HALLOWEEN
WHEN DO WE CELEBRATE HALLOWEEN?
¡ On October 31st, we celebrate Halloween, Halloween’s night, is the first night of the year when ghosts, witches, fairies and mummies are especially active.
Fascinating facts about Halloween
¡ If you see a spider on this night,
it could be the spirit of a dead one
who is watching you.
¡ To meet a witch, put your clothes on
inside and walk backwards on Halloween night.
WHY DO WE CELEBRATE HALLOWEEN?
¡ No one know really knows the origins of Halloween.
¡ Halloween is on the eve of a major Catholic festival, All Saints (1st November).
¡ The Halloween’s night appeared in the 19th century.
¡ Halloween comes from All Hallow Even, the eve (night before). All Hallows day. So Halloween is the eve of All Saints.
TRADICIONS OF HALLOWEEN
¡ Jack-o-lanterns. Pumpkin lanterns.
These are hollowed out pumpkins with a face cut into one side. Today we light candles in pumpkin lanterns, and then put them outside the homes to frighten away witches and ghosts.
¡ Fire.
Fire was very important to the Celts as it was to all old early people. In the old days people lit bonfires to scare away evil spirits.
¡ Apple Bobbing (Duck apple).
This game consists to bite an apple. The apples are in a bowl full of water. The contestants, sometimes blindfolded, must take one bite from one of the apples without using their hands.
¡ Dressing up: people would wear masks when they left their homes after dark so that the ghosts would mistake them for fellow spirits.
¡ Trick or treat: Halloween was a time for making mischief. When the children knock the doors demanding trick or treat and people would disguise obtain food and money from nervous householders.
SUPERSTITIONS
¡ On Halloween, journeys must be finished before sunset.
¡ A piece of bread crossed with salt was carried in the pockets on travellers to keep them safe
¡ Apples, nuts and candles figured prominently in many of the superstitions practised on Halloween.
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