1. Halloween comes from an ancient Celtic festival, Samhain. Celtic people celebrated Samhain on October 31st. Samhain marked the end of the agricultural year and the beginning of winter.
2. Celtic people thought that on that night the barriers between our world and the spirit world almost disappeared. So the souls of the dead returned to earth.
3. Celtic people made bonfires to frighten the evil spirits. In England, turnips were hollowed out and made into lanterns.
4. The Catholic Church adopted this tradition. The name Samhain changed into "All Hallows Eve". This expression means "the night before All Souls Day".
5. This tradition arrived to North America. Here pumpkins were used as
6. Nowadays, the expression "All Hallows Eve" is "Halloween". This is a day for fun. Children dress up and play games
Parent Tip: Review the logic above to help your child master the concept of halloween history worksheet.
