Behind the Masks: The Story of Halloween Costumes
Every year on the last night of October, neighborhoods fill with exciting characters. You might see a roaring lion, a glowing astronaut, a spooky ghost, or a friendly chef walking down the sidewalk. Today, dressing up in a costume is one of the most popular parts of Halloween. But have you ever wondered why we put on special disguises for this holiday? The tradition of wearing Halloween costumes actually began thousands of years ago.
Long ago, an ancient group of people called the Celts lived in regions that are now Ireland, the United Kingdom, and northern France. They celebrated an autumn festival called Samhain at the end of the harvest season. The Celts believed that during this time of year, the boundary between the living world and the spirit world grew blurry. People worried that wandering spirits might play tricks on them or cause trouble. To protect themselves, people disguised their appearance by wearing animal skins and simple masks. They hoped that if a spirit saw them, the spirit would mistake them for another ghost and leave them alone.
- tradition:
- A custom, belief, or way of doing something that is passed down over time.
- boundary:
- A real or imaginary line that marks the edge or limit of something.
- disguised:
- Changed how someone looks so that other people will not recognize them.
- immigrants:
- People who move permanently to live in a new country.
- medieval:
- Relating to the Middle Ages, a period in European history hundreds of years ago.
- harvest:
- The time of year when crops are gathered from fields and gardens.
One passage, many ways to practice
Reading-skill questions, word work and writing prompts — all built from this text.
Main Idea
Identify the central idea and explain how important details develop it.
Context Clues
Use clues in the passage to work out what words mean. A separate printable Vocabulary worksheet is also available.
Summarize
Select, organize, and restate the most important information without adding opinion.
Structure
Analyze how sections and organizational choices build the text's ideas or effects.
Writing Prompts
Use the passage as a springboard for short written responses, from personal reflection to evidence-based arguments.
Fix the Sentence
Practice editing sentences drawn from this passage with a printable worksheet.
Ready to use this passage in class?
Start free with the Mixed worksheet and 3 PDF downloads each week. Focused skill sets depend on plan.
Preview questions from this passageShowHide
- 1What ancient autumn festival did the Celts celebrate at the end of the harvest season?
- 2Why did the Celts wear animal skins and simple masks during Samhain?
Where this passage belongs
You Might Also Like
About this informational passage for 3rd Grade
“Behind the Masks: The Story of Halloween Costumes” is a informational reading passage about Halloween Costumes, written for 3rd Grade. It takes about 3 minutes to read (434 words) and comes with an interactive quiz and a printable worksheet with comprehension questions and an answer key.