1. HALLOWEEN HISTORY, TRADITIONS, INTERESTING FACTS. 31ST OF OCTOBER
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учителем
английского языка
Соболевой Алевтиной Владимировной.
МОУ «Гимназия №4»,
г.о. Электросталь, Московская область.
31ST OF OCTOBER

2. The History of Halloween
Neither the word Halloween or the date 31 October are mentioned in any Anglo-Saxon text indicating that it was just an ordinary day a thousand years ago.
From the Medieval period ( ) through to the 19th century, there is no evidence that 31 October was anything else other than the eve of All Saints Day.
From the 19th Century to the present day, 31st October has increasingly acquired a reputation as a night on which ghost, witches, and fairies, are especially active.

3. Where does the name Halloween originate from?
In the year 835 AD the Roman Catholic Church made 1st November a church holiday to honour all the saints. Although it was a joyous holiday it was also the eve of All Souls Day, so in Medieval times it became customary to pray for the dead on this date.
Another name for All Saints Day is 'All Hallows' (hallow is an archaic English word for 'saint'). The festival began on All Hallows Eve, the last night of October. Therefore, Halloween is the eve of All Saints Day.

5. What do people do?
Halloween celebrations in the United Kingdom include parties where guests are often expected to arrive in a costume to reflect the day's theme. Other people gather together to watch horror films, either at home or at a cinema. Some children go trick-or-treating. This means that they dress up and go to other peoples' houses, knocking on the door for treat of sweets or a snack. Those who do not give out a treat may be tricked with a joke instead.
Public life
Halloween is not a bank holiday in the United Kingdom. Schools, businesses, stores and other organizations are open as usual. Public transport services run on their normal timetables.

6. So why do the English do what they do on Halloween Day in England?
Jack-o-lanterns - Pumpkin Lanterns
These are hollowed out pumpkins with a face cut into one side. People once carved out beets, potatoes and turnips to use as lanterns on Halloween. Nowadays they carve out pumpkins.
According to an Irish legend, jack-o-lanterns were named for a man whose name was Jack. He could not enter heaven because he was a miser. He could not enter hell either, because he had played jokes on the devil. So instead, he had to walk the earth with his lantern until Judgment Day.

7. Fire
In the old days people lit bonfires, to scare away evil spirits. They believed that light had power over darkness. In some places they used to jump over the fire to bring good luck.

8. The Celts believed that on that night the barriers between our world and the spirit world were at their weakest and therefore spirits were most likely to be seen on earth. The Celts built bonfires to frighten the spirits away, and feasted and danced around the fires.

9. Apple Bobbing (Duck-apple)
The Roman festival for remembering the dead was also in October. During this time, the Romans remembered their goddess, Pomona. She was the goddess of the trees and fruits, and when the Romans came to Britain, they began to hold these two festivals on the same day. Apple games probably became associated with Halloween because of this.
We play the game bobbing for apples, in which apples are placed in a tub or a large basin of water. The contestants, sometimes blindfolded, must take one bite from one of the apples without using their hands. It is not permitted to edge the apple to the side of the bowl to get hold of it.

11. Dressing up
The tradition of dressing in costumes for Halloween has both European and Celtic roots. On Halloween, when it was believed that ghosts came back to the earthly world, people thought that they would encounter ghosts if they left their homes. To avoid being recognized by these ghosts, people would wear masks when they left their homes after dark so that the ghosts would mistake them for fellow spirits.

13. Trick or Treat
Halloween was a time for making mischief - many parts of England still recognise Halloween as Mischief Night - when children would knock on doors demanding a treat (Trick or Treat) and people would disguise themselves as witches, ghosts in order to obtain food and money from nervous householders.

14. Superstitions of Hallowe’en
Hazel Nuts Girls placed hazel nuts along the front of the fire grate, each one to symbolize one of her suitors. She could then find out who her future husband would be by chanting, 'If you love me, pop and fly; if you hate me, burn and die.'
People believed that the Devil was a nut-gatherer. At Halloween, nuts were used as magic charms.

15. Superstitions of Hallowe’en
Apples 1) Peel an apple, making sure the peeling comes off in one long strand and then
throw it over your shoulder. The shape it
lands in will be the initial of your beloved. 2) If you place an apple under your
pillow you will dream of your future husband.
Candles Take a candle and look into a mirror
whilst combing your hair or eating an
apple. Your future husband will appear
peeking over your shoulder.

16. Superstitions of Hallowe’en
Precautions must be taken on this night of enchantment.
On Halloween, journeys must be finished before sunset.
A piece of bread crossed with salt (holy bread with witch- repellent salt) was carried in the pockets of travellers to keep them safe.

17. Fascinating Facts about Hallowe’en
Halloween is always celebrated on 31 October.
Halloween is one of the oldest celebrations in the world, dating back over 2000 years to the time of the Celts who lived in Britain
Halloween is also know by other names:
All Hallows Eve Samhain All Hallowtide The Feast of the Dead The Day of the Dead
Halloween is correctly spelt as Hallowe’en.

18. Fascinating Facts about Hallowe’en
It is thought that the colours orange and black became Halloween colours because orange is associated with harvests (Halloween marks the end of harvest) and black is associated with death.
Black cats were originally believed to protect witches' powers from negative forces.

19. Fascinating Facts about Hallowe’en
Ringing a bell scares evil spirits away.
If you see a spider on this night, it could be the spirit of a dead loved one who is watching you.
To meet a witch, put your clothes on inside out and walk backwards on Halloween night.

20. Symbols of Hallowe’en
There are various symbols associated with Halloween. The colours orange and black are very common.
Other symbols include pumpkin lanterns, witches, wizards, ghosts, spirits and characters from horror films.

21. Animals associated with the festival include bats, spiders and black cats.