halloween: a special celebration
who doesn’t like playing pranks on people or eating candy? halloween is the one day each year when it’s ok to play tricks on others and get loads of sweet treats. people in the united states and in other countries celebrate halloween by dressing in costumes, attending parties, and going trick-or-treating.
halloween is celebrated on october 31. this is the day before the religious holiday all saints day, which was once known as all hallows. october 31 was often called “all hallows’ eve.” over time, this name was shortened to halloween. all saints day marks the memory of saints and other people who have died. at first, the celebration consisted of a prayer service dedicated to the dead. the prayer service was followed by a small offering at the dead person’s tomb or grave. people traditionally spent the day praying and mourning for the souls of those who had died.
however, halloween is celebrated differently today. dressed like witches, wizards, and goblins, children go from house to house trick-or-treating for candy. they also participate in halloween activities such as carving pumpkins, bobbing for apples, and watching scary movies.
halloween celebrations aren’t limited to kids. many adults celebrate by dressing in costume to attend halloween parties. others walk through “haunted” houses and other scary places.
halloween is more than a one-day holiday. the celebration can continue throughout the month of october. it’s a holiday that allows people of all ages to dress up, go to haunted places, and play pranks. it’s not serious or sad, unlike the traditional celebrations. for this reason, many people enjoy halloween celebrations more these days.
3
select the correct answer.
read the passage. what kind of informative essay is it?
a.
cause and effect essay
b.
persuasive essay
c.
definition essay
d.
compare and contrast essay