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- recorded reading
1 Halloween (31 October) originated among the Celts in Ireland, Britain and France as
a pagan celtic harvest festival and the festival dates back more than 2000 years.
2 In the 19th century, Scottish, Irish and other immigrants took versions of this festival to
Canada and America.
3 Halloween (formerly Hallow’en) is the shortened form of All Hallows Evening,
(sometimes called All Hallows Eve) - ie the evening before All Hallows day
(which is another name for All Saints’ Day). All Hallows Day was a day of religious festivities.
4 Halloween is sometimes called “Pooky night” in some parts of Ireland, named after
the Puca, a mischievous little spirit. It can also be called: Samhain, All Hallowtide,
The Feast of the Dead or The Day of the Dead.
5 Halloween is often linked to the occult and is a time when some people think that the
spiritual world is most likely to link up with the physical world.
6 People, many years ago, used to celebrate New Year on November 1st.
LINKS:
A website that is well worth visiting is the one which is made by
Woodlands Junior School, Tonbridge, Kent
JOSIE’S NOTE ON THE FOLLOWING HALLOWEEN POEMS
I’ve written these two quite different poems for Halloween. The first one is a funny children’s poem,
which is designed to stimulate children’s imaginations and lead on to class discussion as to what
do they do at their Halloween parties.
What do they eat and drink, what do they wear and what games do they play?
The second poem is perhaps a little more sinister, but I am told by an older child in a review
of this poem:
HALLOWEEN SECRETS
“I think older children would think it delicious. It is ghoulish and mildly scary, but no-one gets hurt
and they get to spy on demons etc. at their Halloween Ball. I thought the poem’s rhythm flowed
really well and the whole piece brought the scene vividly to view.”
I think this is what I had in mind when I wrote Halloween Secrets. Macabre mystical musings,
ghastly
ghosts or fiendish felons aren’t really my scene, but I wanted to write something which showed how
differently the same subject could be tackled for different age groups.
I think that dwelling on the supernatural isn’t good for young minds, but lightly touching on it in a
poem can bring laughter, or stir the imagination.
“Halloween at Spooks’ Palace” was tested on the children who came to my poetry readings at the
Ilkley Literature Festival, who laughed, especially at the menu.
The idea of going home to spooky dreams made them smile too.
By Josie Whitehead
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recorded reading
The Spooky King and Spooky Queen
Thought that it would be such fun
If they held a Halloween Party
And invited friends to come.
“Spooks Palace is so gloomy.
But we’ll see what can be done,
To make our Spooky Palace
A place for having fun.”
They painted giant footprints
Which led up to their door.
And made lots of pumpkin lanterns –
Which was really quite a chore.
They made ghostly little figures,
Which floated through the air;
And such delicious things to eat,
Which took ages to prepare.
“Let’s make a jug of beetle juice,
And a monster munchy pie.
Some little witches’ broom sticks
And some spiders’ legs we’ll fry.”
The Spooky King and Spooky Queen
Said: “Our ghosts can come and play –
But do you think that all this partying
Might drive our bats away?”
The night arrived, the children came –
Their costumes looked a treat.
Witches, ghosts and skeletons
Came tripping down the street.
The party was a great success –
They ate and drank and played.
The ghosties seemed to come and go,
While the lanterns gently swayed.
By ten o’clock they were all so tired –
And thanked the King and Queen.
Then went off home quite quickly
To dream some spooky dreams.
Copyright 2006
When the moon’s shining high in the sky
With the bats circling far up on high
When the branches of trees
Dance in tune with the breeze
Then the witches and ghouls will pass by.
Hear the skeletons rattle their bones
Ghostly figures in shadows will moan
Far, far from mankind
You’ll find them entwined
Whilst King Demon sits on his throne.
The witches have come on their brooms -
Ghostly figures rise up from their tombs.
If you listen you’ll hear
Spooky music so clear -
As they dance in the encircling gloom.
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With mystical movements they sway
In the soft swirling mist they display
Silvery shadows and shapes,
Such a strange scene this makes
As they waltz through the night until day.
When the morning sun shines in the sky
Party guests will have said their goodbyes.
Woodland secrets are safe
From the whole human race –
Halloween’s gone in the blink of an eye.
Copyright 2006