Grandma Owl and the First Halloween - A Children's Story

Grandma Owl and the First Halloween

By Bill Conley
America’s Favorite Children’s Storyteller

Moral to the Story:

Halloween began a long time ago as a way to mark the changing seasons. Long before candy and costumes, people lit lanterns and wore funny outfits to celebrate the end of harvest time. They believed it was a night when the world felt a little more magical, as summer turned into fall. Families gathered together with food, music, and stories.
Children dressed up and went door to door, not for candy at first, but for small treats like nuts and fruit. Over time, it became a fun tradition to wear silly or spooky costumes and share sweet treats with neighbors. Halloween teaches us to laugh, to imagine, and to come together as a community. It’s a night of joy, not fear, a way to celebrate the magic in the changing of seasons.

Leaves danced across the forest floor as the sun dipped behind the trees, painting the sky in orange and gold. In a cozy treehouse near the edge of the woods, three little animals bounced with excitement: Ollie the Otter, Bella the Bunny, and Milo the Mouse.

They were dressed in their costumes: Ollie was a pirate, Bella wore a sparkly crown, and Milo had a cape that dragged behind him like a little superhero.

“Trick or treat! Trick or treat!” they chanted, hopping up and down.

“Hold your paws,” chuckled Grandma Owl, gently placing her wing around them. “Before we head out, how about a quick story?”

The little ones stopped wiggling and sat down at her feet. They loved Grandma’s stories.

“I want to know,” said Bella, “how Halloween started!”

“Me too!” said Milo. “Why do we dress up?”

“Did they always give out candy?” Ollie asked.

Grandma Owl smiled. “Well, my sweet ones, let me tell you about a time long, long ago, before there were chocolate bars or glow sticks or plastic pumpkins. Halloween began many, many years ago, across the ocean, in places like Ireland, Scotland, and England.”

“Across the ocean?” Bella whispered.

“Yes,” Grandma said. “It started as a festival called Samhain (pronounced SOW-in). That’s when people celebrated the end of the harvest season and the start of winter.”

“What did they do?” asked Milo.

“They lit big bonfires and wore costumes made from animal skins and old clothes,” Grandma said. “They believed that on that night, the world between the living and the magical was very thin, like a curtain blowing in the wind. So, they dressed up to hide from any mischievous spirits passing by.”

The little ones shivered with excitement.

“But don’t worry,” Grandma added with a wink, “they believed the spirits just wandered around for a bit, and most were quite friendly. People told stories, sang songs, and shared food with their neighbors.”

“Did they go trick-or-treating?” Ollie asked.

“Not quite like we do now,” Grandma said. “But children would go from house to house in costumes, offering little performances, songs, poems, or dances, in exchange for small treats like fruit, nuts, or coins.”

“Oh! So that’s where it started!” said Bella, clapping.

“That’s right,” Grandma said. “And as time went on, the tradition traveled to new countries, including our own. The name changed from Samhain to All Hallows’ Eve—and then, finally, Halloween!”

“Did it always have candy?” Milo asked, licking his lips.

Grandma chuckled. “Candy came much later, when people wanted to make the holiday even more fun for children. So instead of apples or nuts, they handed out sweets.”

“I like that part,” Ollie grinned.

“I thought you might,” Grandma smiled.

“So, Halloween isn’t scary?” Bella asked.

“Not at all,” said Grandma Owl. “It’s about imagination, fun, and being with your community. It’s a way to enjoy the changing season and to thank those around us, with laughter, costumes, and treats.”

The sky darkened, and the stars twinkled above.

“Now,” Grandma said, handing them each a little lantern, “it’s your turn. Go out, smile big, and share some Halloween joy. And remember, this magical night is part of something very old, very kind, and very special.”

“Let’s go!” shouted Milo.

The three friends scurried off toward the village, their costumes rustling, their baskets swinging, and Grandma Owl’s gentle story glowing in their hearts like the lanterns in their paws.

Moral to the Story Poem:

Halloween comes with tales of old,
Of glowing nights and seasons cold.
It started far across the sea,
With fire and fun and mystery.
Now children laugh and trick-or-treat,
In costumes bright and voices sweet.
It’s not a day to fear or hide—
But to imagine, thank, and smile with pride.

Questions for Thought and Discussion:

1.     What did people do during the first Halloween celebrations?

2.     Why did people wear costumes long ago?

3.     How can we make Halloween fun and kind for everyone in our neighborhood?