2. Halloween is an ancient festival and its celebrated on the
31th of October. Halloween has its roots in the Celtic festival
which was when the Celts (the ancient inhabitants of Great
Britain) celebrated their New Year and the day they believed
that the souls of those who has died that year, progressed to
the underworld. It was said to be a night when ghosts, demons
and witches walk around the earth and people tried to calm
down them by offering nuts and berries.

3. Children dress up and walk around the streets
asking for candy from door to door. After
knocking at the door children shouted the phrase
«Trick or Treat». If people give them candy,
money or other reward, is explained that people
accepted the deal. If they don’t give children a
present, the boys will make a little joke, throw
eggs or shaving foam against the door.

4. Pumpkin Halloween, says the legend, used to light up the way back to the
world of the dead and they protected from evil spirits. For the first time,
Jack o’ Lanterns appeared in the UK, but they were made from the turnip.
Pumpkins named «Jack o’ Lanterns» in honor of a man named Jack. Jack
couldn’t go to the heaven because he was a miser and he couldn’t go to
the hell because he had played evil tricks to the devil. So Jack is forced to
wander the earth with his lantern until Judgment Day.

5. Fortunetelling and storytelling about
ghosts and witches are popular
activities.
Fortunetelling is an important part
of Halloween. For example, a coin, a
ring, and a thimble were baked into a
cake. It was believed that the person
who found the coin would become
wealthy. The one who found the ring
would marry soon. And the person
who found the thimble would never
get married. Today people practice
cardreading or palmistry.
People once believed that there were
many ghosts and witches on the
Earth and that they met on October
31 to worship the devil. Today, people
do not believe in ghosts and witches
but they like to tell stories about
them on Halloween.