Plus, half term family activities
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Spooky stories through time!
Three figures surrounding a cauldron.

Dear Andrew,

This Halloween, get ready to discover spooky stories from around the world!

Read on to…

📖 Learn about ancient Egyptian myths
🏠 Explore the magical spirit houses of Thailand
🧙 Discover the history of witchcraft
🎨 Make your own pharaoh headdress

For older Young Friends, you can discover how the Mesopotamians hunted for ghosts from our curator Irving Finkel. Or, if you are in the mood to get creative, you can learn how to make an autumnal wreath!

Don’t forget, there are many fun family activities for you to try out. Join us this week for exciting half-term activities, which ends on Friday 31 October with a special Day of the Dead storytelling session. For under-fives, cosy up as storyteller Sandra Agard performs animal tales from Africa and the Caribbean. 

Read on to find out more!

The Young Friends and Schools and Family Programmes Teams
Drawing of two people walking in front of a the front facade of the British Museum.

Plan your visit

If you’re planning to visit this week, please note that we expect the Museum to be busier than usual and we recommend booking your free ticket in advance. For the latest visiting information, please visit our website.
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Decorated Ancient Egyptian pharaoh tomb, base and lid of the anthropoid wooden inner coffin of Hornedjitef.

Ancient Egyptian myths

The ancient Egyptians believed life carried on after death –  discover how they reached out to the spirits beyond!
Find out more
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Small decorative house on a green background

Homes for spirits 

Learn how people in Thailand keep spirits happy, and trouble away.

 
Learn more
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A coven of witches flying on broomsticks.

A history of witchcraft 

Go on a fascinating journey through the history of witchcraft, explored through five objects in the British Museum collection.   
 
Get exploring
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Pharaoh Headdress on a black background.

Create a pharaoh's headdress

In the mood to get creative this half-term? Make your own Nemes headdress worn by the pharaohs.

Get creating
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These are articles are taken from Remus magazine. Visit our digital archive to dive into new and past issues of Remus.

Find the connection in the collection!

Spooky celebrations have taken place around the world and throughout history. Below, you’ll find a selection of items from the British Museum collection that are all connected. Can you figure out what links them?
Collage of four images: A day of the dead papier-mâché skeleton, a mask in the form of a skull, a part of a funerary monument, a bronze cauldron.

Older Young Friends 

Ages 14+
Assyrian relief depicting mesopotamian spirits, 4500-4000 BCE

Mesopotamian ghost hunting 

Learn how the ghostbusters of Assyria drove out ancient Mesopotamian spirits.
 
Watch now
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A zoomed in picture of a wreath made out of autumnal leaves with a play button over.

Make your own autumn wreath

Want something to distract yourself from all these spooky stories? Why not learn how to make an autumn wreath?
Watch now
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What's on at the Museum? 
A cartoon image of two day of the dead skelatons against an autumnal background.

Family 

Spooky skeletons and sugar skulls

Celebrate the Day of the Dead and Halloween with our free, five-day family festival!

 

Until Friday 31 October 
Find out more
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Two illustrated tigers against a blue sky.

Little Feet

Animal Tales

Join award-winning storyteller Sandra Agard for a selection of animal tales from Africa and the Caribbean. This session is for under fives and their adults. 
 

Wednesday 12 November
10.30–12.00
Find out more
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Connection answers 

They are all items used for spooky celebrations across different cultures!

🏺Samhain: A pagan festival on 31 October marking the end harvest and start of winter. This was believed to be a time when spirits could more easily cross into the living world. Cauldrons like this were used to make stew for feasts to celebrate Samhain.

🪦Lemuria: A Roman festival celebrated in May dedicated to the memory of the dead, when spirits (lemures) were thought to revisit their former homes in the night. 

🎭Cham Dances: Masks like this one were worn by Buddhist monks and lamas during dance ceremonies associated with the Smashana Adipati to drive away bad fortune and welcome renewal at the start of the year. 

💀 Día de Muertos: A Mexican festival celebrated on 1 and 2 November, honouring and remembering loved ones who have passed.  
Find out more
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Connect with us

Images:

James Fittler (1758–1835), Illustration to Shakespeare’s Macbeth. Etching and engraving, 1806. 

Base and lid of the anthropoid wooden inner coffin of Hornedjitef, son of Nekhthorheb, Egypt, 240BC.

George Cruikshank (1792–1878), a Flight of Witches. Etching on paper, 1865.

The Battersea Cauldron, England, about 800–600 BC.

Felipe Linares (b. 1936), La Muerta Enramada. Painted papier-mâché figure, Mexico, c. 1980s.

Fragment of a funerary monument with Latin inscription. Marble, Roman.

Mask in the form of a skull. Papier-mâché and cloth, Tibet, before 1898.

Painted rickshaw panel, Bangladesh.

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