Halloween
1 Can you empty a pumpkin to make Jack O’Lantern? Read the steps (1-5) and order the photos (A-E).
1 Choose a pumpkin that sits straight.
2 Remove the top of the pumpkin with a knife.
3 Remove all the contents.
4 Carve the face with a knife: the eyes, the nose and the mouth.
5 Put a candle in the pumpkin. Well done!
HALLOWEEN FUN FACT
American people buy almost 4 million pumpkins at Halloween each year!
Give my 4 something too, Or we’ll 5 a trick on you!
3 What are these words in your language?
1 fancy dress
2 trick or treat
3 pumpkin
4 All Saints Day
4 2 K Read and listen to the text, then tick F for False, T for True or NG for Not Given.
1 At Halloween, people play ‘trick or treat’ on their family.
2 People make lanterns out of pumpkins.
3 At Halloween, kids prefer chocolate to sweets.
4 The origin of Halloween is a Celtic festival to mark the end of winter.
5 The idea of fancy dress is to hide from the spirits.
6 Jack-o’-lantern is based on the legend of a generous man.
7 The origin of ‘trick or treat’ is keeping spirits away with food.
Who doesn’t love Halloween? You can dress up as a witch, ghost, monster, vampire, zombie, mummy or skeleton; play ‘trick or treat’ on your neighbours; have a fancy dress party, play games and make your own pumpkin lantern to scare people with!
But do you know the origin of this popular festival? It is celebrated on the 31st of October, the night before All Saints Day, and probably comes from an ancient Celtic celebration at the end of summer. The idea behind the fancy dress is to masquerade as one of the spirits on earth that night and hide from them!
Pumpkin lanterns, also known as ‘jack-o’lanterns’, are based on an Irish legend of a mean man called Jack unable to enter heaven or hell and forced to a zombie-like existence. As for ‘trick or treat’, it probably comes from the custom of leaving food out for the spirits to keep them away. So now you know!
New Words
5 Do you dress up for Halloween? Do you go to parties with your friends? Answer the questions, then write a short text about your Halloween habits
1 Do you usually go to a party?
2 Do you hang around your neighbourhood with your friends?
3 Do you usually dress up in costumes? Which is your favourite?
4 Do you do trick or treat?
5 Do you eat any special food?
6 Do you stay up until very late at Halloween night?