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 TWO 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
2006 Ilkley Literature Festival, who laughed, especially at the menu.
The idea of going home to spooky dreams made them smile too.