HALLOWEEN
READ THE TEXT AND LOOK UP THE UNKNOWN VOCABULARY
Halloween started many, many years ago. People in a country far away celebrated the end of summer and the season of the sun. They prepared for the season of cold and long nights. October 31, was the day they chose to hold their festival. Later other countries celebrated this night bringing their own customs to this special night. When settlers came to America they brought their holiday customs with them.
Many of the settlers came from different countries. Today in America we celebrate Halloween with customs from all around the world. We combined all the customs and now have our own special Halloween.
The early settlers used to cut out fruits and vegetables and decorate them. The people of Ireland cut out and decorated turnips. They hollowed out the turnip and placed a candle inside. Pumpkins did not grow in Ireland. When the Irish came to America they used big, round, orange pumpkins and now we have our famous, well known, Jack-O-Lantern. A halloween Jack-O-Lantern is a pumpkin that has been carved. Usually it has a happy or scary face. Years ago in other countries grown-ups and children who were poor would beg for food.
They were called “soulers.” People would give them “soul cakes.” The soulers would then
promise them they would remember those who died. Today in America children go trick-or-treating. It is not begging. Children dress up in funny, scary, and silly costumes. They go from house to house ringing doorbells and shout, “trick-or-treat.” People in America give candy, fruit, and gum.
Some cities and schools have big parades and parties. Children dress up in their costumes. Prizes are awarded for scary, funny, and most original costumes. Costumes can be bought in stores. Parents and children sometimes enjoy making costumes. It is fun to take a box, old clothes, and sheets and make something silly.
Colors are a big part of Halloween. The most popular colors are orange, black and gold. Black is the color used for cats, witches, and magic. Gold and orange are used for ripe fruit, vegetables, and grains.
Many children collect money for hungry and sick children all over the world. It is good to help those who need help. Money can be collected for an organization called UNICEF. It means United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund. When children go “trick-or-treating” many ask others to give money to UNICEF. It makes them feel good to know they are helping others.
A special custom in America on Halloween night is going to a haunted house. People put strange and silly things in the house to scare the those walking through. Sometimes they have skeletons and witches on strings so it looks like they are moving and jingling in the air. They put grapes, spaghetti, and macaroni in bowls. The children put their hands in the bowls and scream because it feels so squishy and strange. Haunted houses are made for fun and to make children laugh.
Children play games at Halloween time. One of the favorite games is “bobbing for apples.” It is played at many parties. Usually a tub is filled with water. Apples are then put in the tub. Children try to pick up the apples by using their teeth
EXERCISES
B. Fill in the missing words. Write them on the blank lines. You can check the preceding pages for your answers.
. When settlers came to America they brought their _______________ customs with them.
2. The favorite decoration of Halloween is the ____________________ .
3. _________________________ started many, many years ago.
4. Halloween is celebrated on October ________ . 5.Halloween night is celebrated on _______________________________
6.The ______________ brought the Halloween customs to America.
7.People carve a ____________________ for a Halloween decoration.
8.Years ago beggars were called _____________________ . 9.Children dress up in _____________ on Halloween.
10.The most popular Halloween colors are black, gold, and _________________ .
11. When children “trick-or-treat” they may ask people to give money to ______________
C: WORD UNSCRAMBLE : Uncsramble each word and print the word on the line
rboOcet __________________ skma________________Hneaellow__________________
ecmoust :_________________ twcih________________hgotss_____________________
D. WORD FIND: Find and circle these words. They run down, across, and diagonally
Festival custom holiday pumpkin witch black candles Treats scary safety candy ghost
F. Write a short story about something you do on Halloween.
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________G. ANSWER THE QUESTIONS ACCORDING TO THE TEXT
1.When did Halloween start? 2. How did Ancient people celebrate Halloween’
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3,.What did settlers bring to America? 4. Why do American people combine all the customs?
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5. What did Ireland people do? 6. What is a Halloween Jack-O- Lantem ?
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7. what is trick or treating? 7. What did some cities and schools do?
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9. What are the most popular colors ? 10. What is a special custom in America ON Halloween night?
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11. What kind of clothes do people wear on Halloween 12. What do you think about Halloween?
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H. ANSWER IN AFFIRMATIVE OR NEGATIVE FORM ACCORDING TO THE TEXT
1. Is Halloween celebrated on October 31st? 2. Did settlers come from United States?
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3. Did pumpkins grow in Ireland? 4. Do children dress up in Scary customs?
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5. Do people in America give wine to the children? 6. Do children collect money for rich people?
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7. Do children usually play games? 8. Do you like Halloween?
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I.SPEAKING : Create a dialogue about Halloween and act it with a partner
