How to say Halloween in English. Composition on the theme "Halloween" with translation. Origin and connection of Christian and pagan holidays

halloween- a holiday that came to us from Western culture, we owe this phenomenon to the United States of America. In our country, there is a double attitude towards this foreign celebration: someone thinks that their own holidays are enough, but for someone the idea of ​​dressing up as a frightening monster and showing off for glory seems very tempting. However, everyone agrees on one thing: Halloween is a great time to have fun, marvel at the eccentricity and daring of some costumes, and make money. It's no secret to anyone that now halloween is a successful commercial project, and few people remember the origins of the holiday.

• Read more about the history of Halloween in our article "".

I would like to focus not on the holiday itself halloween, and on its linguistic aspect - phrases and idioms that one way or another can be attributed to the topic. First, pay attention to the most common horror words.

Halloween in English: words and expressions

Halloween phrases
Word	Translation	picture
All Hallows Eve	Hallowe'en (another name for Halloween)
Bat	Bat
Bogeyman	boogeyman (fictional character that scares naughty children)
broom/broom stick	Broom
	Candle
Casket/coffin	Coffin
	Boiler
Cemetery	Cemetery
body	Dead body
Ghost	Ghost
	Grim Reaper (grim Reaper)
Jack O'Lantern	jack o lantern (pumpkin with backlight)
	Scarecrow
	Skeleton
Skull	Scull
Witch	Witch

Now let's explore a list of 10 creepy idioms in English that feature witches, skeletons and other supernatural creatures! Let me remind you briefly, idioms are well-established phrases, the meaning of which cannot be understood with a literal translation. These expressions are figurative.

Halloween in English: idioms

1. no chance in hell- no chance.
   

   You have no chance in hell of getting promotion at work. You have no chance of getting a promotion at work.

2. Skeleton in the cupboard- a skeleton in the closet, a shameful family secret. There are interesting versions of the appearance of the phrase. According to one of them, one family had a closet in which the skeleton was kept. History says that in Japan at the beginning of the 20th century there were many centenarians who were over 90 and even over 100 years old. The state paid solid pensions to such elderly people. So, the notorious family was financially dependent on the pension of a long-lived grandfather, so much so that after his death, the relatives decided not to talk about his death and continued to receive cash payments from the state. They decided to hide the body in a closet. After a couple of years, the truth got out, and with it came the expression.
   

   Every family has its own skeleton in cupboard. Every family has its own secret.

3. Skeleton Staff- the minimum number of people that is necessary for the office (institution) to work in a regular mode.
   

   The hospitals have usually skeleton staff at Christmas - Hospitals usually have a minimum number of staff during the Christmas holidays.

4. To scare the pants off someone- very scare, so that the panties were frightened!
   

   When I watched the film “Silent Hills” for the first time, it scared the pants off me. The Silent Hill movie scared the hell out of me the first time I saw it.

5. To make the blood run cold- to make the blood run cold, to scare very much.
   

   The unexpected screams made his blood run cold. The sudden scream made his blood run cold.

6. A witch hunt- witch hunt, persecution of dissidents. The phrase appeared in the Middle Ages, when the Inquisition declared a hunt for witches and sorcerers. Women and men who were accused of witchcraft were burned at the stake. Now the phrase is used in the case of an investigation of the allegedly illegal activities of a certain group of people who have a different point of view on the situation, whose position differs from the position of the majority.
   

   Famous TV star said that she fall a victim of a media witch-hunt. A well-known TV star said that she was the victim of the media and witch hunts.

7. Devil-may-care attitude- disrespectful attitude.
   

   His devil-may-care attitude will do him no good. “His careless attitude won’t do him any good.

8. To be full of the devil- to bring harm, cause trouble.
   

   These kids are full of the devil! They are always up to something. These kids are causing trouble. They are always up to something.

9. To be as white as a ghost- to be ghostly pale, due to fear, shock or illness.
   

   Oh my god! What's happened to you? You are as white as a ghost. "God, what happened to you?" You are pale as a ghost.

10. To scare the hell out of somebody- to scare someone very much.
    

    Don't do that again! You scared the hell out of me! “Don’t do that again, you scared me half to death!”

Even though the holiday halloween is an ambiguous day in our calendar, it helped to enrich your vocabulary with 20+ new phrases and expressions. Happy Halloween! Don't forget to take a short quiz!

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halloween ( halloween ) is an English holiday alien to us until now. However, recently it has gradually penetrated into our lives. Young people like pumpkin lanterns, "scary" outfits, and retelling chilling stories. Another good time to improve your English. Read exciting Halloween stories in English, expand your vocabulary with Dracula's vocabulary...

It is not known where these terrible stories appeared in our childhood, completely meaningless, not even logical. They were retold to peers under great secrecy so that adults would not hear.
They were afraid, but they still continued to listen, and wake up at night with fear, trembling and remembering the details, from where a black hand suddenly came out.
Or maybe adults told the same scary stories to each other in secret from their children?
Ghosts, ghouls, monsters and all kinds of evil spirits inspired people to write and retell countless horrors, telling horror stories around the campfire, in dark porches, to make it even scarier.

Why is Halloween necessary?

Why do we love scary stories so much? After all, being scared is not such a pleasant thing. Probably because we know it's not real, they say that fear in small amounts is a wonderful thing.

We hadn’t heard about Halloween yet, but we already had scary stories, and more abruptly than English ones. Compare three horror stories, the first of them is English, and the next two are typical Russian.

Two men

The two men Banner and Gray were hitchhiking on a deserted road, but not a single car stopped. They were tired, their legs ached from walking. The sun was setting fast, and they had to find a lodging for the night.


They came to an old, abandoned house and decided to take refuge inside. The garden is overgrown with weeds and shrubs. The door on its rusty hinges creaked, and a dusty carpet lay on the floor.


The men took a few cans from their backpacks and ate a little. Then they unfolded their blankets on the floor, made themselves comfortable and fell asleep.

In the middle of the night, Gray suddenly awoke from a restless sleep. It was dark and he was shivering from the cold. Suddenly he heard a strange noise. It was a shrill whistle.


Suddenly he saw his friend. Banner stood in the shadows, listening. He looked like he was in some sort of trance. Then the man began to slowly walk up the stairs, his boots creaking on the wooden steps. The piercing whistle intensified.

Gray wanted to shout to his friend to come back, but the words stuck in his throat. The banner continued up the stairs and eventually disappeared from view.

Suddenly the footsteps stopped and Gray held his breath. He waited and waited. Then he heard a terrible scream that shattered the silence of the night and nearly made him jump out of his skin.

Then the steps resumed, but they were already down the stairs. Gray trembled with fear as he saw a pair of boots slowly making their way down the stairs. In the moonlight, he could see a hand feeling for the railing.


A terrible chill ran down Gray's back as he saw the other hand. She was clutching a bloody axe.


Then he saw the face of his friend. It was deathly pale. His eyes were glassy, ​​and his mouth was twisted into a disgusting grin. Blood was dripping from his forehead from a huge wound that almost split his skull in half!


Gray let out a chilling scream and ran out of the house. He ran blindly through the pitch blackness of the night, desperately trying to get further away from the old house. He ran and ran, all the while imagining that his friend was chasing him with a bloody ax and a bloody head and his terrible death grin! He ran and ran until he collapsed exhausted.


In the morning, he managed to find the police station and told the sheriff what he saw. Together they returned to the old house to check it out. Gray broke out in a cold sweat at the thought of what they might find there.


The sheriff opened the creaking door and peered inside. Gray glanced nervously over his shoulder. On the floor he saw his friend. Banner lay face down in a pool of blood, his head nearly split in half. His dead hand still gripped the ax handle.


The blade of the ax was stuck in the floor, in the very place where Gray's head lay at night. The sheriff searched the house from top to bottom, but did not find a single living soul.

Black Wheels

Once a little girl was left at home alone, her mother went to work. When the mother came to the front door, she warned the girl:
If you hear a knock on the door, don't answer it.

The girl spent most of the day alone, watching TV, playing computer games and getting her nails done. Suddenly her phone rang. The number was hidden. She answered the phone, and a strange creaky voice said:
— Black wheels! Black wheels! Found your city, looking for your street!

The girl did not understand. She thought that this creepy voice was very strange, but decided that maybe someone had dialed the wrong number. Five minutes later, her phone rang again, and a voice shouted:
— Black wheels! Black wheels! Found your street, looking for your house!

The girl was frightened, she did not know what to do. She rushed up the stairs to her bedroom and hid under her bed. Suddenly her phone rang again, and a voice shouted:
— Black wheels! Black wheels! Found your home, looking for your door!

Then she heard an ominous knock on the door. She crept down the stairs. She heard the knock on the door again, louder this time. She looked out the peephole, but could not see anyone outside.

The girl reached out, turned the knob, and opened the front door.
A few hours later, the girl's mother returned from work to find the front door wide open. She rushed inside and screamed when she saw the horrific scene.
The girl lay dead on the floor. Her body was flat and there were tire marks all over her body.
But the worst thing is that the big black wheel is stuck in her mouth.

Tell me the way!

One night, the girl Lida, who was 15 years old, was walking home from her friend. She turned down a narrow street to take a short cut and shuddered when she saw an old man standing in her way. When she stopped, the old man turned to her and said in a hoarse voice, "Tell me the way."

His face was disgusting, his skin covered with scars and boils, his hair was greasy and uncombed, his eyes were horribly bulging, almost popping out of their sockets. Lydia was horrified. She was alone in a dark narrow alley with this strange and anxious old man. Her heart raced and it took her a few seconds to catch her breath. "Tell me the way!" demanded the old man.

"Where are you going?" Lydia asked nervously.
When the old man gave her the address he was looking for, a chill ran down her spine. This was her home.
"I don't know where it is," she answered curtly, then she passed the old man and ran down the alley. Glancing back, she saw him standing in the alley, watching her run.

Lydia was so moved by the incident that she didn't stop until she got back to her house. With a sigh of relief, she pulled out her keys. She looked up and down the street to make sure the old man hadn't followed her. The street was empty. She turned the key, unlocked the door and flung it open.
"Tell me the way!" a hoarse voice rang out from the darkness.

Here are three horror stories in English for Halloween, scare your friends to health!

When Halloween is over, keep going.

1. be associated with - associated with
2. supernatural - supernatural
3. creature - creature
4. originally - originally
5. especially - especially
6. veil - veil
7. attribute - attribute
8. hollow out - scrape from the inside
9. fancy costumes - masquerade costumes
10. It is cut up to - She (pumpkin) is cut out to ...

The Origin of Halloween. The history of the origin of the holiday (text in English with translation)

This holiday started in Ireland. halloween was originally a festival of the dead. It is celebrated on the 31st of October. halloween means All Hallows Eve. you know , the 1st of November is All Hallows Day (All Saints' Day). People thought that the evening (eve) before is the time when the veil between the living and the dead is lifted and witches, ghosts and other creatures are about. So this holiday is associated with death and supernatural. It is very popular with children and teenagers, especially in America.

It is the only time in autumn before the cold days begin when it is still warm enough to go outside and enjoy the beauty of autumn. On that day children wear unusual fancy costumes and masks. They dress up as witches, ghosts, ghouls, bats, evil spirits, skeletons and frighten people. They say "Trick or Treat". If they get a treat, they go away. But if they don't, they play tricks.

The main attribute of halloween is Jack-O'Lantern ( Jack Lantern) or hollowed-out pumpkin. It is cut up to look like a frightening face and a candle is placed inside.

But it turns out that everything is not so simple, because Halloween was celebrated by the Celts about 2000 years ago and then this holiday was called -. You can learn more about this holiday from Leo http://lingualeo.com/en/jungle/halloween-21481#/page/1

The Origin of Halloween (text in Russian)

This holiday originated in Ireland. Originally, Halloween was the Day of the Dead or the holiday of Death. And they celebrated it on October 31st. The very word halloween stands for Hallowe'en, which celebrate Nov. 1. Previously, people thought that on the eve of this day, the veil between the world of the living and the dead opens slightly and witches, spirits and other supernatural beings appear among the living. Therefore, this holiday is associated with many people with death. It is very popular among children and teenagers especially in America.

On October 31st, the eve of All Saints Day or just Halloween is celebrated.

The tradition of Halloween began in the fifth century B.C. by the Irish Celts, who organized their year according to the agricultural calendar and marked the transition from one year to the next on October 31.

The Celts, ancient inhabitants of Great Britain, celebrated their New Year on November 1st. It was celebrated every year with a festival that marked the end of the "season of the sun" and the beginning of "the season of darkness and cold.

On the eve before their new year, October 31, it was believed that Samhain, who was the Lord of the Death and Prince of Darkness, called together all the dead people. The Celts believed the boundary between the worlds of the living and the dead became blurred on this night.

On October 31st, the Druids, who were the priests and teachers of the Celts, would meet in the hilltop in the dark oak forest. They considered oak trees to be sacred. The Druids would light fires and offer sacrifices of crops, animals and possibly even human beings. They told fortunes about the coming year by examining the remains of the animals that had been sacrificed.

When the morning arrived, the Druids would give an ember from their fires to each family who would then take them home to start new cooking fires at home. These fires would keep the homes warm and free from evil spirits.

The story tells us that during the transition, spirits return to earth, looking for living bodies to possess for the following year. The Celts dress up in ghoulish costumes and parade around to frighten them away.

In the year 835 AD the Roman Catholic Church made November 1st a church holiday to honor all the saints. This day is called All Saint's Day. It used to be also known as Hallowmas. Gradually, over the years, October 31st became known as All Hallow Even, eventually All Hallow's Eve, and then Halloween as we know it today.

It was thought that even strangers could help a soul "s passage to heaven by saying prayers.

[ translating to Russian language ]

History of Halloween

The tradition of celebrating Halloween appeared in the fifth century BC. among the Irish Celts, who kept their chronology according to the agricultural calendar and marked the end of one year and the beginning of another on October 31.

The Celts, the ancient inhabitants of Great Britain, celebrated their New Year on November 1st. His celebration took place at a festival that marked the end of the "sunny season" and the beginning of the "season of darkness and cold".

It was believed that on the eve before the New Year, October 31, Samhain, who was the Lord of Death and the Prince of Darkness, gathered all the dead people. The Celts believed that this night the border between the worlds of the living and the dead was erased.

On October 31st, the Druids, who were priests and teachers of the Celts, met on a hilltop in a dark oak forest. They considered oak a sacred tree. Druids lit fires and made sacrifices of grain, animals, and perhaps even humans. They made predictions for the next year by looking at the remains of the animals that had been sacrificed.

When morning came, the Druids gave the embers from their fires to each family, who then took them home to light a new fire in their hearth. These lights will warm and protect the house from evil spirits. The story tells that during the confluence, the spirits return to earth and look for living bodies to capture them for the next year. The Celts dress up in hideous costumes and stage processions to scare them away.

In 835 AD, the Roman Catholic Church made November 1st a church holiday in honor of all saints. This day is called All Saints' Day. This day was also known as Halloween. Gradually, over the years, October 31st became known as All Hallow Even, and eventually All Hallows Even, and then Halloween as we know it today.

It was believed that even a stranger with his prayers could help the soul to go to heaven.

Questions for the story:
1. Who were the priests of the Celts?
2. When did the tradition of All Saints Day begin?
3. When do we celebrate Halloween?
4. Why did the Celts dress up in ghoulish costumes?
5. When did November 1st become a church holiday?
6. What did the Druids do during this holiday?

Glossary:
ancient inhabitants - ancient inhabitants
All Saints Day - All Saints Day
Lord of the Death
Irish Celts - Irish Celts
transition - transition, ending
human beings - people, human beings
boundary
the Druids - druids
priest - priest, clergyman, priest
hilltop - the top of a hill
oak forest - oak forest
ember - glowing coals
prayers - prayers, prayer
evil spirits - evil spirits
to blur - blur, erase
to consider - consider, consider, believe
to offer sacrifices of - to sacrifice
to tell (past told, p.p. told) fortunes about - predict
to dress up in ghoulish costumes - dress up in disgusting costumes
to frighten away - scare, scare away
to honor - celebrate in honor

halloween

Halloween is a festival that takes place on October 31. In the United States children wear costumes and masks and go trick-or-treating. Many of them carve jack-o"-lantens out of pumpkins. Fortunetelling and storytelling about ghosts and witches are popular activities.

Halloween developed from new year festivals and festivals of the dead. Christian church established a festival on November 1 called All Saints" Day so that people could continue to celebrate their festivals.

The Mass said on All Saints" Day was called Allhallowmass. The day before All Saints" Day was known all hallows" Eve or All Hallow e "en.

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". The neighbors give children such treats as candy, fruit and pennies so that children do not play tricks on them.

Jack-o"-lanterns are hallowed-out pumpkins with face carved into one side. Most jack-o"-lanterns contain a candle inside. An Irish legend says that jack-o"-lanterns are named after the man called Jack.

He could not enter heaven because he was a miser, and he could not enter hell because he had played jokes on devil. As a result, Jack has to walk on the earth with his lantern until Judgment Day.

Fortunetelling is an important part of Halloween. For example, a coin, a ring, and a thimble were baked into a cake. It was believed that the person who found the coin would become wealthy. The one who found the ring would marry soon. And the person who found the thimble would never get married. Today people practice cardreading or palmistry.

People once believed that there were many ghosts and witches on the Earth and that they met on October 31 to worship the devil. Today, people do not believe in ghosts and witches but they like to tell stories about them on Halloween.

halloween

Halloween is a holiday celebrated on October 31st. In the United States, children dress up in fancy dress and masks and go from house to house begging for sweets. Many of them carve pumpkin lanterns. Divination and stories about witches and ghosts are popular pastimes.

Halloween evolved from New Year's Eve and festivities in honor of the dead. The Christian Church established a holiday on November 1, called All Saints' Day, so that people could continue to celebrate their holidays.

The mass celebrated on All Saints' Day was called the AllHallowas. The day before All Saints' Day was called All Saints' Eve or "All Halloween".

The main entertainment for children on Halloween is begging for sweets. Children dress up in masquerade costumes and masks, go from house to house and say: "Treat me, otherwise we'll play a joke." Neighbors give the children treats such as candy, fruit, and change so that the children don't play tricks on them.

Halloween lanterns are hollow inside pumpkins with a face carved on one side. Most lanterns have a candle inside. Irish legend says that Halloween lanterns (in English jack-o "-lanterns) are named after a man named Jack.

He couldn't go to heaven because he was a miser, and he couldn't go to hell because he played mean tricks on the devil. As a result, Jack is forced to roam the land with his lantern until Judgment Day.

Divination is an important part of Halloween. For example, a coin, a ring and a thimble are baked into a pie. It was believed that whoever finds the ring will soon get married or get married. Whoever finds the coin will get rich. And the one who finds the thimble will never get married or get married. Today, people use fortune-telling on cards and divination by hand.

People once believed that the earth was full of witches and that they met on October 31st to worship the devil. Today, people do not believe in ghosts and witches, but they love to tell stories about them on Halloween.

Questions:

1. What are the most popular activities on Halloween?
2. What is the origin of Halloween?
3. What does the word "Halloween" mean?
4. What is trick-or-treating?
5. What is jack-o"-lantern?
6. What methods of fortunetelling do you know?

Vocabulary:

Halloween - Halloween; All Saints' Eve
to trick-or-treat - beg for a treat
"trick or treat" - "treat, otherwise we'll make a joke"
Jack-o "-lantern - lantern
fortunetelling - fortune telling
ghost - ghost
witch - witch
to establish - install
All Saints Day - All Saints Day
mass - mass
eve - eve,
treat - treat
hallowed-out pumpkins - pumpkins empty inside
candle - candle
Irish - Irish
heaven - paradise
miser - miser, miser
hell
Judgment Day
coin - coin
ring - ring
thimble - thimble
wealthy - rich
cardreading - card reading
palmistry - palmistry, divination by hand
to worship - worship