiliary verb (was/were) + main verb (past participle) + complementExample: Halloween was introduced by the Irish immigrants in the 1840s
The passive voice past is also often used to describe:
Events in historyGeorge Washington was elected president in 1788.The firstJack O Lanterns were madeof turnips.
Crimes / AccidentsTwo people were killed in a drive-by shooting on Friday night.Ten children were injured when part of the school roof collapsed.
Remember that we use the passive voice when:-we want to make the active object more important-we do not know the active subject
Section for Halloween factsplantillas
http://inspiredm.com/12-infographics-halloween-2013/https://secure2.edf.org/site/SPageServer?pagename=share_the_scare
http://www.vizworld.com/2010/10/visual-history-ofhalloween/#sthash.AEhflrFg.Qvtee4rU.dpbshttps://secure2.edf.org/site/SPageServer?pagename=share_the_scare
WORKING AT THE LAB
1. Work in pairs.Now that you know more about Halloweens history, visit this blog: https://moreabouthalloween.blogspot.com, watch the videos, read and play the trivias. With this new information, create a timeline in which you summarize and contrast the history of Halloween in both countries.
2. According to your research and timeline, answer the questions:a. In which way Halloween is similar in Colombia and the United States? b. Why do you think that Halloween keeps changing over the years? c. How do you think that Halloween will be like in one hundred years?
3. Complete the table and discussCharacteristics
Origin
Halloween in Colombia
Halloween in the United States
Discussion:Which Halloween celebration do you think is better, Colombian or American?
What has been your favorite Halloween costume that you have worn?
http://www.abcteach.com/free/r/rc_elementary_halloween_origins.pdfhttp://www.eslflow.com/Halloweenlessons.html
What do you think Halloween will be like in another two thousand years?How do you celebrate the holiday here in Colombia?Do you believe that ghosts exist?
