Halloween — Talking About Costumes and Traditions | English Podcast (YouTube Video Transcript)

(00:00:00) Your YouTube transcript will appear here (00:00:01) This is your everyday English class. (00:00:03) [music] (00:00:04) Hello and welcome to English Cactus. My (00:00:06) name is Anna (00:00:07) >> and my name is Brian. This podcast will (00:00:10) help you practice your English in a fun (00:00:12) and natural way, improving your (00:00:14) listening skills. (00:00:16) >> Now, grab your coffee, relax, and let's (00:00:18) begin. (00:00:19) >> Today's episode is all about one of the (00:00:21) most colorful and exciting holidays in (00:00:23) the United States, Halloween. (00:00:26) >> That's right. Every year on October (00:00:28) 31st, people of all ages dress up in (00:00:31) costumes, decorate their homes, and (00:00:34) celebrate with parties and candy. (00:00:36) >> You'll see pumpkins, ghosts, witches, (00:00:38) and superheroes everywhere. Some people (00:00:41) love scary costumes, while others prefer (00:00:43) something funny or creative. (00:00:45) >> In today's episode, we'll talk about the (00:00:47) most popular Halloween traditions, from (00:00:50) trickor treat to haunted houses, and (00:00:52) teach you useful words and expressions (00:00:54) to describe them in English. You'll also (00:00:57) learn how to talk about your Halloween (00:00:58) costume, ask about other people's, and (00:01:01) describe the spooky decorations you see (00:01:03) around. (00:01:04) >> So whether you love Halloween or it's (00:01:06) your first time hearing about it, this (00:01:08) episode will help you understand how (00:01:10) Americans celebrate this fun and (00:01:12) creative holiday. (00:01:13) >> And before we start, don't forget to (00:01:15) subscribe to our channel. When you (00:01:17) subscribe, you stay connected with all (00:01:19) our new episodes, and it really helps us (00:01:22) keep creating free lessons for you every (00:01:24) week. (00:01:25) >> That's right. Your support helps this (00:01:27) project grow and it's also the best way (00:01:29) to keep learning English with us. (00:01:31) >> Oh, and tell us in the comments where (00:01:33) you're from. We love hearing from people (00:01:36) all around the world who are learning (00:01:37) English with English cactus. (00:01:39) >> Now, let's begin today's episode, (00:01:41) Halloween costumes and traditions. (00:01:45) >> Hey Tom, I saw pumpkins and spider (00:01:48) decorations everywhere on my way to work (00:01:51) today. Is everyone getting ready for (00:01:54) Halloween? (00:01:55) >> Oh yeah, definitely. Halloween is one of (00:01:58) the most popular holidays here in the (00:02:00) US. People love decorating their houses, (00:02:03) dressing up, and going to parties. (00:02:06) >> I've heard that Americans take Halloween (00:02:09) very seriously. Is that true? (00:02:12) >> Absolutely. Some people start planning (00:02:14) their costumes a month in advance. (00:02:17) >> Wow. So, what are you going to wear this (00:02:20) year? I'm not sure yet. Last year, I (00:02:23) dressed as a vampire. Black cape, fake (00:02:26) teeth, and red makeup. It was easy, but (00:02:29) classic. (00:02:30) >> That sounds cool. I'm still deciding on (00:02:33) mine. I was thinking about being a witch (00:02:36) or maybe a ghost. Something simple. (00:02:39) >> Both are great choices. Costumes don't (00:02:42) have to be complicated. You can even (00:02:44) make your own with things you already (00:02:46) have at home. (00:02:47) >> That's a good idea. I might make a DIY (00:02:50) costume then. Do people only dress up (00:02:53) for parties? (00:02:54) >> Not at all. Kids dress up too for trick (00:02:57) or treat. (00:02:58) >> Oh, right. That's when kids go (00:03:00) doortodoor asking for candy. Right. (00:03:03) >> Exactly. They knock on doors and say (00:03:06) trickor treat and people give them (00:03:08) sweets. (00:03:09) >> That's adorable. I wish we had that (00:03:11) tradition in my country. (00:03:13) >> It's really fun. Some neighborhoods go (00:03:16) all out with decorations like skeletons, (00:03:19) lights, and even fake graveyards in (00:03:21) front yards. (00:03:22) >> That sounds spooky but fun. (00:03:25) >> It is. And the costumes can be anything, (00:03:28) not just scary. Some people dress up as (00:03:31) superheroes, movie characters, or even (00:03:34) food. (00:03:35) >> Food? [laughter] (00:03:36) Like what? (00:03:37) >> Oh, I've seen people dressed as pizza, (00:03:40) bananas, even tacos. Americans love (00:03:43) being creative with their costumes. (00:03:45) [laughter] (00:03:46) >> That's hilarious. I think I'll go as a (00:03:49) cat. Simple, but cute. (00:03:52) >> That's a classic, too. You just need cat (00:03:54) ears, a little makeup, and maybe a black (00:03:57) outfit. (00:03:57) >> Perfect. So, besides costumes and candy, (00:04:01) what else do people usually do? (00:04:03) >> Many people go to Halloween parties. (00:04:06) There's music, games, and sometimes (00:04:08) contests for the best costume. Oh, I (00:04:11) love that. Do adults go (00:04:13) trick-or-treating, too? (00:04:14) >> Not really, but adults definitely (00:04:17) celebrate. They love costume parties and (00:04:20) haunted houses. Those are places made to (00:04:22) be scary on purpose. (00:04:24) >> Haunted houses? Like real ghosts? (00:04:27) [laughter] (00:04:28) >> No, it's all fake, but it feels real. (00:04:31) You walk through dark rooms with actors (00:04:33) dressed as monsters. (00:04:35) >> That sounds terrifying. I'd probably (00:04:38) scream the whole time. (00:04:40) >> Most people do, but that's part of the (00:04:42) fun. (00:04:42) >> I guess Halloween is a mix of scary and (00:04:46) fun. (00:04:47) >> Exactly. It's about creativity, (00:04:49) imagination, and a little bit of fear, (00:04:52) but the good kind. (00:04:53) >> I like that. And what's the story behind (00:04:56) Halloween? (00:04:57) >> It started a long time ago from an old (00:05:00) Celtic festival called Sam Hayne. People (00:05:03) believed that on October 31st, the line (00:05:06) between the living and the dead became (00:05:08) thinner. (00:05:09) >> Oh, that's interesting. Kind of spooky (00:05:12) history. (00:05:13) >> Yes. Over time, it became a celebration (00:05:16) with costumes, sweets, and community (00:05:18) events. (00:05:19) >> That's so cool. I can see why people (00:05:22) love it so much. (00:05:23) >> Yeah, it's one of those holidays where (00:05:25) everyone, kids and adults, can have fun. (00:05:28) I can't wait for my first real Halloween (00:05:31) in the US. (00:05:32) >> You'll love it. Just don't forget to say (00:05:35) trick or treat if you go out with (00:05:36) friends. (00:05:38) >> Deal. And I'll make sure my costume is (00:05:41) ready. (00:05:41) >> I'm sure it'll be great. Happy (00:05:43) Halloween, Sarah. (00:05:44) >> Happy Halloween, Tom. (00:05:47) Today's dialogue between Sarah and Tom (00:05:51) was full of fun expressions about (00:05:54) Halloween, one of the most popular (00:05:57) holidays in the United States. (00:06:00) >> That's right. Halloween is all about (00:06:02) creativity, costumes, and a little bit (00:06:05) of spooky fun. Let's go through the main (00:06:08) parts of their conversation and learn (00:06:10) some useful vocabulary. (00:06:13) Phrase one, people love decorating their (00:06:16) houses, dressing up, and going to (00:06:19) parties. (00:06:20) >> The expression dressing up means wearing (00:06:23) a costume, something different from your (00:06:26) normal clothes. (00:06:27) >> Exactly. You can say, "I'm dressing up (00:06:30) as a witch." Or, "The kids love dressing (00:06:34) up for Halloween." (00:06:35) It's very common to use this phrasal (00:06:38) verb for parties or special events. (00:06:41) >> And decorating their houses means adding (00:06:44) things like spiderw webs, pumpkins, (00:06:47) skeletons, and lights. Americans love to (00:06:50) make their homes look spooky. (00:06:52) >> Phrase two. Last year, I dressed as a (00:06:56) vampire. (00:06:57) >> Notice that Tom says dressed as, not (00:07:01) dressed like. When you talk about (00:07:03) costumes, you use as, (00:07:05) >> right? You can say, "I dressed as a (00:07:08) cat." Or, "She dressed as a superhero." (00:07:12) It's a small detail, but it makes your (00:07:14) English sound more natural. (00:07:17) >> Phrase three, kids go doortodoor asking (00:07:20) for candy. (00:07:22) >> This is the most famous Halloween (00:07:24) tradition, trick or treat. (00:07:26) >> Yes. When kids say trick or treat, (00:07:30) they're basically saying, "Give me candy (00:07:32) or I'll play a little trick on you." But (00:07:35) it's all for fun. No one actually plays (00:07:38) tricks. (00:07:38) >> Parents usually go with their kids. And (00:07:41) neighbors give out chocolates, (00:07:43) lollipops, or little toys. It's a very (00:07:47) friendly tradition. (00:07:48) >> Phrase four. Some neighborhoods go all (00:07:51) out with decorations. The phrase go all (00:07:55) out means to put in a lot of effort or (00:07:58) do something in a big way. (00:08:01) >> For example, she went all out for her (00:08:03) birthday party or they went all out (00:08:06) decorating their house for Halloween. (00:08:09) >> Some people even spend weeks preparing (00:08:12) huge displays with fog machines and (00:08:15) sound effects like a mini haunted house. (00:08:18) >> Phrase five. The costumes can be (00:08:21) anything, not just scary. (00:08:24) >> That's an important point. Even though (00:08:26) Halloween started as a spooky holiday, (00:08:29) not all costumes are scary. (00:08:32) >> Yes, people dress up as funny (00:08:34) characters, famous people, superheroes, (00:08:37) or even food. The idea is to be creative (00:08:41) and have fun. (00:08:42) >> You might see a vampire next to a (00:08:45) princess or a ghost next to a slice of (00:08:48) pizza. That's Halloween. (00:08:50) >> Let's go over some of the key words and (00:08:53) expressions from the dialogue. (00:08:55) >> One, costume. Clothes you wear to look (00:08:58) like someone or something else. Example, (00:09:02) I wore a vampire costume for Halloween. (00:09:05) >> Two, trick or treat. What kids say when (00:09:09) they go doortodoor asking for candy. (00:09:11) >> Example, the kids shouted trick or treat (00:09:15) outside my house. (00:09:16) >> Three. Pumpkin. A big orange fruit often (00:09:20) used for decorations or pie. Example, we (00:09:24) carved a pumpkin and put a candle (00:09:26) inside. (00:09:27) >> Four. Spooky. Something a little scary (00:09:30) but fun. Example, the music was spooky (00:09:34) but everyone laughed. (00:09:36) >> Five. Haunted house. A place made to (00:09:39) look scary, often with actors and (00:09:41) decorations. Example, we went to a (00:09:44) haunted house last weekend. (00:09:46) >> Six. Witch. A woman with magical powers, (00:09:50) often wearing a black hat. Example, my (00:09:54) costume was a witch with a broom. (00:09:56) >> Seven. Scary. Something that makes you (00:09:59) feel afraid. Example, that horror movie (00:10:03) was really scary. Halloween in the US is (00:10:07) a mix of spooky fun and creativity. It's (00:10:11) not just for kids. Adults celebrate, (00:10:14) too. (00:10:15) >> That's true. There are Halloween parties (00:10:18) everywhere at schools, offices, and even (00:10:21) restaurants. Many people join costume (00:10:24) contests and parades. (00:10:26) >> And the decorations can be incredible. (00:10:29) You'll see fake cobwebs, skeletons, (00:10:32) pumpkins, and lights on almost every (00:10:35) street. (00:10:36) >> Some families carve pumpkins together. (00:10:38) It's called making a jacko-lantern. They (00:10:41) cut faces into the pumpkin and put a (00:10:43) candle inside. It's also common for (00:10:46) people to watch scary movies, bake (00:10:48) Halloween cookies, or visit haunted (00:10:51) houses during October. (00:10:53) >> And one fun cultural fact, people often (00:10:56) greet each other by saying happy (00:10:58) Halloween all day long. (00:11:00) >> That's right. It's a celebration of (00:11:02) imagination, community, and of course, (00:11:06) candy. (00:11:07) >> That's our breakdown for today. Now you (00:11:09) know how to talk about costumes, (00:11:11) decorations, and Halloween traditions in (00:11:14) English. (00:11:14) >> Keep practicing these words, and next (00:11:17) time you celebrate Halloween, try (00:11:19) describing your costume or decorations (00:11:22) in English. (00:11:23) >> Now that we've explained the dialogue, (00:11:25) let's practice some model sentences you (00:11:27) can use to talk about Halloween. Yes, (00:11:30) these examples will help you describe (00:11:32) your costume, talk about traditions, and (00:11:35) join Halloween conversations in English. (00:11:38) >> Talking about costumes, you can start (00:11:40) with simple sentences like, "I'm (00:11:43) dressing up as a witch. I'm wearing a (00:11:45) vampire costume. My costume is funny, (00:11:48) not scary." (00:11:49) >> Or you can ask someone, "What are you (00:11:52) going to be for Halloween? Are you (00:11:54) dressing up this year?" "I love your (00:11:57) costume. Did you make it yourself? (00:11:59) >> These questions are great when you meet (00:12:01) people at a Halloween party. (00:12:03) >> Describing decorations. To talk about (00:12:06) what you see around town, you can say, (00:12:08) "There are pumpkins everywhere. The (00:12:11) houses look so spooky. My neighbor went (00:12:14) all out with decorations." (00:12:16) >> And if you decorate your house, you can (00:12:18) say, "We carved a pumpkin. We put fake (00:12:21) spiderw webs on the door. I made a ghost (00:12:24) out of a white sheet." And here are some (00:12:26) ways to describe Halloween traditions. (00:12:29) Kids go trick-or-treating in the (00:12:31) evening. People give candy to children. (00:12:34) We have a costume party with friends. (00:12:37) >> You can also say, "We watch scary movies (00:12:39) on Halloween night. There's a haunted (00:12:42) house near my school. I went to a (00:12:44) Halloween parade downtown." (00:12:46) >> Talking about feelings, you can share (00:12:48) your opinion or feelings, too. Halloween (00:12:51) is so much fun. I love scary (00:12:55) decorations. I don't like haunted (00:12:57) houses. They're too scary for me. (00:13:00) >> And if you're surprised or excited, you (00:13:02) can say, "That costume is amazing. Wow, (00:13:05) your pumpkin looks great. This party is (00:13:08) so cool." (00:13:09) >> Expressing creativity. (00:13:11) >> Halloween is all about imagination. You (00:13:14) can say, "I made my costume myself. I (00:13:17) created a superhero outfit with things (00:13:19) from home. My friends and I dressed up (00:13:21) as characters from a movie. (00:13:23) >> Those are perfect examples. And if you (00:13:26) don't like scary costumes, you can say, (00:13:29) "I prefer something funny, not spooky." (00:13:32) Or, "My costume is cute, not creepy." (00:13:35) Remember, you can use these sentences to (00:13:38) talk about Halloween in class, at work, (00:13:41) or with friends. (00:13:42) >> Yes. Don't worry about being perfect. (00:13:45) Just have fun and describe what you see, (00:13:47) wear, or do. Try saying a few of these (00:13:50) sentences out loud. It's a great way to (00:13:53) practice pronunciation and vocabulary. (00:13:56) >> And who knows, maybe you'll teach (00:13:58) someone a new English word at your next (00:14:00) Halloween party. (00:14:02) >> Hey Tom, I saw pumpkins and spider (00:14:06) decorations everywhere on my way to work (00:14:09) today. Is everyone getting ready for (00:14:12) Halloween? (00:14:13) >> Oh yeah, definitely. Halloween is one of (00:14:15) the most popular holidays here in the (00:14:18) US. People love decorating their houses, (00:14:21) dressing up, and going to parties. (00:14:23) >> I've heard that Americans take Halloween (00:14:26) very seriously. Is that true? (00:14:29) >> Absolutely. Some people start planning (00:14:32) their costumes a month in advance. (00:14:35) >> Wow. So, what are you going to wear this (00:14:38) year? (00:14:38) >> I'm not sure yet. Last year, I dressed (00:14:41) as a vampire. black cape, fake teeth, (00:14:44) and red makeup. It was easy but classic. (00:14:48) >> That sounds cool. I'm still deciding on (00:14:51) mine. I was thinking about being a witch (00:14:54) or maybe a ghost. Something simple. (00:14:57) >> Both are great choices. Costumes don't (00:14:59) have to be complicated. You can even (00:15:02) make your own with things you already (00:15:03) have at home. (00:15:04) >> That's a good idea. I might make a DIY (00:15:07) costume then. Do people only dress up (00:15:10) for parties? Not at all. Kids dress up (00:15:14) too for trick or treat. (00:15:15) >> Oh, right. That's when kids go (00:15:18) doortodoor asking for candy. Right. (00:15:21) >> Exactly. They knock on doors and say (00:15:23) trickor treat and people give them (00:15:25) sweets. (00:15:26) >> That's adorable. I wish we had that (00:15:29) tradition in my country. (00:15:31) >> It's really fun. Some neighborhoods go (00:15:33) all out with decorations like skeletons, (00:15:36) lights, and even fake graveyards in (00:15:39) front yards. That sounds spooky but fun. (00:15:42) >> It is. And the costumes can be anything, (00:15:46) not just scary. Some people dress up as (00:15:48) superheroes, movie characters, or even (00:15:51) food. (00:15:52) >> Food? [laughter] (00:15:54) Like what? (00:15:55) >> Oh, I've seen people dressed as pizza, (00:15:57) bananas, even tacos. Americans love (00:16:01) being creative with their costumes. (00:16:03) [laughter] (00:16:04) >> That's hilarious. I think I'll go as a (00:16:07) cat. Simple, but cute. That's a classic, (00:16:10) too. You just need cat ears, a little (00:16:13) makeup, and maybe a black outfit. (00:16:15) >> Perfect. So, besides costumes and candy, (00:16:19) what else do people usually do? (00:16:21) >> Many people go to Halloween parties. (00:16:23) There's music, games, and sometimes (00:16:26) contests for the best costume. (00:16:28) >> Oh, I love that. Do adults go (00:16:30) trick-or-treating, too? (00:16:32) >> Not really, but adults definitely (00:16:34) celebrate. They love costume parties and (00:16:37) haunted houses. Those are places made to (00:16:40) be scary on purpose. (00:16:41) >> Haunted houses, like real ghosts. (00:16:45) [laughter] (00:16:45) >> No, it's all fake, but it feels real. (00:16:48) You walk through dark rooms with actors (00:16:51) dressed as monsters. (00:16:52) >> That sounds terrifying. I'd probably (00:16:56) scream the whole time. (00:16:57) >> Most people do, but that's part of the (00:16:59) fun. (00:17:00) >> I guess Halloween is a mix of scary and (00:17:03) fun. (00:17:04) >> Exactly. It's about creativity, (00:17:07) imagination, and a little bit of fear, (00:17:09) but the good kind. (00:17:11) >> I like that. And what's the story behind (00:17:14) Halloween? (00:17:15) >> It started a long time ago from an old (00:17:17) Celtic festival called Sam Hayne. People (00:17:20) believed that on October 31st, the line (00:17:23) between the living and the dead became (00:17:26) thinner. (00:17:26) >> Oh, that's interesting. Kind of spooky (00:17:29) history. (00:17:30) >> Yes. Over time, it became a celebration (00:17:33) with costumes, suites, and community (00:17:36) events. (00:17:37) >> That's so cool. I can see why people (00:17:39) love it so much. (00:17:41) >> Yeah, it's one of those holidays where (00:17:43) everyone, kids and adults, can have fun. (00:17:46) >> I can't wait for my first real Halloween (00:17:49) in the US. (00:17:50) >> You'll love it. Just don't forget to say (00:17:52) trickor treat if you go out with (00:17:54) friends. (00:17:55) >> Deal. And I'll make sure my costume is (00:17:58) ready. I'm sure it'll be great. Happy (00:18:01) Halloween, Sarah. (00:18:02) >> Happy Halloween, Tom. (00:18:05) That was such a fun episode. Today we (00:18:09) learned all about Halloween, (00:18:12) one of the most creative and exciting (00:18:16) celebrations in the United States. (00:18:19) >> Yes, we talked about costumes, (00:18:22) decorations, trickor treat, haunted (00:18:25) houses, and lots of spooky vocabulary. (00:18:28) We also learned how to describe what (00:18:31) people wear, what they do, and how they (00:18:35) celebrate this special holiday. (00:18:38) >> Exactly. Remember, you can use all these (00:18:41) words and sentences to talk about (00:18:43) Halloween or any other celebration in (00:18:46) English. (00:18:47) >> That's right. Try saying things like, (00:18:50) "I'm dressing up as a witch." Or, "The (00:18:53) decorations look so spooky." It's great (00:18:57) practice for pronunciation and fluency. (00:19:00) >> And if your country doesn't celebrate (00:19:03) Halloween, that's okay. You can still (00:19:05) enjoy learning about this tradition and (00:19:08) the culture behind it. (00:19:09) >> Yes, learning about holidays like (00:19:12) Halloween helps you understand how (00:19:15) people live and communicate in (00:19:17) English-speaking countries. We hope this (00:19:20) episode helped you learn new vocabulary (00:19:22) and gave you some ideas for fun ways to (00:19:25) practice your English this week. (00:19:27) >> And we'd love to know, do people (00:19:29) celebrate Halloween in your country? (00:19:32) What kind of costumes do you like? Tell (00:19:34) us in the comments. (00:19:36) >> Don't forget to subscribe to our (00:19:37) channel. When you subscribe, you stay (00:19:40) updated on all our new episodes and help (00:19:43) us keep creating free content for you. (00:19:46) Your support means a lot and it helps us (00:19:49) reach more English learners around the (00:19:51) world. (00:19:52) >> Keep practicing, keep learning, and (00:19:55) remember, English is more fun when you (00:19:57) make it part of your everyday life. (00:19:59) >> Take care everyone. Have a safe and (00:20:02) happy Halloween. (00:20:04) >> See you next time on English Cactus.