A notorious trickster from Irish folklore, Jack managed to outsmart the devil himself. Legend has it that Jack invited the devil for a drink but cunningly refused to pay.

Instead, he convinced the devil to transform into a coin. As soon as the devil changed, Jack slipped the coin into his pocket next to a cross, trapping him. Eventually, Jack freed him on the condition that the devil wouldn’t claim his soul.

Years later, when Jack finally died, he wasn’t welcome in heaven, and the devil held to his word about hell. So, Jack was left to wander the Earth with only a carved turnip lantern to light his path.

When Irish immigrants arrived in the United States, they discovered that pumpkins were much more abundant and easier to carve than turnips. And so, the tradition of carving pumpkins began and became a part of Halloween celebrations.

Here are a couple more pumpkin coloring pages for fun.

Over time, these carved pumpkins, or “jack-o’-lanterns,” became a symbol of warding off evil spirits. With their bright orange glow, they’re both spooky and cheerful.

If you get a chance this autumn, take the kids to a pumpkin patch and let them pick their own. It will give them a new perspective on how many pumpkins are grown yearly! Plus, sometimes farms will have other types of squashes to buy that aren’t available in the supermarkets.

As the celebration evolved, especially with the influence of Christianity turning Samhain into All Saints’ Eve, the eerie themes persisted.

In the 19th and 20th centuries, Halloween became a more community-oriented and secular event, but the fascination with the supernatural remains steadfast.

Today, ghosts and ghouls are symbolic of our intrigue with the unknown and the thrill of a good scare. The tradition of telling ghost stories and draping our homes and streets with haunting decorations taps into a shared cultural history that is both frightful and fun.

Their ability to fly silently in the dark invites all sorts of eerie ideas, making them perfect for a holiday devoted to all things ghostly. They add an extra layer of fright to the night by hanging upside down in the shadows.

Just like bats, owls have a special place in Halloween lore, popping up in decorations, costumes, and stories. This is probably because of their nocturnal nature and haunting calls, which fit right into the spooky theme of the season.

In the days when people believed in witches and sorcery, owls were seen as mysterious creatures of the night, often linked to the unknown or the supernatural. Their ability to fly silently added to their mystique, giving them an almost magical quality.

Some cultures even believed owls could talk to the dead or were messengers from the other side, which is pretty fitting for a holiday all about spirits and the afterlife. And there’s something about their piercing eyes and ability to swivel their heads that feels otherworldly.

Even though today’s Halloween owls are more likely to be cute than creepy, they still carry that touch of mystery and magic. The idea of them as wise creatures or as shape-shifting witches in disguise adds a layer of depth to their role in Halloween traditions.

With all these associations, it’s no wonder owls have become a quintessential symbol of Halloween, representing both wisdom and the unknown, blending perfectly with the eerie yet festive spirit of the holiday.

In many households at the time, a broom was one of the few household utensils always in use. It was a familiar object, and people believed that witches could fly on broomsticks.

Here are some witch coloring pages to enjoy.

This image was cemented over time through literature and art, especially during the Witch Trials when fear of witchcraft reached a fever pitch.

Halloween, with its roots in the ancient festival of Samhain, celebrated the boundary between the living and the dead, a time when supernatural folk were believed to roam freely.

As storytelling evolved, the image of the witch on a broomstick, flying across the moonlit sky, became popular. It’s interesting to see how stories and beliefs from hundreds of years ago still shape the way we celebrate Halloween today.

In some cultures, black cats were considered omens of bad luck or witches’ familiars, mystical creatures aiding in sinister deeds.

The Middle Ages particularly spotlighted these felines in myths surrounding witchcraft. However, in other cultures, they were regarded as good luck charms, thought to ward off evil spirits. This intriguing duality makes them compelling figures during Halloween, a time when people embrace the eerie and mysterious.

Despite their spooky reputation, many cat lovers adore them for their sleek beauty and endearing personalities. Some even list them as their favourite companions, challenging age-old traditions with modern affection.

If you can’t visit a spooky haunted house this Halloween, consider allowing the kids a chance to create a spooky room at home. With torches or fairy lights, Halloween decorations and some sheets, let them have a turn at freaking out the adults and each other.

How to Download and Print Images

To print your free printable coloring sheets, just click on the image you want, and it will open in a new tab as a PDF.

Once the image is visible, go to the menu, choose “File,” and then hit “Print.”

Before you print, tweak your printer settings for the best results. You can adjust the image scale to match your paper size, ensuring the design fits perfectly and is ready for coloring.

• Paper Matters: Use thicker paper, like cardstock or a quality printer paper. It holds the colors better and prevents bleeding through, especially if you plan on using markers or paints.
• Printer Settings: Adjust your printer to the “High Quality” or “Best Quality” setting. This ensures fine details in your Halloween coloring pages pop right off the paper. You might also want to select the “Black and White” setting if you don’t want to waste color ink.
• Fit to Page: Make sure you choose the “Fit to Page” option in your printer settings. This avoids cutting off important parts of the image.

The PDFs have been optimised for US letter size. For A4 printers, there will be extra white space at the top and bottom of the page.

These free Halloween coloring pages to print are provided for personal, non-commercial use only. They may be printed for use in schools or youth groups.

More Resources

There are lots of ways to have fun this Halloween, without lots of mess or going treat or tricking. Snuggle down for an eerie movie in the dark or have a candlelit dinner.

Or hide glow sticks around the room and have your kids carefully find them in the dark. This is a great activity for winding them down at night. It takes lots of concentration not to bump into things in the dark. Plus it signals to their brain that it’s night time rather than being under artificial lights.

I hope you enjoy these free Halloween coloring pages to print at home.

Let me know in the comments, what your favorite Halloween activity has been this year.

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