FESTIVALS AROUND THE WORLD

Festivals are a great way to learn about international culture and learn English!!

We are going to start learning about Halloween which is very close on time!



HALLOWEEN WEBQUEST:

Do you know the origin of the word Halloween?  Find out from the internet and explain it in your own words.

Now answer the following questions and be prepared to talk about them in class:

What do you know about Halloween?

Do you know the real origin of this celebration?

Watch this video from the History website:

 

Activity 1: Halloween’s history

Visit www.history.com/topics/halloween/history-of-halloween and read the first section entitled ‘Ancient origins of Halloween’. Look for the answers to these 13 (unlucky for some) questions. Share your answers with your classmates.

1. Where is the celebration of Halloween thought to have come from?
2. The Celts occupied an area of land covering three modern-day countries or regions. What are they?
3. Why did the Celts celebrate Samhain on the night of 31 October?
4. What did the Celts believe the ghosts of the dead would damage?
5. To commemorate the event, what did the Druids build?
6. What costumes did they wear?
7. What did they re-light to help protect them from the coming winter?
8. By 43 AD, who had conquered the Celts?
9. What two other festivals were combined with Samhain?
10. After many changes due to the spread of Christianity, what new celebration was created in 1000 AD?
11. What were the similarities between this day and Samhain?
12. What was another name given to this celebration?
13. What was the night before called and what did this finally become?

Activity 2: Popular Halloween traditions

Jack-o’-lantern

Read the introductory paragraph at www.history.com/topics/halloween/jack-olantern-history and describe the jack-o’-lantern tradition to your partner. Then, read the full article entitled ‘The Legend of “Stingy Jack”’. Look for the answers to the following questions. Share your answers with your classmates.

1. The jack-o’-lantern tradition originated from which Irish myth?  What happened when Jack invited the Devil for a drink with him?
2. What did Jack do with the coin instead? Why?
3. Under what condition did Jack free the devil?
4. What trick did Jack play the following year and how did he prevent the devil coming down from the tree?
5. What happened soon after?
6. What problem did Jack then face?
7. What did the Irish call Jack’s ghost?
8. What did the Irish then begin to make and place in their windows and doorways and why?
9. What did the vegetable become in America?

Apple-bobbing

Read the first paragraph of this website link about the rules of apple-bobbing: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apple_bobbing. Answer the following questions and share your answers with a partner.

1. How do you set up the game?
2. Why are apples used?
3. What do players use to catch the apples?
4. Which part of their body are they prevented from using?

Trick-or-treating

Read the first two paragraphs of this website link about the tradition of ’trick-or-treating’: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trick-or-treating and answer the following questions, sharing your answers with a partner.

1. What do children ask for when they travel from house to house? 
2. What do children say when they arrive at a house?
3. What is usually the ’trick’?
4. Since when has this tradition been practised in North America?
5. What do homeowners who wish to participate usually do to their houses?
6. Since when have people in Britain and Ireland practised the tradition of asking for food at Halloween?
7. What else have they been doing since then?
8. Trick-or-treating has become prevalent in countries outside of America - what do the children ask for in Mexico?

Activity 3: Halloween around the world

Although Halloween is often seen as a predominantly American celebration, you’ll be surprised to know that many countries around the world also celebrate Halloween. Many have their own unique traditions.

a. Tell your classmates if and how your country celebrates Halloween.

b. Your teacher will give you a country to research from this website link: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geography_of_Halloween. Before you begin your research, consider the following questions:

1. How long has your chosen country been celebrating Halloween?
2. What unique traditions does it have?
3. What costumes do people dress up in?
4. Why has Halloween become popular there?

Note: You may not find information on all these questions, but as you read, write down any other interesting facts you discover about your chosen country to share with your classmates. Write your answers in note form and share your findings with your classmates.

Activity 4: Terrifying tales

Go to the following website and read the story: www.americanfolklore.net/folklore/2009/10/the_hairy_toe.html. Answer the following 13 (unlucky for some) questions below.

1. What was the woman digging up to cook for dinner?
2. What did she uncover?
3. Why did she put the thing that she found in her basket?
4. What did she cook with it?
5. Later that night, what did the voice coming from the woods say?
6. Was the voice heard in the same place or was it getting closer?
7. Where was the voice coming from when the old lady woke up?
8. What did she do when she jumped out of bed?
9. Where was the old lady when she saw the massive figure in her doorway?
10. How did the old lady respond to the figure?
11. What finally happened to the old lady?
12. What was the only clue to what happened?
13. What was distinct about the footprint?

 

FESTIVALS IN YOUR AREA

Are there any popular festivals in your area around this time of year?

Find out about San Frutos in Segovia and take notes to explain them in class.

Feel free to talk about other popular festivals from your town/village