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Halloween for ESL students
Quiz by Magdolna Wölferné Bugovics
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Halloween for Speaking SkillSam: Hey, Timmy. What are you doing? Timmy: Hey, Sam! I’m getting ready for Halloween. I will be a policeman. Sam: What is on your face? Timmy: It’s a mustache. Timmy: What do you think? Sam: The mustache is blond and the wig is black. They don’t match. Timmy: Ha-ha! You are right. I will wear a black mustache. Sam: Yes, that’s great!Jack-o-Lanterns What Is a Jack-o'-Lantern? Carved pumpkins are called jack-o'- lanterns. Jack-o'-lanterns are used to decorate for Halloween. People started carving jack-o'-lanterns more than a hundred years ago. At first, people didn't carve pumpkins. They used other vegetables instead. An old fable from Ireland may tell how people began carving jack-o'-lanterns. The fable is about a man named Stingy Jack, who liked to play tricks on everyone. When he died, he was cursed to walk in darkness forever. He carved a turnip and put a light inside. His ghost was known as "Jack of the Lantern," and then "Jack-o'-lantern." Modern Jack-o'-Lanterns The Stingy Jack fable later became part of a night called All Hallows' Eve. In Europe, people lit fires and dressed up to keep away ghosts. In Ireland and England, people carved scary faces on vegetables and placed a light inside. All Hallows' Eve later became known as Halloween. When jack-o'-lantern carving was brought to the United States, people started using pumpkins. About 1.5 billion pounds (more than 680 million kg) of pumpkins are grown in the United States each year. Carving Jack-o'-Lanterns Carving pumpkins is fun for people of all ages. Smooth pumpkins work well for jack-o'-lanterns. Some people buy carving kits, while others carve without any help. First, with help from a parent, cut a hole in the top of the pumpkin to make a lid. Next, scoop out the inside flesh and seeds. Draw a design on the pumpkin, and then carve it carefully. After the pumpkin is carved, place a candle or other light inside. Finally, put the pumpkin lid back on toÑ€. Jack-o'-Lantern Events Many cities have events to show off their carved pumpkins. In Hudson Valley, New York, jack-o'-lanterns make up a big display with spooky sounds and music. Pumpkins are used to make snakes, dinosaurs, and a dome carved with twinkling stars. A huge display in Los Angeles, California, has pumpkin cars and dinosaurs, and pumpkin carvings of famous people. The artists carve their pumpkins at the event while people watch. A town in New Hampshire broke a world record for the most lit jacko'-lanterns. The town had thirty thousand jack-o'-lanterns lit at once! The Tradition Continues. Carving pumpkins into jack-o'- lanterns is a fun holiday activity. However they are carved, jack-о'- lanterns are a sure sign that Halloween is around the corner.Carlos's First Halloween It is Carlos's first Halloween in America. Carlos, Selena, and Mateo put on costumes. They visit friends in their building. Trick or treat, Maria! Do you like our costumes? Thank you for telling us about Halloween. Look, Mrs. Florio made a ghost. Trick or treat, Mrs. Florio! Thank you for the cookies, Mrs. Florio. Ms. White made a pirate! Trick or treat, Ms. White. Thank you for the juice, Ms. White. Look! Mama and Papa put a big black cat on our door. Abuela, you made treats for us, too! Mama! Papa! You scared us! Our first Halloween has been fun!DÃa de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) When and Where? People all over the world celebrate DÃa de los Muertos, or "Day of the Dead." People in Mexico have celebrated holidays like this one for thousands of years. All over the United States, people hold parades and celebrations. These usually take place around November 1 and 2. Is It Halloween? DÃa de los Muertos might seem like Halloween. The two holidays are different, though. Halloween is often about scaring people. DÃa de los Muertos is a time of joy. People remember and celebrate loved ones who have died Lidia's DÃa de los Muertos. Lidia Terán-Cooper grew up in Mexico. Lidia and her family spent every DÃa de los Muertos at the cemetery. The family brought flowers and a picnic. They told stories about those who had died. Bands played special songs. Lidia and the other children danced and played all day. DÃa de los Muertos was always a happy day for Lidia. Lidia lives in the United States now. Lidia and her family walk in the parade in Tucson (TOO-sawn), Arizona, every year. Before the parade, Lidia makes masks. Children and adults paint the masks and wear them in the parade. Day of the Dead for Children. Some places have a parade for children. Children decorate cardboard wings to wear. They paint their faces and put on costumes.Altars. DÃa de los Muertos has many other traditions. Some people build altars in their homes. The altars are covered with cloth. The family puts up photos of the person who has died. They might add a favorite item or piece of clothing of the loved one. The family lights candles around the altars. They also make special bread. They might even leave a favorite drink. Flowers, skeleton toys, and dolls also decorate the altars. Sugar Skulls. Some people make sugar skulls. People decorate the sugar skulls with colorful frosting. Children love eating the sweet skulls. Art. Some artists make paintings for the holiday. The paintings show skeletons dancing and playing music. The art is a way to celebrate friends and family members who have died. Full of Life. DÃa de los Muertos helps people to feel better after losing someone they love. Marching in a parade or decorating altars can help them celebrate that special person. No other holiday is so full of life, costumes, masks, joy, memories, and loveChanges. Things are always changing, like the clock, the weather, and even me. It seems nothing ever stays the same. My life has been full of changes. Sometimes I don't feel good about them, but then later it gets better. Taffy, my kitty, ran away. We have looked for him all over, but we cannot find him anywhere. I miss Taffy a lot, and I am sad. Dad says that we can get another kitty. That makes me feel better. I don't know what I will name him, but I will always remember Taffy. My best friend, Robin, just moved away. The moving van took away everything, and the house is empty. I wish Robin were here to play with me. Robin now lives in the mountains. I have never seen mountains, but they sound like fun to visit. Mom says we can take an airplane, so I can see Robin and play with her again. The day I started the new school year, I was scared of all the new children in my class. I was afraid that they wouldn't like me, and that I couldn't run as fast as they do. Now I am happy because I have made lots of new friends. I like Sarah and Ana, and Mary Lou, who makes me laugh. I love my class and my teacher. Mom just took a new job at an office downtown. She's not here when I come home from school. My Aunt Barbara is here to give me cookies and milk. Then I wait and wait for Mom to come home. When the hands of the clock point straight up and down, she comes home, and that makes me happy. Things are always changing, even with me. Yesterday I looked in the mirror. My face looked like a Halloween pumpkin because I lost my first tooth. I had a big surprise when I woke up this morning. My tooth was gone from under my pillow. There was a note from the tooth fairy and a whole quarter. I'm going to save it to buy some colored pencils. In school I learned that crawly caterpillars change into butterflies. And tiny acorn nuts grow into great big oak trees. Mom says that long ago, she was little like me. Do you think some day I will change and be a grownup? I think I will be an artist.Halloween110.31.b.17.C