Halloween English Newspaper- Fun Facts & Activities for Kids

Halloween English Newspaper: Fun Facts & Activities for Kids

（Halloween English Newspaper- Fun Facts & Activities for Kids）

Spooky Fun Facts You Never Knew

1. Origins of Halloween

Did you know Halloween started over 2,000 years ago? Ancient Celts in Europe celebrated Samhain on November 1, marking the end of harvest and the start of winter. They believed spirits roamed Earth the night before, so people wore masks to avoid being recognized!

2. Why Pumpkins?

The tradition of carving pumpkins began with Irish immigrants in America. Originally, turnips were used in Ireland! The story comes from "Stingy Jack," a mythical trickster who carried a lantern made from a turnip. Pumpkins, abundant in the U.S., became the new canvas.

3. Candy Craze

Americans buy over 600 million pounds of candy for Halloween each year (smithsonian Institute, 2021). The most popular treats? Chocolate bars, candy corn, and gummy worms. But did you know "trick-or-treating" became a tradition in the 1950s to promote community fun?

4. Black Cats & Superstitions

Black cats are Halloween icons, but they weren’t always seen as spooky. In ancient Egypt, cats were sacred. Later, European folklore linked them to witches. Today, many animal shelters pause cat adoptions around Halloween to protect them from pranks.

5. World Records

The heaviest pumpkin ever grown weighed 2,702 pounds (Guinness World Records, 2023)! The fastest pumpkin carving? Just 16.47 seconds (by a professional sculptor in New York).

Boo-tacular Activities for Kids

1. DIY Jack-o’-Lanterns (Safely!)

What you need: A small pumpkin, plastic carving tools, a marker, and a tea light.

Steps:

Cut off the top (ask an adult for help).

Scoop out seeds with a spoon—save them for roasting!

Draw a silly face with a marker, then carve carefully.

Pro tip: Place the pumpkin on newspaper for easy cleanup.

2. Halloween Bingo

Create a bingo card with spooky items (witch’s hat, spider, bat). Go on a neighborhood walk and mark spots when you spot them. First to yell “Boo!” wins a mini candy prize.

3. Mummy Wrap Relay

How to play: Split into teams. Use toilet paper to wrap a teammate into a “mummy” in 2 minutes. The most creative (and fastest) team wins!

4. Ghostly Science Experiment

Materials: A clear jar, white vinegar, baking soda, and a balloon.

Steps:

Fill the jar 1/3 with vinegar.

Add 1 tbsp baking soda to the balloon (use a funnel).

Stretch the balloon over the jar’s mouth—watch it inflate like a ghost!

5. Spooky Story Swap

Gather friends, turn off the lights, and share short ghost stories using flashlights. Use classic starters: “On a stormy night…” or “The door creaked open…”

Final Tip: Always check candy wrappers with an adult before eating. Happy haunting!

Sources: smithsonian Institution, Guinness World Records, Oxford University Press folklore archives.