Halloween customs.

Most halloween customs came from the land of the Celts. This includes England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales and part of France.

The Druid religion lasted longest in Ireland and Scotland. Haloween was most important in these two countries.

People were afraid to be alone. So they gathered in groups. Sometimes they wore costumes. They hoped the evil spirits would think they were other spirits and leave them alone.

Later, people began to have good times so they would forget about the spirits. The gatherings became merrier and merrier. Only grownups had this fun. Children joined in later. Finally they took over the holiday for themselves.

Did you ever wonder how certain customs and superstitions got started?

An old Irish legend tells of a stingy man named Jack who was ordered to wander the Earth after he died, searching for a resting place. Because of all his bad deeds, Jack was forbidden to enter heaven.

Jack-O-Lanterns.

When the devil gave Jack a piece of burning coal, Jack stuffedit into a turnip, making a lantern to help light his way. Irish children used to carve smiling faces on turnips. They called the carved turnips «bogies», and they carried the bogies on Haloween night to scare away witches.

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When many Irish people moved to the United States, they brought their Halloween beliefs and customs with them. But instead of turnip, Irish children in America carved pumpkins. And when they put a candle inside, the Irish remembered the story of bad old Jack and the lantern. The carved pumpkin became a jack-o-lantern.

Long ago in Ireland, some people celebrated «Muck Olla» on Halloween night. They would put on white robes and horsehead masks, and then march from farm to farm begging for food or money in the name of the old Druid priest, Muck Olla. In exchange for the treats, the costumed beggars offered wishes for good luck and prosperity .

Trick-Or-Treating.

After many years, this custom changed. Children were the only ones who begged. Housewives gave them apples, buns, and money. The children chanted:

Trick-or-treat! Trick-or-treat!

• Give us something good to eat!
• Give us candy, give us cake,
• Give us something sweet to take!
• Give us cookies,fruit and gum,
• Hurry up and give us some!
• You have better do it quick
• Or we will surely play a trick!
• Trick-or-treat! Trick-or-treat!
• Give us something good to eat!

Superstitions.

Many Halloween superstitions started because people wanted to know what would happen to them in the future.

Girls would throw a nut into a fire to find out whether their boyfriends still loved them. If the nut burned, their boyfriends still loved them. But if the nut burst, the boyfriends didn`t care anymore. If a cat sat next to you on Halloween, you would have good fortune. If the cat jumped on your lap, you would enjoy fantastic luck.

• You could make a wish come true by eating a crust of bread befor going to bed on Halloween night.

• The Irish would cook up a dish in which they placed a ring, a thimble, a tiny doll, and a coin. If you got the ring, you would be married within a year. If you got the thimble, you`d never marry. If you found the doll in your serving, you would have children. And if you received the coin, great wealth would soon come to you.

American children got their Halloween customs from many countries. They are now giving to the children of many countries in return for the customs. Halloween is forming a ring of friendship around the world.

Thank you for attention!!!