If we want to learn English we have to understand the culture of the places where it is spoken.
It's October....
Halloween is an annual holiday celebrated on October 31st .
It has roots in the
Celtic festival of Samhain and the Christian holy day of All
Saints. The term derives from “All Hallows Eve” that means “eve of All Saints’
Day”.
Originally
Halloween was a pagan festival, people thought that the living and the dead,
came in contact on that night. 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 fell on November 1st. The
celebration of Halloween survived most strongly in Ireland. It was the 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 or nuts.
Carving turnips as ghoulish faces to hold
candles became a popular part of the festival, which has been adapted to
carving pumpkins in America. Nowadays this festival is celebrated in many
western countries as the U.K., U.S.A., Canada, New Zeland and Australia.
HALLOWEEN IN THE UK
Halloween
celebrations in the United Kingdom include parties where guests arrive in a
costume. Other people gather together to watch horror films, either at home or
at a cinema.
Some children go trick-or-treating. This means
they dress up and go to other peoples' houses, knocking on the door for
sweets or a snack. Those who do not give out a treat may be tricked with a
joke.
HALLOWEEN IN THE USA
Today school dances
and neighborhood parties called "block parties" are popular among
young and old people. More and more adults celebrate Halloween. They dress up
as historical or political figures and go to masquerade parties. In larger
cities, costumed children and their parents gather at shopping malls early in
the evening. Stores and businesses give parties with games and treats for the
children. Teenagers enjoy costume dances at their schools.
And what about you? What do you usually do for Halloween?
Click on this link to see
The Best Websites For Learning About Halloween:
Some activities from my students' blog
