Hallowe’en is often considered a recent addition to Australian celebrations, imported from the United States. However, Halloween’s roots go back thousands of years to Celtic traditions in Ireland and Scotland, and here in Australia to the nineteenth century.
All Hallow’s Eve adopted the Celtic festival of Samhain, which celebrated the end of summer and a thinning of the line between life and death. As the season turned and the days started to get shorter and darker, it was incorporated into the Christian calendar with All Saints (All Hallows) Day. By the early nineteenth century, many of the traditions we associate with Halloween were firmly entrenched. Carved vegetables, like turnips, were used as rough lanterns for celebrations in the dark and sometimes carved with faces to scare off evil spirits. People would dress up to confuse wandering spirits; children in costume would wander from house to house in costume receiving offerings of fruit or nuts and sometimes singing or reciting poetry in return. This was known as guising, today it is known as trick-or-treating. Bonfires and fortune-telling were common practice, and Queen Victoria herself was known to love the Halloween festivities at her Balmoral property in Scotland.
In the mid-nineteenth century, we saw the mass migration of large numbers of Irish and Scottish people around the world, estimated at 90,000 people, including to Australia. Driven by the potato famine, disease wiped out potato crops in Ireland and Scotland leading to widespread starvation in rural communities, and land clearances, the forcible eviction of cottage farmers to enable large commercial farms, along with the lure of gold large numbers headed to the colony of Victoria. In the 1854 Victorian Census, the largest migrant group, after English and Irish, was the Scottish.
In moving to a new country our Scottish migrants brought with them many traditions from home, food, music, and festivals. These traditions became really important in maintaining a connection to family and culture from the other side of the world. Scottish, or Caledonian Societies sprang up across Victoria as a way of connecting with people. They were an important part of community-building. From our Caledonian Societies, we get one of our earliest references to Halloween being celebrated in Australia.
Learning Goals For A Halloween Theme
Integrating Halloween into your early childhood curriculum can be a great opportunity to achieve various learning goals. Here are some age-appropriate learning goals you can focus on:
1. Social-Emotional Learning (SEL):
- Empathy and Understanding: Discussing different costumes and characters can help children understand and appreciate diversity.
- Cooperation and Sharing: Group activities like pumpkin decorating or costume parades encourage teamwork and sharing.
- Managing Emotions: Activities that involve pretend play can help children express and manage their emotions in a safe environment.
2. Language and Literacy:
- Vocabulary Building: Introduce new words related to Halloween, such as “pumpkin,” “costume,” “spooky,” etc.
- Storytelling: Encourage children to create and share their own Halloween stories, enhancing their narrative skills.
- Reading Comprehension: Read Halloween-themed books and discuss the stories to improve comprehension skills.
3. Cognitive Development:
- Problem-Solving: Activities like Halloween puzzles or scavenger hunts can enhance problem-solving skills.
- Counting and Sorting: Use Halloween-themed items (like candy or small toys) for counting and sorting exercises.
- Pattern Recognition: Create patterns with Halloween objects (e.g., alternating colors of candy) to develop pattern recognition skills.
4. Fine and Gross Motor Skills:
- Fine Motor Skills: Crafts like cutting out shapes, painting, or threading beads can improve fine motor skills.
- Gross Motor Skills: Games like “Monster Freeze Dance” or obstacle courses can help develop gross motor skills.
5. Creativity and Imagination:
- Art Projects: Encourage children to create their own Halloween decorations or costumes.
- Role Play: Set up a pretend play area with Halloween props to stimulate imaginative play.
6. Cultural Awareness:
- Learning About Traditions: Discuss the origins and customs of Halloween and compare them with other cultural celebrations.
- Inclusive Celebrations: Ensure activities are inclusive and respectful of all cultural backgrounds.
7. Safety Awareness:
- Safety Rules: Teach children about safety rules for trick-or-treating, such as staying with an adult and checking candy before eating it.
By focusing on these learning goals, you can create a Halloween celebration that is both fun and educational for young children.