Halloween is a festival that takes place on the 31st of October. It happens every autumn. The story of Halloween goes all the way back to ancient times. For the Celts who lived in Britain and Ireland at that time, New Year began on November 1. The night before, a festival was held to mark the change from summer to winter.
Because October 31 was the day the sun was at its lowest, it was believed that the sun entered the underworld for a short time, and, while the gates of the underworld were open, evil spirits were released to roam the Earth. To frighten these spirits away, the Celts lit huge bonfires and dressed up as witches and ghosts. Today most people do not believe in ghosts and witches, but it’s fun to dress up as one for a costume party.
In the United States and Great Britain schools have parades of children in costumes. Ghost, witch, cat and skeleton costumes are popular with many children. Parents help their children to make their costumes. Many classes have Halloween parties.
The main Halloween activity for children is trick-or-treating. Children dress in costumes and masks and go from door to door saying “trick or treat”. Most people give them such treats as candy, fruit and some money so that children do not play tricks on them.
Many families carve jack-o’-lanterns out of pumpkins. Usually people carve scary pumpkin faces. But some people carve funny or happy faces. They place pumpkins in the windows or on doorsteps.
“Haunted houses” for children are also popular. A “haunted house” may have paper ghosts hanging from the ceiling. Scary music may be playing in it. Ghost stories may be told at the “haunted house”.
Fortunetelling is an important part of Halloween. There may be a “fortune-teller” who pretends to know the children’s future.
Vocabulary
take place — происходить
to happen — случаться
ghost — привидение
witch — ведьма
skeleton — скелет
party — вечеринка
main activity — основное занятие
to trick-or-treat — выпрашивать угощение
to play trick — подшучивать
treat — угощение
candy — конфеты
Witches
money — деньги
to carve — вырезать
jack-o’-lantern — фонарь из тыквы
pumpkin — тыква
scary — страшный, ужасный
funny — смешной, забавный
doorsteps — порог дома
haunted house — дом с привидениями
ceiling — потолок
fortunetelling — гадание
to pretend — притворяться
future — будущее
This Is Halloween
(Marilyn Manson)
Boys and girls of every age
Wouldn’t you like to see something strange?
Come with us and you will see
This, our town of Halloween.
This is Halloween, this is Halloween –
Pumpkins scream in the dead of night.
This is Halloween, everybody make a scene.
Trick or treat till the neighbors gonna die of fright.
It’s our town, everybody scream
In this town of Halloween.
I am the one hiding under your bed
Teeth ground sharp and eyes glowing red.
I am the one hiding under yours stairs
Fingers like snakes and spiders in my hair.
This is Halloween, this is Halloween
Halloween! Halloween! Halloween! Halloween!
In this town we call home
Everyone hails to the pumpkin song.
In this town, don’t we love it now?
Everybody’s waiting for the next surprise
Round that corner, man hiding in the trash can
Something’s waiting now to pounce, and how you’ll…
Scream! This is Halloween.
Red ‘n’ black, slimy green
Aren’t you scared?
Well, that’s just fine.
Say it once, say it twice,
Take a chance and roll the dice.
Ride with the moon in the dead of night.
Everybody scream! Everybody scream!
In our town of Halloween!
I am the clown with the tear-away face
Here in a flash and gone without a trace.
I am the «who» when you call, «Who’s there?»
I am the wind blowing through your hair,
I am the shadow on the moonlit night,
Filling your dreams to the brim with fright.
This is Halloween, this is Halloween
Halloween! Halloween! Halloween! Halloween!
Halloween! Halloween!
Tender lumpings everywhere
Life’s no fun without a good scare
That’s our job, but we’re not mean
In our town of Halloween.
In this town
Don’t we love it now?
Everyone’s waiting for the next surprise.
Skeleton Jack might catch you in the back
And scream like a banshee,
Make you jump out of your skin.
This is Halloween, everybody scream.
Won’t ya please make way for a very special guy
Our man jack is King of the Pumpkin patch
Everyone hail to the Pumpkin King.
This is Halloween, this is Halloween
Halloween! Halloween! Halloween! Halloween!
In this town we call home
Everyone hail to the pumpkin song.
La lala la, la la la la…
[audio:http://smashtrash.ru/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Marilyn-Manson-This-Is-Haloween-audiopoisk.com_.mp3]Don’t forget that the most important part of Halloween is to have as good a time as possible!