Halloween

HALLOWEEN!!!

Halloween (also spelled Hallowe'en) is an annual holiday celebrated on October 31. It has roots in the Celtic festival of Samhain and the Christian holy day of All Saints.

Originally Halloween was a pagan festival, around the idea of linking the living with the dead, when contact became possible between the spirits and the physical world, and magical things were more likely to happen. Like most pagan festivals, long ago it was absorbed into the festivals of the expanding Christian church, and became associated with All Hallows Day, or All Saints Day, which eventually fell on November 1. The celebration of Halloween survived most strongly in Ireland. It was an end of summer festival, and was often celebrated in each community with a bonfire to ward off the evil spirits. Children would go from door to door in disguise as creatures from the underworld to collect treats, mainly fruit, nuts and the like for the festivities. These were used for playing traditional games like eating an apple on a string or bobbing for apples and other gifts in a basin of water, without using your hands. Salt might be sprinkled on the visiting children to ward off evil spirits. Carving turnips as ghoulish faces to hold candles became a popular part of the festival, which has been adapted to carving pumpkins in America.

The day is often associated with the colours black and orange, and is strongly associated with symbols like the jack-o'-lantern. Halloween activities include trick-or-treating, wearing costumes and attending costume parties, ghost tours, bonfires, visiting haunted attractions, telling scary stories, and watching horror films.

QUESTIONS:

WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT HALLOWEEN?

I think its a funny holiday. They celebrated the day of the Spirits, Ghosts, Witches... The kids go around the houses looking for sweets wearing a costume.

When and where is it celebrated?

Its celebrated on 31th of October. Its a original from the USA, Britain, Scotland, Ireland...

Is it a religious celebration?
No, Halloween the party is not a religious celebration. But the 1st of November yes, its a catholic holiday commemorating the Saints.

What does the word 'Halloween' mean?
The name Halloween (originally spelled Hallowe'en) is a contraction of All Hallows Even, meaning the day before All Hallows Day (better known as All Saints Day),

Name 2 typical games.

Ghost Stories
Setting the scene for a scary story is what is needed for maximum effect. Your story could be a real life haunting, a classic ghost story, or an urban legend. Candles, strange noises and even a hidden prankster .Will all provide suitable 'fright'.

Apple Paring
Each child gets an apple, fruit knife and a plate with all being as close as possible in size and quality.
The children each have to peel their apple, with the winner being the one who produces the longest and narrowest peeling. In times past the person then threw the apple peel over their left shoulder and the letter which the peel resembled was the first initial of the person's future husband or wife.

When did it become a dangerous celebration?Why?

The celebration of Halloween survived most strongly in Ireland. It was an end of summer festival, and was often celebrated in each community with a bonfire to ward off the evil spirits.

How do people celebrate it today?

The childrens go out wearing a scary costumes asking for sweets to the houses. They play tradicionals games, watch horror films, they talk about Goths stories...