Hallowe’en is celebrated in the USA on October 31st. It is not a New Zealand celebration but some people believe it is becoming more popular here. Some stores try to encourage people to celebrate it by selling scary costumes. In the US, people dress up as a witch or some other scary creature. They knock on the door of neighbours and say “Trick or treat”. The trick is usually something like a dance and in return the householder gives them some sweets. In fact, these days, they just want some sweets. Not many people know the reason for Hallowe’en. It has just become a fun occasion to dress up and collect sweets (called “candies” in America).
Wellington has a carnival on Saturday night at Queens Wharf which they call The Big Hallow’een.
On Monday night, which is the traditional Hallowe’en evening, you may have groups of young people in fancy dress, knocking at your door and hoping you will give them a treat. If you would like children to visit, you could turn on your outside light, and even better, have some symbol like a Hallowe’en pumpkin on your letter box. A Hallowe’en pumpkin is hollow, with a face carved into it and a candle inside to light it up. Pumpkins are cheap in Autumn in the US but quite expensive here at this time of year.
If you have sweets to give, they should be individually wrapped to show they are clean and safe to eat.
If you think New Zealand should not copy America, do not turn on your outside light and maybe go out for the evening.
Vocabulary
• scary – things which frighten people
• dress up – wear fancy dress, wear a costume
• householder – the person who is in the house
• symbol – a sign of this festival