The Story of Halloween

• Mentorles
• Voortgezet speciaal onderwijs
• Leerroute 7

Halloween 

Spooky origins, fun facts, and modern traditions!




“I can understand short texts and videos about cultural traditions, and describe Halloween traditions in simple words.”

What do you think of when you hear “Halloween”?

Costumes

Candy

Ghosts

Pumpkins 🎃

Scary movies 👻
>“Do we celebrate Halloween in the Netherlands? How?”

Reading: The Origins

Halloween started more than 2,000 years ago with the Celtic festival Samhain (pronounced “sow-in”).

The Celts believed that on October 31, the line between the living and the dead became blurry.

People lit bonfires and wore costumes to scare away ghosts.

Later, the Christian church changed it to All Hallows’ Eve — the night before All Saints’ Day.

That name became “Halloween.”

What did the Celts do on Halloween night?

1. Visit family
2. Scare ghosts away
3. Go trick-or-treating

Who Were the Celts?

The Celts were groups of people who lived in Europe more than 2,000 years ago — especially in the areas we now call Ireland, Scotland, and Wales.

They were farmers, warriors, and artists who believed strongly in nature and the spirit world.

The Celts thought that during the festival of Samhain (October 31), the world of the living and the world of the dead came close together.

On that night, they lit big bonfires, wore animal skins and masks, and made offerings to keep spirits happy and protect their villages.

Many of their beliefs and traditions became part of what we now call Halloween!

People began to call him “Jack of the Lantern” — Jack O’Lantern.

When Irish families moved to America, they used pumpkins instead of turnips — and that’s how our Halloween Jack O’Lantern tradition began!

Legend: The Story of Jack O’Lantern

Long ago in Ireland, there lived a man called Stingy Jack.

Jack was clever, but selfish and greedy. One night, he invited the Devil to have a drink with him. When it was time to pay, Jack didn’t want to spend his own money.

He tricked the Devil into turning into a coin to pay for the drinks — but Jack put the coin in his pocket next to a silver cross, trapping the Devil inside.

Jack only freed him after making the Devil promise never to take his soul. Many years later, Jack died. But because he had lived a bad life, Heaven refused to let him in. When he went to Hell, the Devil kept his promise and shut the gates.

Jack was doomed to wander the Earth forever in darkness.

The Devil threw him one small burning coal from the fires of Hell to light his way. Jack placed the coal inside a hollowed-out turnip and has carried it ever since.

People began to call him “Jack of the Lantern” — Jack O’Lantern.

When Irish families moved to America, they used pumpkins instead of turnips — and that’s how our Halloween Jack O’Lantern tradition began!

What did Jack carry with him?

1. A pumpkin
2. A candle
3. A burning coal

Why couldn’t Jack go to Heaven or Hell?

A. Heaven didn’t want him, and the Devil kept his promise

What does the burning coal represent?

The small piece of Hell Jack carries with him — his punishment.

The eternal flame of his curse — a reminder that his choices follow him forever.

And in folklore terms: the light between worlds, since he is trapped between life and death.

What lesson do you think this story teaches?

Don’t be greedy, every action has consequences, you can’t outsmart evil forever.

Costume

Trick-or-treat

Pumpkin

Ghost

Bonfire

Orange vegetable used for decoration

Spirit of a dead person

Clothes you wear to look like someone else

Go door to door asking for candyText

Large outdoor fire

Today:

Today, Halloween is very popular in the U.S.

Children wear costumes and go door-to-door shouting “Trick or treat!”

People decorate their houses with skeletons, spiders, and pumpkins.

Adults also celebrate with parties, scary movies, and haunted houses.

Do you celebrate Halloween in the Netherlands?
If yes, how is it different from the U.S.?
If not, what other holiday feels similar (Sint Maarten, Carnival, etc.)?

Where did Halloween begin?

1. America
2. Ireland
3. France

What was used before pumpkins?

1. Turnips
2. Apples
3. Watermelons

What animal is thought to bring bad luck?

1. Black dog
2. Black cat
3. Black hamster

Today, many people see black cats as a symbol of Halloween or bad luck, but that idea comes from old superstitions in Europe.

In the Middle Ages, people believed in witches and magic.

Some thought witches could turn into black cats or that black cats were their animal helpers.

Because black cats moved quietly at night and were hard to see in the dark, people began to connect them with dark powers and bad omens.

In some countries, it was even said that if a black cat crossed your path, something unlucky would happen.

However, not all cultures think this way!

In Scotland, Ireland, and Japan, black cats can actually mean good luck and protection.

Do you believe in good luck or bad luck symbols? Which ones?

Would you rather…?

Sleep in a haunted house

Walk through a dark forest?

Would you rather…?

Eat 100 candies

or carve 10 pumpkins?

Would you rather…?

Watch a scary movie

read a ghost story?

Creative Task

Create and draw your own Halloween monster or costume idea!

Write a short description:

What’s its name?

What does it look like?

What does it do on Halloween night?

I can explain what Halloween is and where it comes from.

😒🙁😐🙂😃

I can describe Halloween traditions in English.

😒🙁😐🙂😃

I can use vocabulary like costume, pumpkin, ghost, bonfire.

😒🙁😐🙂😃