What exactly is Halloween? For kids, this exciting holiday is just a fun time when they can pretend to be a character they idolize and get lots of candy for it. Best of all, they get to enjoy and bond with friends and family. However, as children grow up, they’ll become more curious and start asking questions. Why do we celebrate Halloween?
This is the time when teachers and parents begin to wonder how to teach kids the history of Halloween. Naturally, there are many aspects of the origins of Halloween that might be considered too dark and scary for young children, especially kindergarten or elementary school kids. So, what’s the best approach when teaching kids about Halloween?
In this article, we’ll break down the history of Halloween, its folklore, and traditions like carving pumpkins or dressing up in costumes. After this, we’ll share tips on how to teach kids the history of Halloween, as well as how to do it using fun and educational Halloween activities.
But, before we continue, we would like to say a few words.
We understand that there’s controversy surrounding Halloween, and this article is by no means an endorsement for or against celebrating or taking part in the holiday. We respect everyone’s opinions, which is why we made sure to include fun alternative activities to Halloween for those who choose not to celebrate it. All the information about the origins, history, and traditions are in accordance with authoritative sites like History.com and Library of Congress, and we’re aware the information is open for interpretation.
The Origins of Halloween
Millions of Americans gather annually on October 31 to celebrate Halloween, but it was the Irish who first brought this holiday to America. The tradition that we know as Halloween today has its origins in the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain.
Samhain or “summer’s end” (also known as simply November in Irish) was first observed by Celtic people in northwest Europe in the middle ages (maybe even before). Irish sagas written by monks in the 9th and 12th centuries are the primary sources from which we draw info about this holiday, although there aren’t many written accounts on how Samhain was celebrated.
We know that Samhain was one of the four Gaelic harvest festivals, and in the Gaelic calendar, this holiday marks the end of the year. Celtic people brought crops and slaughtered animals because they believed that would help them ward off evil spirits as the days became shorter.
From Samhain to Halloween
As you might have noticed, Samhain is not the same as Halloween today, and this is because there’s a lot of history in between.
We also know that pagans and witches took part in the Celtic feast of that time. But, the middle ages was the period when Christianity spread through Europe and gained influence, so Pope Gregory the First decided to transform all pagan holidays into Christian ones instead of forbidding them. These pagan traditions affected Samhain as much as Samhain affected All Saints Day.
In the 8th century, Pope Gregory III decided that November 1st was going to be a celebration in honor of all saints, known as All Saints Day, while the evening before the holiday became known as All Hallows Eve (later Halloween).
Throughout the years, as people migrated from one place to another, Samhain, All Saints Day, and All Hallows Eve all took elements from one another. In the 1840s, when a lot of Irish migrated to the United States, they brought with them a lot of the traditions of the ancient holiday Samhain. A good example of this would be dressing up to ward off evil spirits, which as a tradition is now part of Halloween today.
To what extent is Halloween a reflection of the ancient Samhain, All Saints Day, a pagan holiday, or a fun activity without religious connotation is still up for debate, and a lot of people have different opinions.
While some Christians advocate against it because it overshadowed All Saints Day or they believe Samhain was the “lord of death” (misconception) and celebrating Halloween is worshipping death, others find it harmless. Whether you decide to take part in Halloween (in whatever form you feel comfortable) and share the history of this holiday with your kids or completely avoid it, we respect your decision. Below, we share a variety of different Halloween and non-Halloween activities for kids through which they can learn more about this holiday or period (Harvest and preparation for winter).
History of Halloween Traditions
We can easily understand how the migrations of different cultures brought certain traditions in the United States, but people didn’t quite hand-off candy and let children dress up as Batman back then. So, how did these traditions came to be associated with the Halloween we know and love today?
Halloween Folklore
Samhain was a celebration about the end of summer and the beginning of winter. It was associated with harvesting rituals and bonfires rather than seen as an inspiration for trick-or-treating. So, how does it all come together?
All Saints Day or All Hallows Day
Christians believed that November 1st should be the day when all the Christian saints should be honored and celebrated. Plus, they hoped that eventually, this would replace the festivals in honor of Samhain, but unfortunately, that didn’t happen. Nevertheless, many countries throughout the world celebrate All Saints Day (or honor departed loved ones) by attending Mass and praying for those who’ve reached heaven (saints). This is not the same with All Souls Day – honoring souls who’ve not reached heaven.
Jack-o-lanterns
Carved pumpkins, or popularly known as Jack-o-lanterns, are one of the key symbols of Halloween today. This practice is part of the Irish beliefs associated with Samhain, and they brought this tradition to America.
The name Jack-o-lantern originates from an Irish folktale about a man named Stingy Jack. According to the legend, Stingy Jack had tricked the Devil multiple times with mischief and made the Devil promise not to bother him or claim his soul. However, once Jack died, God didn’t want him in heaven, and the Devil didn’t want him in hell, so he sent Jack off into the dark night with only a burning coal to show him the way. Jack put the burning coal into a carved turnip and has been walking in the nights ever since, carrying the burning coal. This is why the Irish called him “Jack of the Lantern,” or simply Jack-o-lantern.
To frighten and ward off “Jack of the Lantern”, the Irish began the tradition of carving demonic or scary faces in pumpkins and lighting them up.
Trick-or-treating
Trick-or-treating is yet another defining tradition of Halloween. The origins of this practice still remain somewhat of a mystery, but the beginnings can be traced to ancient Celtic traditions, early Roman Catholic holidays, and even 17th-century British politics.
In some Celtic traditions, villagers disguised themselves with costumes made of animal skin because they believed that would scare off ghosts. When Christianity spread through the territory of the Celts and tried to replace Samhain with All Saints Day, celebrations in England resembled the old Celtic traditions, an example of which would be the tradition of disguising other people or animals. This practice in England was called “souling” (poor people knock on the door of wealthy families and ask for food in exchange for prayers, which was later done by children who asked for money and food).
At the same time, similar practices were observed in Ireland and Scotland. Children would go from house to house accepting offers (food or coins), and in return, they would sing a song or perform a trick, instead of praying.
Trick-or-treating is also connected to Guy Fawkes Night (Bonfire Night) celebrations, which was also popularized in the United States by Irish immigrants. You can read more about this type of trick-or-treating on History.
Ghosts
Ghosts are a big part of Halloween folklore, which is more than understanding, considering that Samhain was celebrated on the night that people believed ghosts can freely roam among the living.
This is also evident in many stories of spirits who return from the dead to haunt the living – also a mark of Halloween.
Bonfires
Bonfires also come from the Celtic tradition and the celebration of Samhain. Celtic people believed that on the eve of Halloween (then Samhain), dead spirits visit the mortal world, and they lit big bonfires as an attempt to keep the spirits away.
Witches
The connection between witches and Halloween traces back to Christianity and its views on witches, witchcraft, and the infamous witch-trials. When the Christian belief system (in which witches are considered worshipers of the devil and evil) merged with the Celtic traditions, witches, just like ghosts, became a supernatural symbol of Halloween (or then Samhain).
On top of that, when Irish immigrants came to America bringing their traditions with them, many young women were drawn to the festivals and enjoyed the practices, like seeking fortune tellers to find out the name of their future husband. This amalgamation of cultures and traditions somehow made witches a defining symbol of Halloween. In fact, dressing up as a witch is the most popular Halloween costume in America, with more than 4.6 million people going for that choice annually.
Black cats, bats, and spiders were considered to be the most common familiars (supernatural entities that assist witches in their practice), hence their connection to Halloween today.
Tips on How to Teach Kids About the History of Halloween
As you can see, there are more than 2,000 years of evolving tradition and history behind what we know as Halloween today. Of course, we encourage you to dig deeper and learn more, but when it comes to kids, the basics are more than enough. Here are some tips on what and how to teach kids the history of Halloween.
- Filter out Information
The first step is filtering out the information before teaching kids the history of Halloween. This is because of two reasons.
First, kids would feel overwhelmed with numbers, facts, big and unfamiliar words, especially elementary school children. This is why you should focus on the essential information without drowning the story in too much detail.
Second, the history of Halloween is dark, which might be too scary for young children if you decide to tell them all the details, including the slaughtering of animals, supernatural myths, legends, and witch trials. The best approach might be to let kids discover new information every year as they grow older and become more mature.
- Use Age-Appropriate Language
Keep in mind that kids might not understand the history of Halloween if you use the same language and big words from literature meant for adults. Always simplify the reading material and make sure it’s age-appropriate, or you’ll get yourself into a big mess of never-ending questions that will only confuse your young students.
Children’s books about Halloween might be a good source of information.
- Engage Children in Fun Activities While Learning
The history of Halloween is a long one, and there’s so much ground to cover. To make sure your kid stays interested and involved, make the experience fun. For example, explain the meaning behind carving pumpkins while carving a pumpkin or the connection between Halloween and ghosts while making a ghost costume.
- Encourage Kids to Ask Questions
The best way to be sure that children understand the lesson and they’re not scared or confused is to ask for feedback. Encourage kids to ask questions about everything they’ve heard or seen about Halloween, and they want to know more. Considering how popular Halloween is, you’ll have your plate full.
- Talk About Tolerance and Acceptance of Different Viewpoints
Regardless of how hard we try to keep it simple and avoid controversy, the fact that Halloween has roots in Celtic pagan traditions and is also connected to Christianity will always lead to opposing opinions on the matter. Explain to kids that they might get in contact with classmates or friends who hold different beliefs in regards to the holiday. It’s important for kids to accept and be considerate of each other.
Educational and Fun Halloween Activities
Teaching the history of Halloween goes beyond facts and lengthy explanations. There are other, much more fun ways for those wondering how to teach kids about the history of Halloween.
Carve Pumpkins
Carving pumpkins is the most typical Halloween cliché that never goes out of style. All children love it, creative adults enjoy it, and most parents are in for the unrepeatable quality time spent with their kids. You can all follow artistic tutorials and try to make unique figures. Aside from learning about Halloween through meaningful conversations during the activity, children will also practice their fine motor skills, artistic skills, and creativity.
Learn Through Interactive Worksheets
When the lessons become too overwhelming and mundane, game-like interactive worksheets can easily take over. Your child will learn while having fun.
Because we know how popular Halloween is, we put together the biggest collection of Halloween worksheets and teaching resources on the internet that will help your children practice their reading skills, creativity, and critical thinking.
We also offer a Halloween curriculum consisting of Halloween teaching resources, a lesson plan template, and suggested worksheets you can utilize in the classroom or a homeschool setting.
Make a Costume or Halloween Decorations
Another way to bond with your child is if you work together to create a Halloween custom instead of buying one. You can completely personalize it, making it unique and one of a kind. Plus, you can also make a parent-child costume and go trick-or-treating as a team.
In the classroom, teachers can help children make Halloween decorations or masks for the costumes, making sure that all the children are included and work together.
Make Halloween-Themed Cookies
Giving store-bought candy is convenient and easy, but making Halloween-themed cookies with your child is a great way to bond, learn more about Halloween symbols or folklore while cooking, and have the most popular house among trick-or-treating children, because everyone will be excited to get a spider or ghost-shaped cookie.
Watch a Halloween Movie
What better way to spend Halloween, especially in the middle of a pandemic, than to pull off an all-nighter with scary (child-appropriate) Halloween movies and popcorns. Your child will enjoy, laugh, and be entertained while you can reminisce about your own childhood with a collection of old-time classics and new blockbuster Halloween movies.
Fun Non-Halloween Activities
On the other hand, if you decide not to celebrate Halloween and you want to help your child understand why they’re not celebrating alongside their friends, you should be prepared to offer something just as fun. Here are some activities that fit nicely with the October mood.
Celebrate All Saints’ Day
An alternative to Halloween is to celebrate All Saints’ Day in a traditional way. This includes going to Mass, learning the hymn (I Sing a Song of the Saints of God), decorating the house, dressing up as a saint, and/or having a party.
Celebrate Harvest Festivals
Harvest Festivals are common in October, but this also depends on the region where you live. In case there isn’t an official harvest festival, you can easily organize one in the school or church. Harvest Festivals are nothing more than a celebration for all the food grown on the land. They’re in the spirit of thanksgiving, and children can learn to be thankful for all the good things God gives them, feel fortunate, and share the food with their community – promoting empathy, consideration, and good morals.
Take a Nature Trip
Some people find that nature shows us its most beautiful colors during the fall. You can find leaves of all colors, see grown crops, and enjoy the gentle wind while the temperatures still allow us to be outside. Children can appreciate all that nature is giving us, be thankful, and spend a playful day in the park or a forest.
Before You Leave
Looking back, we shared quite a few things about the origins, history, and folklore of Halloween. We tried to be thorough, although most of the topics deserve much more attention. We encourage you to follow the links we provided and learn more, so you can create a fun learning atmosphere for kids using the tips and activities we’ve included.
However, we’re confident that by now, you have a good idea of how to teach kids about the history of Halloween. And, if you even need help from us, simply browse our massive library of interactive worksheets or visit our blog, where we cover a wide range of topics relevant to your child’s education.
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