Lesson Plan: Discovering Halloween Traditions and Artistic Expressions

The lively customs of dressing up in costumes and engaging in trick-or-treating, hallmark activities of Halloween, hold roots in an ancient Celtic pagan festival called Samhain—a three-day celebration whose origins lay in the practices of the Celts living in what is now Ireland, Scotland, the U.K., and parts of Northern Europe during the Iron Age.

Samhain, which translates to "summer's end" in modern Irish, marked the conclusion of summer and inaugurated the Celtic new year. This transition symbolized the duality of death and renewal, coinciding with the closure of a plentiful harvest and the onset of a harsh, wintry season.

According to historian Nicholas Rogers, author of "Halloween: From Pagan Ritual to Party Night," Samhain was a period for evaluation and likely involved sacrificial rituals, potentially including offerings of animals, as pastoral communities readied themselves for the challenges of winter.

However, historical records about the specifics of the festival are scarce, primarily comprised of folklore and writings from authors who often held biases against the cultures they chronicled.

Understanding Samhain requires acknowledging the significance of the Celtic calendar. The Celtic year was divided into light and dark halves, marked by their fire festivals. Samhain fell between the autumn equinox and winter solstice, heralding the start of the darker half of the year.

During this festival, it was believed that the world of gods became visible to humans, leading to mischief by spirits and the return of the dead and Otherworldly entities. To placate these forces, sacrifices of crops and animals were offered in bonfires as protection, while treats were left for visiting spirits. Blurred lines between the worlds encouraged playful tricks, often attributed to fairies and spirits during this three-day period.

The spiritual essence of the Samhain festival also encouraged fortune-telling and predictions for the upcoming year. Druids engaged in divination by the bonfires, wearing costumes in hopes of deceiving malevolent spirits.

Over time, these practices underwent significant transformation, notably with the spread of Christianity in Celtic territories after Rome's conquest. Christian influences reframed many Celtic traditions to fit within a new narrative. This resulted in the creation of many Halloween customs that persist today.

Pope Boniface IV established All Saints’ Day on May 13, 609, followed by All-hallows’ Eve, a day honoring Christian martyrs and saints. Later, Pope Gregory III strategically moved the celebration to November 1, coinciding with the traditional timing of Samhain. The Church drew parallels between honoring saints and appeasing the dead, further incorporating elements of Samhain into this new celebration. Offerings and generosity to protect against spirits became acts of goodwill, and pranks shifted toward the spirit of the saints.

All-hallows’ Eve gradually evolved into Halloween, superseding All Saints’ Day in secular culture. The practices of dressing up, merrymaking, and giving offerings transformed into widely embraced traditions, irrespective of belief in otherworldly entities or saints. Nonetheless, Halloween participants, knowingly or unknowingly, partake in the ancient legacy of the Celts, who, through Samhain, commemorated the cycles of life, death, and rejuvenation.

What are some fun Halloween facts?

The legendary magician Harry Houdini died on Halloween night in 1926.
Some historical Halloween traditions were built around finding a romantic partner! In the 18th century, women would toss pieces of apple peel over their shoulders, hoping to see their future husband’s initials in the pattern when they landed. More creepily, they even used to stand in a dark room, holding a candle in front of a mirror in the hope that their future husband’s face would appear in the glass.
The record for the world's fastest pumpkin carving was an astonishing 16.47 seconds, and the face that was carved needed to contain eyes, a nose, a mouth, and ears. Could you carve a pumpkin that fast?
Statistically, princess and superhero costumes are more popular for Halloween today than any scary ghosts or monsters.
Historically, trick or treaters haven't always just been offered sweets. Residents in the past have offered gifts ranging from homemade cookies to nuts, toys, and coins, and it's only in the 20th century that sweets became the dominant gift for trick or treaters.

Trick-or-treating is a popular Halloween tradition where children (often accompanied by parents or guardians) dress up in costumes and go from house to house in their neighborhood, asking for treats by saying the phrase "trick or treat." It's a much-anticipated part of Halloween celebrations, especially in the United States and some other Western countries.

Here's how it generally works:

Costumes: Children dress up in various costumes, often representing characters from popular culture, mythical creatures, superheroes, or anything they find interesting. The costumes can be spooky, funny, creative, or anything else the children prefer.
Trick-or-Treat: Accompanied by adults, kids visit houses in their neighborhood after sunset, carrying containers such as bags or plastic pumpkins to collect treats. When they knock on a door, they call out "trick or treat." The homeowner then presents them with candy or other small treats.
Giving Treats: Homeowners usually prepare for trick-or-treaters by stocking up on candy or other treats. It's a gesture of goodwill and fun, and participating households decorate their homes to create a festive and welcoming atmosphere for the children.
"Trick" Element: The phrase "trick or treat" implies that if no treat is given, the children might play a trick or prank on the homeowner. However, in modern times, the "trick" part is more of a playful threat and rarely acted upon. It's mostly about the fun of dressing up and collecting candy.

The origins of trick-or-treating can be traced back to various traditions, including the medieval practice of "souling" in Britain, where the poor would go door to door on All Souls' Day asking for food in exchange for prayers for the dead. The modern version of trick-or-treating became popular in the United States in the early to mid-20th century.

While the core concept of trick-or-treating remains the same—children going door to door for treats—it has become a cherished part of Halloween festivities, often accompanied by community events, haunted houses, and other activities. Trick-or-treating is seen as a fun and lighthearted way for kids to enjoy Halloween and for communities to come together in celebration.

Objective:

Students will explore the history and cultural significance of Halloween. They will engage in Halloween-themed arts and crafts activities and complete worksheets to reinforce their understanding.

Grade Level:

14-year-olds

Time Allotment:

1.5 - 2 hours

Materials Needed:

Whiteboard/markers or a projector for presenting information
Printed worksheets and word searches (links provided)
Craft supplies: drawing paper, pencils, markers, paints, colored pencils, glue, scissors, etc.

Lesson Outline:

Introduction (15 minutes):

Begin by asking students what they know about Halloween. Note down their responses on the board.
Provide a brief history of Halloween, delving into its origins in Samhain and its evolution into the modern celebration. Emphasize the cultural aspects, such as costumes, trick-or-treating, and the significance of pumpkins.
Introduce the objectives for the lesson: to explore the roots of Halloween and engage in creative crafts related to the theme.

Main Activity - Understanding Halloween (30 minutes):

Show visual aids or a presentation depicting various Halloween traditions and their cultural importance. Discuss the symbolism of customs such as costumes, pumpkins, trick-or-treating, and the historical context.
Utilize worksheets to reinforce knowledge. Assign worksheets to students to complete individually or in pairs. Worksheets may include a Halloween history exercise, a challenging word search, and a thematic art analysis.

Halloween Art Projects (45 minutes):

Guide students through diverse Halloween-themed art activities. Offer options like:
- Spooky Silhouettes: Using black paper and scissors, create eerie silhouettes of iconic Halloween figures like bats, haunted houses, or witches against a contrasting background.
- Mixed Media Pumpkin Art: Combine drawing, painting, and collage techniques to represent pumpkins or jack-o'-lanterns in an innovative way.
- Haunted Scene Drawing: Encourage students to draw a spooky Halloween scene with attention to detail and mood, using various art mediums.
Encourage creativity, provide examples or references, and allow artistic freedom.

Conclusion and Reflection (10 minutes):

Gather the students to share their artworks and discuss the creative process behind their pieces.
Review what they learned about Halloween and ask about their favorite part of the lesson.
Summarize the key points of the Halloween history and highlight the significance of creative expression during this holiday.