Monday, 24 November 2008
Saturday, 8 November 2008
Sunday, 2 November 2008
Halloween day
Can you answer the following questions?
When is Hallowe'en?
What does the word 'Hallowe'en' mean?
Why is Hallowe'en celebrated?
Whv do people dress up as witches and ghosts?
What is 'Trick or treat'?
Whv are pumpkins made into lanterns?
Answers to Hallowe'en questions
When is Hallowe'en?
The night of the 31st of October.
What does the word 'Hallowe'en' mean?
All Hallows' Eve. The evening before All Hallows' Day or All Saints Day (1st November).
Why is Hallowe'en celebrated?
Hallowe'en was originally a pagan festival of the dead. Celts in Ireland had a festival called 'Samhain' (pronounced 'sow-in'), which marked the official end of summer and the beginning of the Celtic New Year. On this night the souls of the dead were said to come out and move freely in the land of the living. The tradition of Hallowe'en was taken to the United States by Irish emigrants, and it is now spreading in Britain and other European countries.
Whv do people dress up as witches and ghosts?
In addition to the souls of the dead, the Devil, witches and numerous spirits are believed to be out, and at the peak of their supernatural powers.
What is 'Trick or treat'?
According to an old Irish peasant practice, villagers would go from house to house to ask for soul cakes (bread with currants) in return for promises of prosperity or protection against bad luck. Now children and teenagers go from house to house asking for small gifts of money, fruit or sweets in return for not playing tricks on the people inside.
Whv are pumpkins made into lanterns?
According to Irish legend, when a notorious drunkard called Jack died, he was refused entry to Heaven because of his meanness, and he was banned from Hell because he had tricked the Devil on several occasions. However, the Devil gave him a piece of coal to help him find his way in the dark of purgatory, which Jack put into a turnip to make a lantern. The Irish made similar lanterns to represent the souls of the dead on Hallowe'en, but when they emigrated to America they could not find many turnips so they used pumpkins instead.
When is Hallowe'en?
The night of the 31st of October.
What does the word 'Hallowe'en' mean?
All Hallows' Eve. The evening before All Hallows' Day or All Saints Day (1st November).
Why is Hallowe'en celebrated?
Hallowe'en was originally a pagan festival of the dead. Celts in Ireland had a festival called 'Samhain' (pronounced 'sow-in'), which marked the official end of summer and the beginning of the Celtic New Year. On this night the souls of the dead were said to come out and move freely in the land of the living. The tradition of Hallowe'en was taken to the United States by Irish emigrants, and it is now spreading in Britain and other European countries.
Whv do people dress up as witches and ghosts?
In addition to the souls of the dead, the Devil, witches and numerous spirits are believed to be out, and at the peak of their supernatural powers.
What is 'Trick or treat'?
According to an old Irish peasant practice, villagers would go from house to house to ask for soul cakes (bread with currants) in return for promises of prosperity or protection against bad luck. Now children and teenagers go from house to house asking for small gifts of money, fruit or sweets in return for not playing tricks on the people inside.
Whv are pumpkins made into lanterns?
According to Irish legend, when a notorious drunkard called Jack died, he was refused entry to Heaven because of his meanness, and he was banned from Hell because he had tricked the Devil on several occasions. However, the Devil gave him a piece of coal to help him find his way in the dark of purgatory, which Jack put into a turnip to make a lantern. The Irish made similar lanterns to represent the souls of the dead on Hallowe'en, but when they emigrated to America they could not find many turnips so they used pumpkins instead.
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