Early Halloween

Our word Halloween is derived from the old words All Hallows Eve because it was the eve of All Hallows Day (Ist of November). Hallow is an old word for saint and today we call the 1st of November All Saints Day.In the 4th century the Church began to celebrate a feast to all the martyrs. At first it was celebrated on the first Sunday after Pentecost (in late May or early June). The Eastern Orthodox Churches still celebrate it on that day. However in the West in 609 or 610 Pope Boniface IV moved the feast of all martyrs to 13 May. Then in the 8th century Pope Gregory III (731-741) made the 1st of November a feast to remember all saints and it became known as All Saints Day or All Hallows Day.After the 16th Century Reformation All Saints Day and Halloween were virtually forgotten in most of England, along with most other saints days. However Halloween continued to be observed in Scotland and Ireland. There was a belief that ghosts and witches were particularly active on that day.

Modern Halloween

In the 18th century in Ireland Halloween became a day for playing pranks like blocking doors with carts, removing gates, and covering chimneys with turf. The pranks and mischief making was done by adults and without knocking on your door to demand a 'treat' and carrying out a 'trick' if you did not give something. In the mid-19th century Irish and other immigrants took Halloween customs to the USA and by 1900 it was a popular festival. Playing pranks such as moving farm animals, removing gates etc. were common.The Irish also hollowed out turnips and put candles in them. (The origin of this custom is not known). In the USA the turnip became a pumpkin.The custom of children playing trick or treat at Halloween seems to have begun in the USA in the early 20th century although it only became really popular in the mid-20th century.

Test your understanding of the text. (discuss) 1 What is the origin of the word “Halloween”?2 What do you thinks is meant by the word “Church” in the fourth line?3 Who moved the feast of all martyrs?4 Who are reported to particular active on Hallween?

eve .................................................................................................martyrs..........................................................................................feast ..............................................................................................virtually ........................................................................................pranks ...........................................................................................turf..................................................................................................mischief ......................................................................................festival...........................................................................................turnips...........................................................................................custom .........................................................................................

What do you think these words mean? (discuss)

Check your answers using the answer sheet

Using the text below, answer and discuss the questions that follow.

One of my favourite things to do when I was a little girl was to stay with my granddad. So I'd go to stay with him on the holidays, and he would often tell me stories, or sing songs for me, so I learned a lot from him. But one of my favourite things, like I said was to listen to his stories and around Halloween sometimes, or if we asked him at other times when it was getting dark or a bit scary we'd ask him to tell us a ghost story,So one of, yeah, one of the first ghost stories I remember was him telling us about a time when he was quite young, I think he was in his early twenties maybe, and he was already married but he went back to his parents house one night to just, to meet his family and friends, have a game of cards maybe with friends who were gathered there.So it got pretty late because they had been playing cards for a long time having some fun so he didn't want to leave and then eventually, he and his friends decided, OK, we'd better leave and better go back home. So the two of them were walking together towards their house but in between his parents house and his new home they had to pass a graveyard.

So these two guys, young men, I suppose, they weren't very happy with the idea of going past a graveyard very late at night, because you know, they're lots of stories about ghosts and spirits hanging around at that time of night, so they were approaching the graveyard and they were a bit scared and they were wondering whether they should turn back or keep going. Be strong and brave about it. So they were approaching the graveyard and suddenly my granddad saw what he thought was a priest sitting on the wall. So he say a man dressed in black, with a white collar, and he was so frightened, I mean, I can't imagine what he must have said at the time, but he and his friend were really, really scared, and they were talking between themselves, "Oh, my God! What should we do? What should we do?" But they were so frightened they couldn't move. So eventually, my granddad decided, OK, I'm just going to run for it. I'm going to make a run for it. So all of a sudden, he decided and he just ran straight past the graveyard, and then suddenly, this big dog came jumping down from the wall of the graveyard, and my granddad was so scared, he was like screaming, and everything. B ut as it turned out it was just a sheep dog that he'd seen. So in the dark of night, in those days of no road lights and street lights or anything what he'd actually seen with his friend was a black sheep dog with a white collar. So not a ghost after all.

What do you think these words and expressions mean? (discuss)gathered .......................................................................................graveyard. ....................................................................................hanging around ..........................................................................white collar .................................................................................and everything ............................................................................

General discussionDo you believe in ghosts? Why/why not?

Would you talk to a ghost if you met one? What would you say?

Do you know anyone who has ever said they have seen a ghost? When/where/what happened?

Have you ever stayed in a place reputed to have ghosts? Where/when/what happened?

Would you spend the night in an old uninhabited house/church/school that is known to have ghosts? What would you do?

If you were a ghost where would you like to haunt? Why?

Can you remember a time when something strange and difficult to explain happened to you? What/where/ when/ what happened?

Do you know or can you recommend some really good ghost stories/books/films? What/why?

What is the most frightening experience you have had in your life? What happened/where?

Do you have witches/wizards etc., or something similar in your country? What are they/what do they do/are they good or evil?

Do you think witches/wizards actually exist? Why/why not?

Have there ever been any reports of haunted houses in your country? Where/what happened?

EVEVIRTUALLYMISCHIEFGATHERED

MARTYRSPRANKSFESTIVALGRAVEYARD

FEASTTURFTURNIPSWHITE COLLAR

Test your understanding of the text1 - All Hallows Eve - it was the eve of All Hallows Day2 - It means the head of all churches within the UK3 - Pope Boniface IV4 - Ghosts and witches

What do you think these words mean?Eve - the evening or day before a religious festivalMartyrs - a person who is killed because of their religious or other beliefsFeast - a large meal, typically a celebratory oneVirtually - nearly; almostPranks - a practical joke or mischievous actTurf - grass and the surface layer of earth held together by its rootsMischief - playful misbehaviour, especially on the part of childrenFestival - a day or period of celebration, typically for religious reasonsTurnips - a round root with white or cream flesh which is eaten as a vegetable

What do you think these words mean?Gathered - come together; assemble Graveyard - a burial ground, especially one beside a churchHanging around - to pass time or stay in a location for long periods of timeWhite collar - a collar worn by priests/a job based in an office usuallyand everything - used to refer vaguely to other things associated with what has been mentioned.