Halloween is right around the corner, celebrated every year on 31st October, which falls before All Saints’ Day. During the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain 2,000 years ago, people used to believe that the souls of the dead returned to their homes, so they dressed in costumes and lit bonfires to ward off spirits. This is where Halloween traditions began.
While some look forward to this day every year, others are against this celebration. The most common reason for this is because some Christians perceive it as an un-Christian holiday, whereas the Christian origins of Halloween are problematic to Jews and Muslims. Some may not like the horror genre or feel like the whole concept is too scary for little ones. Having said that, most children actually love Halloween. This is a special day where playtime and life meet!
Some Halloween events happening in Malta are:
Spoooooky Halloween Weekend at Vincent’s by Vincent’s Eco Estate – 28th – 31st October
Halloween Week at the Eden Cinemas – 25th – 31st October
This is Halloween – Trick or Treat yo’ self at the Cinema! at Galleria Cinemas – 29th October, 11:00am – 4:00pm
Zabbar Halloween Lantern Festival at Triq Biccieni, Zabbar – 28th October at 6:00pm
The Valletta Waterfront Trick or Treat? – 28th October at 1:00pm
Ascarium – Kids Halloween Party at the Malta National Aquarium – 28th October at 6:00pm
Wirt in-Natura: Halloween Edition at Marsascala Family Park – 29th October, 10:00am – 3:00pm
Zurrieq Halloween 2023 in aid of Puttinu Cares – 31st October at 5:00pm
Popeye Haunted Village – The Curse of the Sea Hag at Popeye Village – 27th October – 5th November
Cirque Bizarre at Esplora – 31st October – 6:00 – 10:00pm
The events surrounding this holiday are even beneficial for children’s development: Social and emotional skills – With so many activities happening, children are bound to meet others their own age, which in return helps with their emotional and social development while also building self-esteem.
Imaginative, thinking and mathematical skills – This is the perfect time to introduce different crafts where children can use their imagination to create something unique. After trick or treating, counting sweets is a great way to enhance their mathematical skills.
It’s understandable for parents to want to protect little ones from anything that might scare them. It’s essential that you help your child overcome these fears by looking for different ways to emphasise the fun parts and not the scary aspects of the celebration.
Alternatively, you can also plan various activities with your little one that may not include trick-or-treating or scary movies. Our favourite thing to do is to bake some Halloween-themed goodies together and eat them in front of a child-friendly movie (like Casper or Scooby Doo).
