HALLOWEEN

Halloween is held each year on October 31 in the fall.

HISTORY
Halloween started as a Celtic holiday called
Samhain to mark the end of summer. People
wore masks and set out treats for ghosts.
Christians turned Samhain into All Hallows’ Day to
honor saints. People lit huge bonfires and wore
costumes to calm the spirits down or scare them away. The
night before honored loved ones who had died. It was called All
Hallows’ Eve, later shortened to Halloween. It is a fun holiday
celebrated many people. It became popular in the United States
in the 1800s. Many other countries in Europe and Australia have
their own traditions.
DECORATIONS
Yards are decorated with items like
pumpkins, black cats, and spiders. Black and
orange are popular Halloween colors. Families
often carve pumpkins to make jack-o’-
lanterns to scare ghosts away. Candles are
placed inside them to make them glow.

TRADITIONS
Candy apples are a tasty treat made around
Halloween. Many people hold parties where they
eat and bob for apples and drink
apple cider. Both children and adults
enjoy dressing up for Halloween.
Some dress in scary costumes,
while others wear funny ones. People even dress up
their pets sometimes. They go to houses to trick-
or-treat and get candy. People also visit haunted
houses and watch scary movies. Halloween is a
fun holiday that brings many people together.
©Teaching to the Middle
Name _____________________________________________

HALLOWEEN
Find the Proof: Answer each question and underline where
you found the answers in the passage with the assigned color.
1. What two colors are most popular at
Halloween?
2. What was the original name of Halloween?

3. What is an activity people do at Halloween

parties?
4. What is the date of Halloween each year?

5. Name an item people put in their yards to

decorate for Halloween.
6. Why were huge bonfires lit during Samhain?

7. What do people usually get when they go trick

or-treating?
8. When did Halloween become popular in the United
States?
Short Answer: Answer each question.

9. Name something you learned about Halloween from this article.

10. Do you enjoy Halloween? Why or why not?

11. If you could dress up as anything for Halloween this year,

what would you choose, and why?

©Teaching to the Middle