Halloween
October 31
“Trick or treat”
What’s that? It’s a ghost! Look, there goes a witch!
There’s no need to be afraid, though. All these ghosts, witches, and
other strange creatures are only children in costumes. It’s October 31,
Halloween—and that’s a special holiday for children in the United
States. It is a time when they can dress up as ghosts, witches,
monsters, animals, favorite athletes, or other people or things.
On the afternoon of Halloween, many schools allow younger children to
wear their costumes to class. Some schools have Halloween parties and
costume parades. There are often contests to pick the children with the
best costumes.
Some children go out to trick or treat on Halloween. They go from door
to door, ring doorbells, and call out, “Trick or treat!” People who
answer the doors put treats into the children’s bags.
In many towns and cities now, children do not go out to trick or treat.
It is considered unsafe. Instead, towns, cities, and even neighborhoods
have big parties for the children. Children who go to the parties get
treats. They eat cakes and cookies that are decorated with Halloween
colors, orange and black. They drink sweet apple cider and dunk for
apples in tubs of water. They play games. They may even turn the lights
down low and tell shivery stories about ghosts and monsters and witches
and black cats. After all, that’s what Halloween is all about!
Since most holidays honor famous people or celebrate important events,
what started this rather strange holiday that seems to “honor” witches
and ghosts?
Halloween wasn’t always a children’s “fun” holiday. At one time, it was
a very serious and rather frightening event.
Thousands of years ago, in England, Scotland, Ireland, and some other
places, the day that is now November 1 was the beginning of the new
year. People also thought of this day as the start of winter. They
called it “Summer’s End.”
People believed there was a sort of war between winter, with its cold
and darkness, and summer, with its bright, long days and pleasant
greenery. They felt that at Summer’s End, the “army” of winter—ghosts,
goblins, witches, and other evil creatures—grew very strong.
The night before Summer’s End, October 31, became a frightening time.
People were sure that all the wicked creatures would be out
celebrating—and might attack them.
To protect themselves, people held special ceremonies. They built big
bonfires on hilltops to light up the night. They put on masks and animal
skins. They hoped that their strange “costumes” would keep the evil
creatures from knowing who they were.
Hundreds of years later, the Christian religion came to these countries.
November 1 became a Christian holiday known as All Saints’ Day or All
Hallows’ Day. Hallow means “holy,” and this was the day to honor all
the
Make a jack-o’-lantern
holy ones, or saints, especially those who had no days of their own.
The night before All Hallows’ Day, October 31, became known as All
Hallows’ E’en (e’en is an old way of saying “evening”). After a time,
it was shortened to Halloween.
Many people, especially in England, kept up some of the old Summer’s End
customs. Even after thousands of years had passed, people remembered
that ghosts, goblins, and witches were supposed to be most powerful on
Halloween. They also remembered that this was a night on which people
had once put on special costumes.
This is why people in America and the British Isles think of Halloween
as a time of ghosts and monsters, and it is why American children wear
costumes on Halloween.
October 31 was once a time of terror, but now it’s just a night of
spooky fun.
For this project, ask a grown-up to do all the cutting and carving.
After the top of the pumpkin is cut off, scoop the pulp out with a
spoon. Save the top to use as a lid.
Next, draw on the eyes, nose, and mouth with a felt pen. These can be
cut out, or just cut the skin and peel it off.
For ears, add leaves, small gourds, or halves of a green pepper. You can
use a carrot or a red pepper for a nose. Hold these vegetables in place
with toothpicks.
You can light your pumpkin with a candle or with a flashlight. Put the
top back on and your jack- o’-lantern is ready.
