This handout tells the history of Halloween from its Celtic, Pagan, and early Christian beginnings up through its mainstream popularity in the United States today. It includes the historic background to many popular Halloween traditions, including jack-o-lanterns, trick-or-treating, costumes, and more. Following the reading, students answer a set of CCSS-aligned comprehension questions before creating their own traditional Halloween postcard based off several examples shown on the handout.
