This document summarizes the origins and traditions of Halloween. It describes how Halloween has its origins in ancient European traditions honoring the dead. It was traditionally celebrated by carving pumpkins, lighting candles to ward off evil spirits, and dressing up as witches, ghosts or other supernatural figures. The symbols of Halloween like pumpkins, skeletons, bats, black cats and spiders are explained in the context of their historical supernatural meanings in Halloween traditions.

2. Halloween is the name
of a popular celebration
of pre-Christian origin,
now typically American
and Canadian, which is
celebrated on the
evening of October 31st .
However, its ancient
origins lie in the distant
past of the European
tradition.

3. CUSTOMS

4. Pumpkin It is customary to
carve Halloween
pumpkins with
menacing faces
and put a candle
inside. It was a
way to send
devils and evils
spirit out of the
earth.

5. Witches
 The practice
also refers to
the witches. It
was thought
that they
wandered in the
darkness to
frighten . So the
light of the
candles was a
weapon against
them.

6. Owls
Spiders
Skeleton
Cats
Colours
Bats
OTHER
SYMBOLS:

7. OWLS
 Due to their status as wise creatures,
and their long-standing association to
the spiritual side of life, it common
sense to consider owls sacred during
Halloween.

8. SPIDERS
 Spiders are
creatures
considered
to be
endowed
with
supernatural
qualities

9. Bats
 Bats are known as
symbols of bad
luck or evil and
associated with
Halloween.
Bats were thought
to indicate the
presence of spirits
or ghosts. One
superstition says
that if a bat flies
around a house
three times on
Halloween, death
will be coming
soon.

10. Cats
 In ancient religions,
black cats were
considered to be
able to foretell the
future. During the
Middle Ages it was
believed that
witches could turn
themselves into
black cats. Thus
when such a cat
was seen, it was
considered to be a
witch. That’s why
many black cats
were killed and
thrown into the fire.

11. Jack-o'-lantern
The carved jack-o'-lantern, lit by a
candle inside, is one of Halloween's
most prominent symbols. Many
families that celebrate Halloween carve
a pumpkin into a frightening or comical
face and place it on their home's
doorstep after dark.

12. SKELETON
The skeleton is a symbolic (and
physical) reminder of what remains
of life.

13. Ghosts
 The ghosts are the spirits of the dead,
that during the night of Halloween,
when the barriers between the world of
the living and the world of the dead
become thinner, stir to scare and make
jokes.

14. Colours
 Colour Symbolism:
 Black : death, night, witches, black
cats, bats, vampires
 Orange: pumpkins, jack o' lanterns,
Autumn
 Purple:night, the supernatural,
mysticism
 Green :goblins, monsters
 Red: blood, evil

15. Children dress up as ghosts,witches or skeletons
and call at houses playing “trick or treat ?“.
If the person opening the door gives them sweets
or money (a treat) they go away; otherwise they
play a trick.
Children sing :
TRICK OR TREAT?
SMELL MY FEET
GIVE ME SOMETHING
GOOD TO EAT!
Trick or treat?

16. GAMES

19. Match the
pictures
with the
numbers