Halloween traditions

Pumpkin lanterns

Many people decorate their homes with pumpkin lanterns. These are sometimes called jack o’lanterns. To make the lantern, cut the top off a pumpkin, empty the inside and cut shapes to make a face with eyes, a nose and a mouth. When you put a candle inside, the light makes the face look scary. Making a pumpkin lantern can be difficult, so it’s a good idea to have an adult to help you! Sometimes there are competitions for the scariest pumpkin lantern.  

Halloween costumes

A lot of children and teenagers wear costumes for Halloween. In the UK some of the most popular costumes are witches, vampires, skeletons and zombies. Some people buy their costumes, but other people make their own. In some countries, like the USA, there are lots of different costumes, not just scary ones. So there you can see superheroes, princesses and rabbits as well as scarier costumes.   

Trick-or-treating

On Halloween evening, lots of children go trick-or-treating. They dress up in Halloween costumes and go to friends’ and neighbours’ houses or flats. At the front door, they say ‘Trick or treat!’ They usually get a treat, like sweets or chocolate. Many people put pumpkin lanterns or other Halloween decorations outside their house to show trick-or-treaters that they are welcome.  

Halloween parties

Halloween parties are a lot of fun. There are usually orange and black decorations, like pumpkins, spiders and bats. The food is often scary too, for example sandwiches that look like witches’ fingers or cakes that look like spiders! Children play Halloween games, listen to music and sometimes watch scary films.