1. Halloween
(according to a Kiwi)

2. What is ´Halloween´?
It is a holiday
celebrated by
children and
adults all around
the world on the
night of October
31st.

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. 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.

6. 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!

7. 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!

8. Kiwi kids love to celebrate
Halloween is more
Halloween!
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.

9. 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.

10. Bonfires and roasted marshmallows
We don´t carve
pumpkins or
burn bones, but
we do like to
roast
marshmallows
on bonfires!

11. Haunted Houses
Some people
like to
decorate their
houses like
haunted
houses and
they invite
neighbours
and children to
come for a
fright!

12. 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!

13. By the New Zealander/Kiwi
Natalie Kemp
Cultural Language Assistant
at I.E.S. La Rosaleda, 2011-2012