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 exch...