HALLOWEEN

What day of the month is Halloween?
It is on 31 of October

Why is halloween celebrated?
Well, here in mexico many of us celebrate the two things, but the tradition of Mexico is the day of Deaths, and we use to put and ofrenda, to remember our parents that had leaved us, and we put candles, food, pumpkin, the food that they liked, also we visit the cementaries.
In mexico the children with customs, used to knock doors, to get candies, they want "calaverita".

Can you explain the history of Halloween?
The meaning is All Hallows Eve, or the night before the 'All Hallows', also called 'All Hallowmas', or 'All Saints', or 'All Souls' Day, observed on November 1. The origin of this tradition dates back 3,000 years with the celtic celebration. It was believed that the souls of the dead were closest to this world and was the best time to contact them to say good bye or to say we love them, we remember our loved parents. On this night, glowing jack-o-lanterns, carved from turnips or gourds, were set on porches and in windows to welcome deceased loved ones, but also to act as protection against malevolent spirits.It was a creation of the Christian church.

How is Halloween celebrated in your country?
Here in Mexico we use to visit cementaries, to get an ofrenda in our homes, we put also a photograph of our dead parents, and it is a big tradition, to put candles, to give them light, it seems, like they come to our houses, to eat the food they liked, we remember them.
Many of the people stay at cementaries all night since 31 to 1st or 2nd of november, they visited them.

Do you believe in ghosts?
I believe in spirits, that they have to passed many doors or dimesions, and they are around us.

What makes you afraid of ghosts?
I think that if you got many strange things, and you don´t get the solution, you start keeping afraid ideas, you are scared all time, because you don´t see them.

What are some of the symbols of Halloween?
The customs, pumpkins, witches,deaths,black cats,bad luck, candies,trick or treat, and many thinks of the unreal world.

What kind of costume are you going to wear to the Halloween party?
I´m going to be a black cat.

Is your pumpkin still out ?
Well in Mexico we use to do candy of pumpkin(dulce de calabaza)and we also put it in the ofrenda, or you can make like a lamp, beacuse you can get clean the pumpkin and also put a candle inside.

Are you still eating Halloween candy ?
well, my sister does she share me of her candies, only I got a custom and go to hallowen parties, this is so funny.

Activity
1. The celebration of Samhain used to take two days.True
2. Celtic tribes celebrated the end of summer on October 31st.True False
3. First jack-o-lanterns were carved from turnips.True
4. Jack-o-lanterns were supposed to scare away evil spirits.True
5. Samhain was the festival of satan.False
6. Halloween was celebrated in America long before 1800's.False
7. Irish settlers brought Halloween to America.True
8. The souls of the dead were believed to be closest to this world on October 31st.True
9.Burning twigs were used inside a pumpkin as a source of light.True
10. Samhain meant "Summer's End".True