DIDACTIC UNIT 2. 6TH COURSE. HALLOWEEN . THE ORIGIN OF HALLOWEEN

Read these texts on the origins of Halloween. You´ll answer to some questions about them in class.

They´re not spooky really!!!  Aren´t they?

THE ORIGINS OF THE NAME

The festival of Hallowe'en has its roots in Celtic and Roman traditions. Over 2,000 years ago the Celts in Britain, Ireland and parts of France celebrated Samhain to mark the beginning of winter. When the Romans invaded, they merged this with Feralia, their celebration of the passing of the dead. As Christianity spread, the Church tried to replace these pagan feasts with official Church holy days. One of these was November 1. It was called All Saints Day, or "All Hallows", and October 31 was known as "All Hallows' Eve", and then Hallowe'en. The Celts believed that spirits walked the Earth that night every year so they disguised not to be recognised.

TRADITIONS

In the past there was a tradition called "souling". Poor people went around houses asking for food. In exchange, they promised to say prayers for the dead. People no longer go souling, but children in America started to disguise not only as scary characters such as ghosts, witches, vampires … but also as clowns, cowboys, superheroes, … They go around people's houses, asking for sweets. This game is called ‘Trick or Treat’.

PUMPKINS

The pumpkin has become a symbol of Hallowe'en. People empty a pumpkin, cut a face into the side, and put a candle inside to make a lamp. It's known as a Jack O' Lantern, from an Irish legend about a man called Jack, who made a deal with the devil.