History and Folklore of Halloween. Spooky, Scary, and Ancient. World History
In this class, students will learn the history of Halloween from its ancient beginnings, Celtic practices, Medieval, and Renaissance celebrations, and how it has made its way into our modern world. Time to carve pumpkins, it's Halloween!
Sondra Rapoport
Average rating:
4.8
Number of reviews:(649)
Popular
What's included
1 live meeting
50 mins in-class hoursClass Experience
US Grade 2 - 5
The History of Halloween has ancient origins and can be seen in Ancient Egypt, Rome, and in ancient Celtic belief as well. Let's explore this fascinating and fun holiday and discover how its varied and interesting beginnings have come together to create our modern celebration. Origins of All Hallows Eve: 1. Ancient Roman Lemuria festival and Ancient Egyptian offerings for the dead. How did these ancient practices and beliefs affect the development of Halloween? What traditions from these ancient traditions still exist? 2. Samhain- Celtic. Let's examine the ancient observance of Samhain. A Celtic tradition that is often misunderstood. What are the practices and traditions? Is there any part of ancient Samhain in modern Halloween? 3. Ancient tales and legends- Jack o'lanterns, and ghost stories. Why was it common belief that the dead would come back on Halloween night? Why would anyone use a pumpkin as a lighted decoration? I will tell you the story of the Jack that inspired the Jack o’lantern! 4. Trick or Treating. We will look at the origins of this fun part of Halloween and also explore the modern tradition of trick or treating and finish by going out into the most extreme trick or treating experience- New York City style! Over the top decorations, imaginative costumes, and more candy than you can carry! Join me as we explore this spooky, ancient, and interesting practice of Halloween. It's one of my favorite holidays... let's find out why! I am looking forward to seeing you in class.
Learning Goals
Students will gain an understanding of this popular holiday. We will get to know its origins, traditions, stories, and the modern day celebration of Christmas. It is a fascinating history. Please join me as we explore it.
Other Details
Language of Instruction
English
External Resources
Learners will not need to use any apps or websites beyond the standard Outschool tools.
Sources
In addition to my own education and research, I have used the following books for some of my research for this class:
Egypt: The World of the Pharaohs (Schulz and Seidel)
Oxford Classical Dictionary and Oxford Companion to Classical Civilizations
A Treasury of Irish Myth, Legend, and Folklore (Yeats)
The Cambridge History of The Middle Ages (Fossier)
I have an extensive personal library and all of these books are in my collection. It is not necessary for the students to have read any of these books. Although they are interesting!
Joined February, 2021
4.8
649reviews
Popular
Teacher expertise and credentials
Hello! I’m Sondra Rapoport, your friendly neighborhood Roman Historian. I taught with Harvard University's Dept of Classics for 6 years as a Head Teaching Fellow. I taught classes on The Rome of Augustus and Roman Games and won awards for distinction in teaching each semester I taught with Harvard. I also taught History of Ancient Egypt at Tufts University and worked for years on the Giza Project. This project catalogues, translates, and researches the 150 years of archaeological discovery around the Great Pyramids. Now, I homeschool my son and I greatly enjoy adapting my knowledge and classes designed for university level to each of his grade levels. Reviews
Live One-Time Class
$19
per classMeets once
50 min
Completed by 89 learners
Live video meetings
Ages: 8-13
1-18 learners per class
