Holidays & Events

Halloween
Intermediate Level

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 Halloween
Holidays & Events

Reading
1.  ctober 31 is Halloween. This is not a holiday, but
O 3. A
 dults sometimes celebrate Halloween too. They
it is a very special day for children in Canada and have special Halloween parties and dress up in
the United States. On Halloween, children dress costumes. One traditional custom of Halloween is
up in costumes to disguise themselves. Some to put a jack-o’-lantern in the window. To make a
wear masks and others wear makeup. In the jack-o’-lantern, clean out the inside of a pumpkin,
evening, they walk around their neighborhoods carve out a face, and put a candle inside. People
and go from door to door shouting “trick or treat,” often decorate their homes with pictures of
“Halloween apples,” or “shell out.” Children carry black cats, spiders, witches, bats, and ghosts.
bags to collect a variety of treats from their Because the traditional colors of Halloween
neighbors. People give out many different kinds of are black and orange, you can see many stores
treats, such as candy, chocolates, gum, popcorn, filled with products in these colors. Bakeries
etc. In the past, it was also very common to give sell cakes and cookies decorated for Halloween
children apples on Halloween. Children usually and grocery stores are filled with large bags of
collect many, many treats on this evening; the Halloween treats.
treats often last for several weeks.
4. B
 ecause Halloween is such a special day for
2. Children look forward to Halloween for a long children, it is important for parents to make sure
time before the day actually arrives. They have their children are safe on this day. Children should
fun deciding what special disguise they will choose wear bright or light costumes so motorists can
for Halloween and planning their costumes. Will see them easily. If children wear masks, the eye
they be ghosts or witches, pumpkins or princesses, holes must be big enough for the children to see
pirates or monsters, or perhaps a famous cartoon out of clearly. Small children should not go out
character or movie star this year? While some trick-or-treating alone. A parent or older brother
children wear store-bought costumes, many or sister should accompany them. Before children
others like to help their parents with the sewing eat their treats, parents should examine them
or preparation of their own special outfit. On carefully. Unfortunately, a cruel person might
Halloween, some children also collect money for put something dangerous into the children’s bags.
UNICEF (United Nations International Children’s This, of course, does not happen very often, but
Education Fund). They carry small black and it is better to be safe than sorry.
orange boxes to hold the money. It is a good idea
5. Have a safe and happy Halloween!
to have change ready for these children when they
come to your door. Many elementary schools hold
parties and celebrations on Halloween. Children
have fun bobbing for apples, carving pumpkins,
and sharing scary ghost stories.

Copyright 2015, Red River Press Inc. For use by members of ESL Library in accordance with membership terms. 2
 Halloween
Holidays & Events

Vocabulary Review
A. Matching

Match the words on the left to the correct meanings on the right.

1. disguise a) usual
2. mask b) to yell
3. neighborhood c) frightening
4. shout d) a driver
5. collect e) coins
6. variety f) candy, something special
7. treat g) to make beautiful by adding something
8. common h) to gather into one place
9. look forward to i) to cut using a knife
10. outfit j) a covering for the face
11. change k) to move up or down
12. bob l) a district or area where people live
13. carve m) a number of different things
14. scary n) to wait for something with happiness and excitement
15. decorate o) to change your appearance to hide your identity
16. motorist p) several pieces of clothing that go together

B. Complete the Sentences

Choose the correct word or phrase from the left column above to
complete the following sentences. (You may have to change the verb tense.)

1. After the long, cold winter, I am to spring.

2. She couldn’t sleep last night because she had seen a very movie.

3. The thief wore a during the bank robbery.

4. She bought a beautiful, new to wear to the party.

5. Many families gather together to a tree at Christmas.

6. If you don’t have a bus pass or bus tickets, you need to have exact when you take a bus.

7. That bakery has a large of cakes and cookies every day.

8. H
 e doesn’t want to move to a new apartment because right
now he lives in a very quiet, safe .

9. Many children like to for apples at Halloween parties.

10. She wore a long wig and dark glasses to her appearance.

Copyright 2015, Red River Press Inc. For use by members of ESL Library in accordance with membership terms. 3
 Halloween
Holidays & Events

Comprehension
Practice asking and answering the following questions with
your partner. Then write your answers in your notebook.

1. When is Halloween? 7. What kind of costumes do

children wear on Halloween?
2. Do people have to go to work on Halloween?
8. How do you make a jack-o’-lantern?
3. What do children wear on Halloween?
9. What are the traditional colors of Halloween?
4. What do children do on Halloween?
10. List four things parents and children can do
5. Why is it a good idea to have a dish of nickels,
to make Halloween a safe and fun evening.
dimes, quarters, etc. near your door on Halloween?
11. Explain the expression: “It’s better to
6. What do you usually see in
be safe than sorry.” Give an example.
people’s windows on Halloween?

Jack-o’-Lanterns
A. P
 ut in Order

The instructions below are in the wrong order.

Read the sentences and put them in the right order.

HOW TO CARVE A JACK-O’-LANTERN

Use a sharp knife and carve the pumpkin, following your drawing.
Spread newspapers on a table and place the pumpkin on top.
Light a candle and drip some wax into the bottom of the pumpkin.
Draw a face on the pumpkin with a pen or pencil.
Cut a circle on the top of the pumpkin for a lid.
Blow the candle out and hold it firmly in the melted wax until the wax hardens.
Buy a pumpkin with at least one good side.
Put the seeds on a cookie sheet, add salt, and bake in a warm oven till brown.
Get a pen or pencil, some newspaper, a spoon, a sharp
knife, a pumpkin, a candle, a cookie sheet, and some salt.
Scrape out the inside (seeds and membrane) of the pumpkin with a spoon.
On Halloween evening, light the candle, put on the lid, and place in your front window.
Eat your delicious pumpkin seeds!

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 Halloween
Holidays & Events

Jack-o’-Lanterns cont.
B. Complete the Story

Choose the correct word from the list on the right to fill in the blanks.

THE CUSTOM OF CARVING JACK-O’-LANTERNS Word List:

• lantern
The custom of jack-o’-lanterns comes from an old • represent
1. • tale
• resting
Irish folk about a man named Jack. According to the story, • wandering
2. • tricks
• carving
Jack always liked to play on people, and one time he played • burning
3.

a trick on the Devil. When Jack died, he couldn’t go to Heaven because he had done

many bad things in his life. He couldn’t go to Hell either because he had played a

trick on the Devil. Since then, Jack has been around

4.

the earth looking for a final place. He carries a

5.

to light his way in the darkness. Jack made his lantern

6.

by putting a piece of coal inside a pumpkin.

7.

The colors of Halloween, orange and black,

8.

the colors of pumpkins and the darkness of the night.

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 Halloween
Holidays & Events

Pair Work (Student A)

A. Sharing Information

You and your partner each have some information about the origins of
Halloween. Read your story and share your information with your partner.

THE ORIGINS OF HALLOWEEN THE CELTIC ORIGINS OF HALLOWEEN

The customs of Halloween come Two thousand years ago in northern Europe, the Celtic people
from several different cultures. worshipped nature and had many gods. The Celts celebrated their
The early Celtic people of Great New Year on November 1. This festival marked the end of their season of
Britain and northern France, the light and the beginning of the season of cold and darkness. On October 31,
Romans, and the early Christians their New Year’s Eve, they gathered together to honor one of their gods,
all had festivals that influenced the Samhain (pronounced sow-en). Samhain was the god of the dead. The
celebration of Halloween as we Celts believed that the spirits of dead people came to life and wandered
know it today. around outside at this time of year. The Celtic people did not want to be
hurt by the spirits, so they dressed in costumes to disguise themselves if
they had to go outside. They also put candles in their windows to help the
spirits find their way and they left offerings of food outside their homes so
the spirits would treat them kindly. This might explain our modern custom
of giving treats on Halloween.

B. Ask and Answer

Practice asking and answering the following questions with your partner.

1. Where did the Celtic people live?

2. When did they celebrate New Year’s Eve?

3. Who was Samhain?

4. Why did the Celts dress in costumes on October 31st?

5. Explain the modern custom of giving treats on Halloween.

6. What festival did the Romans celebrate around the end of October?

7. Where did the custom of bobbing for apples originate?

8. What holiday did the Christians celebrate on November 1st?

9. How did the Christians celebrate All Souls’ Day?

10. Explain the name Halloween.

Copyright 2015, Red River Press Inc. For use by members of ESL Library in accordance with membership terms. 6
 Halloween
Holidays & Events

Pair Work (Student B)

A. Sharing Information

You and your partner each have some information about the origins of
Halloween. Read your story and share your information with your partner.

THE ORIGINS OF HALLOWEEN THE ROMAN AND CHRISTIAN ORIGINS OF HALLOWEEN

The customs of Halloween come When the Romans invaded Britain, they brought many of their customs
from several different cultures. and festivals with them. One of these festivals, Pomona Day, took place
The early Celtic people of Great around the end of October and honored Pomona, the Roman goddess of
Britain and Northern France, the fruit and trees. The symbol of Pomona was the apple, which might explain
Romans, and the early Christians the origin of our modern custom of bobbing for apples. After hundreds of
all had festivals that influenced years, the festivals of the Celts and the Romans combined to form one major
the celebration of Halloween as fall holiday. With the spread of Christianity came new festivals. In the year
we know it today. 835, the Roman Catholic Church made a holiday on November 1 to honor
all the saints. This day was called All Saints’ Day or All Hallows. Many years
later, the church made November 2 All Souls’ Day to honor the dead. People
celebrated by making fires and dressing up as saints, devils, and angels.
After many years, the traditions of these holidays and the holidays of the
Celtic people combined and became known as Hallowed Evening, which was
celebrated on October 31. Eventually, the name was shortened to Halloween.

B. Ask and Answer

Practice asking and answering the following questions with your partner.

1. Where did the Celtic people live?

2. When did they celebrate New Year’s Eve?

3. Who was Samhain?

4. Why did the Celts dress in costumes on October 31st?

5. Explain the modern custom of giving treats on Halloween.

6. What festival did the Romans celebrate around the end of October?

7. Where did the custom of bobbing for apples originate?

8. What holiday did the Christians celebrate on November 1st?

9. How did the Christians celebrate All Souls’ Day?

10. Explain the name Halloween.

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 Halloween
Holidays & Events

Vocabulary, Idioms, and Expressions

A. Reference

VOCABULARY, IDIOM, OR EXPRESSION DEFINITION

the apple of one’s eye someone’s favorite person, a well-loved person

the Big Apple New York City

as blind as a bat to have very poor eyesight

as white as a ghost to be very pale, to have no color in one’s face

look like a skeleton to be very thin

a jack of all trades a person who has many skills

mask one’s feelings to cover or hide one’s true feelings

B. Complete the Sentences

Choose the correct idiom or expression from the list above to complete the sentences.

1. My grandfather has very thick glasses. He is .

2. I am very excited about our vacation. We’re going to the .

3. I never know if Mary is really happy or sad. She always .

4. You should start eating a lot more. You !

5. Mr. Baker is so proud of his youngest daughter. She is .

6. You look terrible! Are you feeling sick? You are .

7. Robert is a . He can fix anything.

C. Writing

In your notebook, write your own sentences using the idioms above.

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 Halloween
Holidays & Events

Class Activity
FIND SOMEONE WHO...

Walk around the classroom and ask your classmates questions.

Write the questions in the spaces provided below, and write
your classmate’s name on the right if he/she answers “yes.”

# Find someone... Question Name

1 who is a jack of all trades.

who is going to a
2
Halloween party this year.

who made a custume

3
for Halloween.

who has a similar celebration to

4
Halloween in his or her country.

5 who believes in ghosts.

6 who has been to the Big Apple.

7 who is afraid of spiders.

8 who likes costume parties.

who is planning to put a

9
jack-o’-lantern in his/her window.

who is going to give out

10
Halloween treats this year.

Copyright 2015, Red River Press Inc. For use by members of ESL Library in accordance with membership terms. 9