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"Boo Halloweenie! Who are you supposed to be?"

By Mariangeles Masegosa

[pic]I have always liked playing around with bright colored clothes, wigs, face painting, etc. I used to make my own costumes for festivals at school, as well as my brother’s and sister’s since our mom did not enjoy that stuff too much.

When I knew for sure that I was going to be an au pair in the USA back in July 1998, one of my first thoughts was for Halloween. I loved the idea of spending a real Halloween doing trick or treating door to door in a weird costume in the best country to do it, since in Spain, my home country, we did not celebrate that holiday by then. I really liked the themed decorations too: ghost and goblins, carved pumpkins, bats, spider webs, smoke coming out of the opened doors, tombstones, scary sounds… Even the color scheme [orange + purple + green + black] amazed me!!

So, the three children I was taking care of, a few of their friends and me put on our costumes and got ready to go door to door. My very own real Halloween! I just could not believe it… I really do not remember who the two boys were, I think any kind of ghost or killer (they were eight and ten); the little four years old girl was Dorothy, from the Wizard of Oz, and I was… the fact is that I put on a black velvet top with gauze sleeves and satin ribbons, a black corduroy short skirt, a pair of black tights with green frogs and white nenuphars printed on them and medium cane boots, not too high heels so I would be comfortable enough for the long walk. I got my hair in a high ponytail, put on a green hair band too and painted my lips and my fingernails black. I also put on my face and my neck some glitter. I was totally ready for some terrifying fun!

We had taken a few pictures in the house front. When the aunt of my host mother (the mom of the kids) came over and saw me, we had an interesting conversation:

Auntie: "Hi Mariangeles, who are you supposed to be?:

Me: "I don’t know… no one…"

Auntie: "And where is your bag for treats?"

Me: "I don’t like treats…"

Auntie: (Made a weird face like asking what I was doing dressed like that and going trick or treating without a bag.)

Me: "I just love Halloween and wanted to get dressed and go around with the kids."

All of us laughed and went out, it was trick or treat time! We had so much fun.

1. Find the definitions that match with the following words:

1. Goblins 2.Bat 3. Velvet 5. Gauze 4. Scary 6. Glitter 7. Satin 8. Costume 9. Tombston 10. Ribbon 11.Wig 12.Corduroy

A) In fairy stories, is a small, ugly creature which usually enjoys causing trouble.

B) It is a small flying animal that looks like a mouse with wings made of skin. They are active at night

C) It is a covering of false hair which you wear on your head, for example because you have little hair of your own or because you want to cover up your own hair

D) It is soft material made from cotton, silk, or nylon, which has a thick layer of short cut threads on one side.

E) a transparent cloth

F) It is a fabric of silk, rayon, etc., closely woven to show much of the warp, giving a smooth glossy appearance.

G) It is a heavy cotton pile fabric

H) sparkle or brilliance

I) a set of clothes, esp. unusual or period clothes, worn in a play by an actor or at a fancy dress ball.

J) It is a long, narrow piece of cloth that you use for tying things together or as a decoration.

K) a stone marking a grave and usually inscribed with the name and dates of the person buried

L) causing fear or alarm; frightening

2. According to the text:

What did Mariangeles do for festival at school?

Did Spain celebrate Halloween in 1998?

Did Mariangeles like the idea of celebrating Halloween in the USA?

What are the typical themes for decorations in Halloween?

What do you say in Halloween,s Eve when you knock on a door and somebody opens it?

How many children was Mariangeles taking care of?

What was Dorothy´s custome?

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