Ghosts, witches, jack-o-lanterns, black cats, and skeletons are all symbols of the holiday known as Halloween. Celebrated in the United States on October 31, it has become a festival where children dress in costumes and visit neighbors to ask for treats.

The origin of Halloween can be traced back to the ancient Celts who inhabited parts of France and Ireland more than 2,000 years ago. At the end of the summer these people honored Samhain, who was the lord of the dead. On this day, the high priests of the Celts, or Druids, ordered the people to put out their hearth fires. The Druids then built a huge new bonfire that was considered sacred. Into this new fire they threw crops, animals, and even human sacrifices. Then each family relit its hearth fire from the new year's fire. It was believed that Samhain allowed the souls of the dead to return to roam the earth on this night.

Many customs of the Celts survived after they became Christians. In 800 A.D. the Roman Catholic church established All Saints' Day on November 1 to honor dead saints. The mass said on this day was called All Hallows and the evening before was called All Hallows' Eve – or Halloween. The people made the old pagan customs part of the new Christian holy day.

There remain several interesting customs associated with Halloween:

• Carved-out pumpkins and potatoes with candles inserted were used as lanterns by the Irish. There is a legend that jack-o-lanterns were named for a man named Jack, who was such a miser that he was not allowed into heaven. He had also played tricks on the devil and was not allowed into hell. Jack has to walk the earth with his lantern until Judgement Day.
• In England, Halloween was known as Snap Apple Night and people sat around a fire telling stories and bobbing for apples.
• In Wales, poor people begged for treats in return for saying prayers for the dead.

Activities

1. This is a good chance to teach poetry writing. Epitaphs – two-line poems in aa rhyme scheme – are fun to teach at Halloween time. Read some poetry with a definite beat and have the children clap to the accented syllable. Have them write funny epitaphs for famous historical figures you're studying:

   Here lies the body of Billy the Kid
   Of whom Sheriff Pat Garrett got rid

   In his green tights he was misunderstood
   Here lies Marian's Robin Hood

2. For arts and crafts, have your students make their chairs into tombstones
   What you'll need
   • Matboard
   • Paintbrushes
   • Black and white paint and/or chalk
   • Gray paint, preferably one with texture to give it a rough look

   What to do
   

   • Cut the matboard to match the size of the chair backs in your classroom.
   • Paint them gray, and let dry.
   • Use the black and white paint and/or chalk to draw gravestone and spooky images on the front.
   • Use string to tie them to the back of the chairs.
     
     
3. Children may report on the ways Halloween is celebrated in other countries; they might dress in native costumes of that country when Halloween is celebrated in your school.