Learn American Holidays - Halloween

hey everyone I'm Alicia Halloween is a time for celebration in the USA it's

become the second most popular holiday in the nation over the years Halloween

is known for its oftentimes scary costumes elaborate parties and events

horror film festivals and its many gothic trappings this holiday was a late

comer to the u.s. not really becoming popular until the early 20th century

today it's one of the most anticipated holidays in the USA Halloween is very

much associated with scary costumes and things that are wonderfully creepy do

you know what holiday dressing up in scary costumes was likely borrowed from

will show you the answer at the end of this video people in the USA typically

carve pumpkins into scary jack-o'-lanterns decorate their houses

to look as creepy as possible and wear elaborate costumes to celebrate this

holiday these aspects of Halloween according to some have their roots in

various Celtic and European myths legends and cultural traditions today

popular horror films have also influenced the cultural traditions that

surround Halloween the monster movies of the early 20th century are significant

contributors to the look and feel of modern Halloween celebrations in the USA

trick-or-treating started at the beginning of the 20th century to curb

the vandalism and destruction that once characterized this holiday in the USA

today Halloween is a night when the streets are full of families getting

treats from their neighbors and vandalism and other problems are rare

some families and social groups set up elaborate haunted houses and invite

people to go through for free or for a donation hay rides and other nighttime

events are also very popular in rural areas check the local theaters and TV

stations around Halloween and you'll find plenty of scary stuff to watch too

over the years Halloween costumes in the USA have become more varied some people

particularly younger participants forgo the dark gothic theme of the holiday and

dress up as characters from adventure movies literary figures or even

historical figures and now here's the answer to the quiz do you know what

holiday dressing up in scary costumes was likely borrowed from Samhain is

considered to be a significant influence on Halloween celebrations though this is

disputed by some scholars Samhain was and still is to some extent celebrated

in Scotland and Ireland it's associated with the final harvest of the year more

than it is with scary ghouls and goblins those spirits do play a part the

dressing up was originally done to scare malicious spirits away or to trick them

into thinking that you were one of them to avoid harm how was this lesson did

you learn something interesting is Halloween celebrated in your country if

so how please leave a comment in English class 101.com until next time