Easy Reading:
Halloween
Halloween (or Hallowe'en) is celebrated on October 31st in Canada and the United States. It is a day to think about scary, supernatural things, like ghosts, witches and vampires.
Children wear costumes and go from house to house. They ring doorbells and say, "Trick or treat!" At most houses, people give them candy or other treats. Some adults celebrate Halloween with costume parties for their friends. Jack-o-lanterns are another part of Halloween. To make a jack-o-lantern, cut the top off a pumpkin. Take out the soft part inside. Draw a face on the pumpkin with a marker. Use a sharp knife to cut the face out. Put a flashlight inside the pumpkin.
How did Halloween get started? Thousands of years ago, in Europe, some tribes started their new year at this time. They believed that, just before the new year, spirits wandered the earth. When the people became Christians, they began to celebrate All Saints' Day on November 1st. It was a time to think about people who had died. In Britain, poor people went from house to house. They asked for food, in return, they promised to pray for dead members of the family. Over time, this turned into a game for children -- trick or treating.
Reprinted with permission:
Each Week for a Year: Readings for ESL Students on Everyday Life in the USA
by Jane Wangersky.
