Halloween 1

Where did it begin?

Halloween (whose meaning comes from All Hallows’ eve) is celebrated on 31st October and although many people think this is an American festival its origins are Celtic. It represents the summer’s end and also combines some parts of the festival of the dead (All Saints’ day 1st November). During the mid nineteenth century America accepted a lot of European immigrants, a large number of them Irish escaping the great famine. Americans seemed to enjoy learning these lively peoples’ traditions and were soon dressing up and joining in the party atmosphere of Halloween by going to house to house asking for food or money, which is how the tradition of ‘trick or treat’ began. It’s fair to say that the American celebrations are on a much bigger scale than British ones and it is now the second largest celebration in America.

Is it a religious festival?

The short answer to this question is no, most people nowadays see this as a secular celebration. Additionally, British and American film makers have commercialised the images of Halloween and created endless horror films giving this celebration a darker and more evil feel moving it away from religion.

What do people do?

Many people dress up in costumes such as ghosts, skeletons, devils and witches and may go to parties. Children go trick-or-treating on Halloween in fancy dress too. They go from house to house asking for sweets or cakes and if the homeowners don’t give them anything they can play a ‘trick’ on them such as crack an egg on their car!


Popular games to play at Halloween are ‘apple bobbing’ and ‘hanging doughnuts’. The first involves floating apples in a tub and someone has to get one out using their teeth. The second involves hanging doughnuts up by a string and them being eaten without using hands. People often eat toffee apples (apples on a stick covered in caramel) delicious but bad for the teeth!



Things to do in London for Halloween

So why not have a fancy dress party or go on a ghost walk or if you fancy something a little less active then go to the cinema and watch an old British Hammer Horror film!

My Halloween

I shall be going on a ghost walk and then to a fancy dress party. I’ll let you know how I got on in a couple of days. Have fun and happy haunting!!!

Glossary

Immigrants - a person who goes to live in another country, usually for
permanently
Celtic - of Irish, Scottish or Welsh descent
Lively - full of life or energy
Secular - not religious or spiritual
Skeleton - bones of a human
Floating - being buoyed up on water (not sinking)

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