Halloween (according to a Kiwi)

What is ´Halloween´?

It is a holiday

celebrated by

children and

adults all

around the

world on the

night of

October 31st.

Where did it come from? It originated from

the Samhain

Festival of the

Ancient Celts in

Ireland approx.

2000 years ago. It is

also called

´Summer´s End´

because it was a

celebration of the

end of summer and

the harvest season.

Saman: Lord of Death The Ancient Celts

also believed that on

the night of October

31st the border

between the dead

and the living worlds

disappeared and that

Saman, Lord of

Death, would give

the spirits afterlife if

they repossessed a

body.

Bones and masks People used to burn bones on bonfires as a way of bribing Saman (nowadays we roast marshmallows on bonfires instead) and they would wear masks and costumes to mimic evil spirits.

Halloween in NZ Halloween has not always been a popular celebration. It is mostly for kids but anyone can join in! It has no religious or national significance in NZ, it is more American. For Kiwis it is about having fun and being together!

Trick or Treat?! What does it mean NOW?

The children

who say ´Trick

or Treat?!´ want

you to give

them treats, but

if you don´t,

they might play

a trick on you

or your house!

Kiwi kids love to celebrate Halloween!

Halloween is more popular in NZ nowadays. Children love to dress up as ghosts, witches, vampires, pirates, werewolves and fairies and go ´trick or treating´ and visit ´haunted houses´ together.

Teenagers and adults can celebrate too!

Teenagers and

adults don´t go

´trick or treating´

but they like to

dress up and go to

parties with their

friends.

Bonfires and roasted marshmallows

We don´t

carve

pumpkins or

burn bones,

but we do like

to roast

marshmallows

on bonfires!

Haunted Houses Some people

like to

decorate

their houses

like haunted

houses and

they invite

neighbours

and children

to come for a

fright!

School Galas Some primary schools

in NZ celebrate

Halloween by holding

a School Gala. The

children decorate a

classroom like a

haunted house for

everyone to visit. There

are stalls, face-

painting, candyfloss

and toffee apples. Even

the teachers dress up!

All fun and games!

By the New Zealander/Kiwi Natalie Kemp

Cultural Language Assistant

at I.E.S. La Rosaleda, 2011-2012