What is the story behind Halloween and why do children trick or treat?

Turns out, Halloween, a new tradition here in Romania, has been with other countries for a long time! It started as an ancient, pre-Christian, Celtic festival of the dead. Back then, for the Celts, November 1 was their New Years and it was the day they switched from autumn to winter. It was also the time of year that they believed the veil between the world of the living and the world of the dead was at its thinnest. That meant that the dead could hang out with the living. That’s not comfortable for anybody! They had a festival called Samhain (pronounced Sow-en) and it was the most significant holiday of their entire year. They believed that it was on Samhain that the souls of people who had died during that year finally travelled to the otherworld. To help them get there, the living people lit bonfires to honour the dead, to help them along their journey, and also to keep them away from the living.

In the early centuries of the first millennium, Christian missionaries showed up and they wanted to change the religious practices of the Celts. But, rather than destroying the existing pagan holidays, such as Samhain, they tried to transform it.

Eventually, All Hallows Eve became Hallow Evening, which eventually became Halloween. Basically an ancient, Celtic, pre-Christian new year celebration lost its pagan context over the last couple thousand years and transformed into one of the largest secular holidays of modern times that we are going to celebrate on October 27th, between 2 p.m. and 5 p.m., along with over 150 children, parents, teachers, partners and stakeholders. 

We kindly invite you to get involved in Halloween Harvest  Bazaar and discover the autumn flavours alongside with celebrating Halloween with some healthy treats and arts and crafts designed by the  children. We shall sing,  play and design the coolest class stands while enjoying some healthy foods and relaxing on Questfield School premises.

Put your costumes on and, on October 27th, join us to celebrate Halloween with some healthy treats at the Halloween Harvest  Bazaar held in the Questfield yard. Children will bring the festive moments, the scary costumes as well as the joyful singing while parents will be responsible for decorating the class stands while bringing healthy food  and treats.

We are looking forward to having you celebrate by our side!