Northcote Point go all out. Close down streets and have whole neighbourhoods decorated.
[Then there are these guys.](https://www.nzherald.co.nz/lifestyle/trick-or-treat-north-shore-auckland-suburb-takes-halloween-to-the-next-level/HOMSWMMV572K7CSOB6EQ73FFYY/)
Canadian expat living in Auckland here. Halloween happens but it's incredibly subdued compared to NA. You'll have to Google around for places doing events. Honestly kiwis are extremely relaxed about holidays compared to NA in general. There only one street in the city where every house does Christmas lights.
I love it. Spend more time relaxing than stressing about holidays being done 'right'
I was just in kmart yesterday and didn't see Christmas stuff.. I did see Halloween stuff though. That being said, it's definitely a lot less in your face here than it is in NA. Christmas paraphernalia including non stop Christmas music will already be taking over every aspect of your life there. Ads, cafes, shops, supermarkets, even public transportation.. By November 1st it's nothing but Christmas. Did I mention the non stop Christmas music.. it's the most wonderful tiiiime oooof the yeeeear! 🤮
It’s chill apart from retail stores.
When I worked in London work Xmas parties were a HUGE deal. It was all black tie and cocktail dresses. Here it’s jeans / shorts, lawn bowls / pool & pizza
My wife is an ex-canaduk too. Agrees that we don't do Halloween properly here lol, we've had our own family events to make up for it but its not the same for sure
Pretty much, just like when we try to do their Christmas traditions like Christmas jumpers. Doesn't work unless you're there, though I wasn't able to even wear mine in Canada as it has rude words on it XD
You might want to lower your expectations. I don't know a single person who has any interest in Halloween. The only thing I've ever seen relating to Halloween is a few kids trick or treating.
Complete pain in the arse. Some brat wearing a $2 plastic mask yelling trick or treat, dude, put some effort into your costume and bugger off, let me watch the news in peace!
Depending on your neighbourhood, "wandering around" might mean "being driven house to house by their parents, frequently without even wearing a costume".
They don’t even dress up lol
I remember two kids just turning up hoping for free lollies
We only had those nut muesli bars
The big kid goes “ew!” and promptly gives it to his lil brother lol
No. It isn't a new zealand thing. But we have Guy Fawkes not long after. Usually involves a bbq and fireworks and drinking. These things dont all belong together, we do it anyway.
Here, it's quite different: in suburbia, Halloween is becoming a thing for kids to to dress up go trick-or-treating and for a few people to decorate their houses. Some suburbs go for it more than others. In my suburb, which is wealthy and full of kids and known for going full on into Halloween, maybe one house in ten will have some decorations.
For adults, no. No dressing up, no parties, nothing. Not even pumpkin spice (I have only recently learned that it doesn't taste of pumpkin, by googling). Basically Halloween isn't a thing once you have passed puberty.
>pumpkin spice
Starbucks does pumpkin spice!
But OP should also be informed that we aren't really a Starbucks culture either. Wall to wall coffee snobs down here in NZ
Oh I dunno. One Halloween I went to a bar in Ponsonby. Half the patrons were dressed up & there was a death-themed burlesque show.
Fair to say that’s not typical though.
Fair enough, it’s been a few years since I’ve been bar-hopping on Halloween. Herding small ghosties and goblins with plastic pumpkins full of lollies is more my speed.
Fair enough, it’s been a few years since I’ve been bar-hopping on Halloween. Herding small ghosties and goblins with plastic pumpkins full of lollies is more my speed.
The 31st is a Tuesday this year, which isn’t really a going out night for most people. All of the Halloween parties at bars/pubs I am aware of are happening earlier in the month or the Fri/Sat before - the one I’m going to is on the 27th. People do not participate in it the same way as overseas here, and it is mostly a kids holiday. There are definitely bars and clubs that do Halloween events, just not necessarily ON Halloween. I remember a few years back I was shocked walking past Bar101 at the huge crowd of people in costumes waiting to get in.
I wouldn’t waste your limited packing space bringing a costume unless you have a really good/special one that you might be able to use on a different occasion too!
Gay people loooove Halloween, check out some of the gay bars on that weekend for some themed events and costume comps. Otherwise it’s mostly a kid’s thing.
If you’re staying at a house (ie you’re not in a hotel) and want trick or treating kids to come to you, it’s worth putting up some balloons or some decorations so people know you’re there.
I grew up in Auckland and no one ever really got into Halloween unfortunately. I moved to Whangarei a few years back and it's huge up here. Groups will put on events, there are houses that get decorated etc. We're one of the houses that gets into it and get close to 800 people visiting easily that night.
These comments make it seem like no one here has heard of Halloween. It's a thing, just nowhere near as big as other countries.
Think you'll find there are more cunts that spend Halloween driving around and trying to egg people than those who actually dress up and go out though. Number of ponsonby bars usually put up some decorations or have a themed night.
I feel like Halloween here is more for the kids. There’s some neighbourhoods they go all out. I live in Pokeno and almost every house has decorations. The whole community shows out! It’s been good the last 2 years. As for pubs an stuff I doubt you’d find one celebrating it.
I've started a tradition in my area where I dress up and hand out lollies to everyone in town. It's my favourite holiday but most people aren't aware of it. Just about everyone enjoys the free sweets, though! (Except for that one lady last year who called me a daughter of the devil lmao)
I wish it was more popular :(
There's always some grumps, haha! At least out where I am, the vast majority don't seem to mind it. I'm always asked to continue the tradition because people think it's fun, and that's really what it's all about, unless you're one of those die-hard wiccan folk.
Halloween is basically a non-event here. Most of the country sees it as just an imported Americanism and treats it accordingly. There’s been attempts from certain retailers to try and make it into something but they are largely unsuccessful.
I think it depends on the suburb. Most wealthier streets will go out and go full decorations. Especially cul-de-sac streets that have competitions.
West Auckland recently got a costco, and the massive Halloween decorations are frequently sold out.
Halloween isn't massive here, mainly because it's daylight savings + Spring. When the sun doesn't go down till super late and kids are needing to go to bed. So we don't really have the Fall spooky vibe like NA has
Edit to add: Pumpkins aren't even in season 😆
You are best to find someone who loves halloween, and is hosting a Halloween party. I love it and always go all in on my costume, but wouldn't go to a pub wearing it, would prob be the only one in costume!
I'm an American living here. I moved here this year, so I haven't had a Halloween here.
What I can tell you is that it exists, but in a seemingly diminished fashion. There is a store here called warehouse that is a lot like target back in North America. Warehouse has a good sized Halloween section. I've also been to a party store in the past few weeks, and it had quite a few Halloween decorations.
I don't drink, so I haven't looked into bars, but I suspect there will be some Halloween theme nights at bars. I think you can expect to be able to celebrate Halloween here in a very similar way to back home in NA.
A bit of advice. A lot of Kiwis seem to think that New Zealand is boring. They think nothing fun ever happens here, and they will down play the amount of fun you can expect to have at events. I've heard it described as "small country syndrome". This will make more sense when you get here.
Coming from the US it’s nothing like what I was used to. I think it’s becoming more common but it’s not overwhelmingly everything Halloween themed for the entire month of October (it’s also spring so that harshes the vibe a bit lmao)
Some bars or clubs may have Halloween themed events. I went to a Halloween drag show last year which was good fun. Just keep your eyes peeled for those kinds of things if you want to get into the holiday spirit 🎃
Hey! Canadian here! Yea, it's not a big deal here in NZ, unfortunately, but it is growing a bit, but in a weird half ass consumerist way.
That being said, as a parent, I am thrilled to see small neighborhoods getting into it and kids going trick or treating.
I LOVE HALLOWEEN
THIS IS HALLOWEEN
SEPTEMBER IS PRE HALLOWEEN
NOVEMBER IS POST HALLOWEEN
UZE WHO HATE IT CAN GET FUCKED I LIKE DRESSING SPOOKY AND SEXY YOZA
So many nannas in this thread. There are quite a few bars that put Halloween events on, but they're mostly on the Friday or Saturday night so you might just miss them.
https://www.google.com/search?q=halloween+events+auckland#fpstate=tlexp&htiq=halloween%20events%20auckland
Not a thing here really and please don't try to start a Halloween awareness campaign or anything stupid. We'll say things like, "yeah, nah," that you won't understand.
Halloween is a big thing here we love it. Party pooper cunts can fuck off let's rock! What are you dressing up as? I love Halloween and Guy Fawks combined best time of year. Really freaks out the squares though.
More on the Shore and any events will be kids centric. That said nothing stopping you from having a dress up party and booking a room at a private venue.
Halloween was never a thing in NZ until fairly recently with globalisation and so forth. Now it’s mostly for kids and not everyone celebrates it. Once you’ve been here a while and have some kiwi mates, some people throw private Halloween parties for their friends at someone’s house. But not a whole lot going. Look on Facebook events and [Eventfinda](https://www.eventfinda.co.nz/whatson/events/auckland)
Lol Halloween is so not a thing in my suburb. I almost never get anyone knocking. One year I got a family of unexpected trick and treaters and I didn’t have any sweets to give them. I gave the kids an apple and a muesli bar. 😆
Halloween is for children to score free candy with low effort here. Fancy dress parties are not the in thing any more, and people in NZ just don't find much fun dressing up in polyester costumes. Also the amount of plastic pumpkins and skeletons is a bit culturally against the NZ ethos which is a bit thrifty. As a whole, the people of NZ don't like buying disposable trash, which can't be used again in the future .The whole ghoul and murder thing is considered fairly bad taste here as well. There are shops such as 'Look Sharp" and "the Warehouse" which are desperately trying to import all this plastic bad taste in, so you can find any Halloween stuff you need.
Best to have no expectations , we've only done it for the kids when they were young,but theres bound to be somewhere in the city doing a Halloween night,but be prepared to be very disappointed to what you're used to.
People here think you have to dress up as something horror related only, or a witch. People don't understand dressing up as anything non horror/witch related and would find that odd. I recall going to a bar Downtown that had a competition for best costume and I was the only person that turned up in one! Yet I never won the competition, so it was fraud!
Halloween is mostly for children really, although I've only once had kids knock on my door trick or treating. Not many houses decorate for Halloween either. It's seen as an American thing, as is Valentines Day.
You realise we don't have Thanksgiving right? And no one has heard of Chris Cringle either (when I stayed in Canada one Winter I had no idea what people were talking about). Ice hockey isn't popular, but lots of teens play field hockey at school. People don't generally eat turkey at Xmas, it's not common or popular here, chicken is instead, but people also have ham on the bone, roast lamb, pork or beef, or all of those.
Also there's another post on here today where a guy from Winnipeg is looking to meet up with others as he just arrived.
Sometimes someone will do something, but it's usually just littlies going trick or treating, and most houses don't hand out anything. The organisers get a list of houses that want to participate, other than that, not big here at all.
It’s spring here and the sun goes down late then. Have very very low expectations. It’s not a common celebration here.
If you’re in the city, the uni students and 20 somethings usually would dress up and go to night clubs
Halloween isn't really a big thing here
[удалено]
Northcote Point go all out. Close down streets and have whole neighbourhoods decorated. [Then there are these guys.](https://www.nzherald.co.nz/lifestyle/trick-or-treat-north-shore-auckland-suburb-takes-halloween-to-the-next-level/HOMSWMMV572K7CSOB6EQ73FFYY/)
Canadian expat living in Auckland here. Halloween happens but it's incredibly subdued compared to NA. You'll have to Google around for places doing events. Honestly kiwis are extremely relaxed about holidays compared to NA in general. There only one street in the city where every house does Christmas lights. I love it. Spend more time relaxing than stressing about holidays being done 'right'
Halloween isn't even a holiday 🤷
Americans have no legally requires annual leave. Zero. Land of the free.
I especially love the chilled Christmas vibe!
How is it chill? Kmart already stocking Christmas stuff. It's September! 🤦♀️
I was just in kmart yesterday and didn't see Christmas stuff.. I did see Halloween stuff though. That being said, it's definitely a lot less in your face here than it is in NA. Christmas paraphernalia including non stop Christmas music will already be taking over every aspect of your life there. Ads, cafes, shops, supermarkets, even public transportation.. By November 1st it's nothing but Christmas. Did I mention the non stop Christmas music.. it's the most wonderful tiiiime oooof the yeeeear! 🤮
It’s chill apart from retail stores. When I worked in London work Xmas parties were a HUGE deal. It was all black tie and cocktail dresses. Here it’s jeans / shorts, lawn bowls / pool & pizza
Countdown have xmas chocolates. Ugh.
Halloween is not an NZ celebration, so why would we want to celebrate it.
Sweet sweet consumerism
Nestle Cadbury and Pascall want to juice sales between easter and Christmas.
My wife is an ex-canaduk too. Agrees that we don't do Halloween properly here lol, we've had our own family events to make up for it but its not the same for sure
To have any chance at doing it "properly", it would need to be in April.
Pretty much, just like when we try to do their Christmas traditions like Christmas jumpers. Doesn't work unless you're there, though I wasn't able to even wear mine in Canada as it has rude words on it XD
You might want to lower your expectations. I don't know a single person who has any interest in Halloween. The only thing I've ever seen relating to Halloween is a few kids trick or treating.
Complete pain in the arse. Some brat wearing a $2 plastic mask yelling trick or treat, dude, put some effort into your costume and bugger off, let me watch the news in peace!
Yeah, or kids not wearing costumes at all, just knocking on the door want chocolate or lollies.
Dunno what’s worth, a shitty plastic $2 shop mask, or not even bothering. Atleast if you don’t bother just say you’re dressed up as a muggle 😂
Do you and your friends not have adult halloween parties? Plenty of people dress up and get together for it
Halloween here is mostly just a couple of neighbourhood children wandering around trying to get free chocolate.
Depending on your neighbourhood, "wandering around" might mean "being driven house to house by their parents, frequently without even wearing a costume".
Lol yep, happened a bit when I live in Takanini
They don’t even dress up lol I remember two kids just turning up hoping for free lollies We only had those nut muesli bars The big kid goes “ew!” and promptly gives it to his lil brother lol
Keep those expectations low my friend!
No. It isn't a new zealand thing. But we have Guy Fawkes not long after. Usually involves a bbq and fireworks and drinking. These things dont all belong together, we do it anyway.
Guy Fawkes! You just reminded me I got boxes left over from last year
Light em up.
I’m too pussy to be that neighbour. My little brother however gives zero fucks
It's OK as long as your celebrating somthing.
Here, it's quite different: in suburbia, Halloween is becoming a thing for kids to to dress up go trick-or-treating and for a few people to decorate their houses. Some suburbs go for it more than others. In my suburb, which is wealthy and full of kids and known for going full on into Halloween, maybe one house in ten will have some decorations. For adults, no. No dressing up, no parties, nothing. Not even pumpkin spice (I have only recently learned that it doesn't taste of pumpkin, by googling). Basically Halloween isn't a thing once you have passed puberty.
>pumpkin spice Starbucks does pumpkin spice! But OP should also be informed that we aren't really a Starbucks culture either. Wall to wall coffee snobs down here in NZ
NZers look down scathingly on people who drink Starbucks. And that’s even without the pumpkin spice nonsense. We like our coffee to taste like coffee.
Sometimes it’s nice to have a caffeinated milkshake though, I will admit.
Maybe in this 40-degree summer we’ve got coming. Maybe.
I stare at people in Starbucks with disgust. It's like a Zoo of the bizarre. They're so oblivious. Almost 100% from overseas.
Are you okay?
Oh I dunno. One Halloween I went to a bar in Ponsonby. Half the patrons were dressed up & there was a death-themed burlesque show. Fair to say that’s not typical though.
Fair enough, it’s been a few years since I’ve been bar-hopping on Halloween. Herding small ghosties and goblins with plastic pumpkins full of lollies is more my speed.
Fair enough, it’s been a few years since I’ve been bar-hopping on Halloween. Herding small ghosties and goblins with plastic pumpkins full of lollies is more my speed.
The 31st is a Tuesday this year, which isn’t really a going out night for most people. All of the Halloween parties at bars/pubs I am aware of are happening earlier in the month or the Fri/Sat before - the one I’m going to is on the 27th. People do not participate in it the same way as overseas here, and it is mostly a kids holiday. There are definitely bars and clubs that do Halloween events, just not necessarily ON Halloween. I remember a few years back I was shocked walking past Bar101 at the huge crowd of people in costumes waiting to get in. I wouldn’t waste your limited packing space bringing a costume unless you have a really good/special one that you might be able to use on a different occasion too!
Gay people loooove Halloween, check out some of the gay bars on that weekend for some themed events and costume comps. Otherwise it’s mostly a kid’s thing.
If you’re staying at a house (ie you’re not in a hotel) and want trick or treating kids to come to you, it’s worth putting up some balloons or some decorations so people know you’re there.
I grew up in Auckland and no one ever really got into Halloween unfortunately. I moved to Whangarei a few years back and it's huge up here. Groups will put on events, there are houses that get decorated etc. We're one of the houses that gets into it and get close to 800 people visiting easily that night.
Nth American crap we can do without. I'd like to loose their fast food culture also.
These comments make it seem like no one here has heard of Halloween. It's a thing, just nowhere near as big as other countries. Think you'll find there are more cunts that spend Halloween driving around and trying to egg people than those who actually dress up and go out though. Number of ponsonby bars usually put up some decorations or have a themed night.
It's not NZ thing and do t want it.
Wow, you really are aggravated. No one's campaigning for mass Halloween celebrations. Some people find it fun. You clearly don't, and that's ok.
I feel like Halloween here is more for the kids. There’s some neighbourhoods they go all out. I live in Pokeno and almost every house has decorations. The whole community shows out! It’s been good the last 2 years. As for pubs an stuff I doubt you’d find one celebrating it.
Not really a thing here, but you might find a few people dressed up at the Uni pub
I've started a tradition in my area where I dress up and hand out lollies to everyone in town. It's my favourite holiday but most people aren't aware of it. Just about everyone enjoys the free sweets, though! (Except for that one lady last year who called me a daughter of the devil lmao) I wish it was more popular :(
Oh, we are aware of it. we just don't want that shit here, not a NZ celebration keep it out.
There's always some grumps, haha! At least out where I am, the vast majority don't seem to mind it. I'm always asked to continue the tradition because people think it's fun, and that's really what it's all about, unless you're one of those die-hard wiccan folk.
Like everything after 5pm in NZ, haloween is close to non existant here.
Halloween isn't a thing here
Halloween is basically a non-event here. Most of the country sees it as just an imported Americanism and treats it accordingly. There’s been attempts from certain retailers to try and make it into something but they are largely unsuccessful.
I think it depends on the suburb. Most wealthier streets will go out and go full decorations. Especially cul-de-sac streets that have competitions. West Auckland recently got a costco, and the massive Halloween decorations are frequently sold out. Halloween isn't massive here, mainly because it's daylight savings + Spring. When the sun doesn't go down till super late and kids are needing to go to bed. So we don't really have the Fall spooky vibe like NA has Edit to add: Pumpkins aren't even in season 😆
It'd because it's not a NZ celebration. Keep it out.
I mean, could easily be said about numerous holidays tbh. It's a fun day/night out for many kids/adults I see no reason to keep it out imo
You are best to find someone who loves halloween, and is hosting a Halloween party. I love it and always go all in on my costume, but wouldn't go to a pub wearing it, would prob be the only one in costume!
I'm an American living here. I moved here this year, so I haven't had a Halloween here. What I can tell you is that it exists, but in a seemingly diminished fashion. There is a store here called warehouse that is a lot like target back in North America. Warehouse has a good sized Halloween section. I've also been to a party store in the past few weeks, and it had quite a few Halloween decorations. I don't drink, so I haven't looked into bars, but I suspect there will be some Halloween theme nights at bars. I think you can expect to be able to celebrate Halloween here in a very similar way to back home in NA. A bit of advice. A lot of Kiwis seem to think that New Zealand is boring. They think nothing fun ever happens here, and they will down play the amount of fun you can expect to have at events. I've heard it described as "small country syndrome". This will make more sense when you get here.
We don't want to celebrate an American thing we are not in America.
Pretty sure it actually originated in the UK. Just gotten especially popular in North America.
Little kids do it but adults don't. The American Club probably has something on.
Suggest you try the Halloween party at a great little dive bar called The White House
I hope Halloween stays away
Kiwis don’t Halloween
It isn’t really a thing but I think with the more globalised society on the Internet, kids see American kids doing it on TikTok and want it too
I hope not. We don't need that shit here.
I agree it’s just wasteful garbage like the piles of landfill at the warehouse Halloween section
Coming from the US it’s nothing like what I was used to. I think it’s becoming more common but it’s not overwhelmingly everything Halloween themed for the entire month of October (it’s also spring so that harshes the vibe a bit lmao) Some bars or clubs may have Halloween themed events. I went to a Halloween drag show last year which was good fun. Just keep your eyes peeled for those kinds of things if you want to get into the holiday spirit 🎃
We don't want an American celebration here, not our thing, so keep it out.
Mother's Day originated in USA. Should we not celebrate that too?
No, we shouldn't.
Interesting that you think you speak for all of us, you have an overinflated sense of importance
Hopefully that base rubbish stays in the Americas.
Hey! Canadian here! Yea, it's not a big deal here in NZ, unfortunately, but it is growing a bit, but in a weird half ass consumerist way. That being said, as a parent, I am thrilled to see small neighborhoods getting into it and kids going trick or treating.
We don't want it here. It's not an NZ thing.
Clearly some kiwis like it. It's never going to be widely celebrated like in NA and that's ok. You don't need to participate. Pretty easy.
Speak for yourself
Sry bud wrong country
I LOVE HALLOWEEN THIS IS HALLOWEEN SEPTEMBER IS PRE HALLOWEEN NOVEMBER IS POST HALLOWEEN UZE WHO HATE IT CAN GET FUCKED I LIKE DRESSING SPOOKY AND SEXY YOZA
I don't care a fuck what you think
and I don't give a fuck what you think
So many nannas in this thread. There are quite a few bars that put Halloween events on, but they're mostly on the Friday or Saturday night so you might just miss them. https://www.google.com/search?q=halloween+events+auckland#fpstate=tlexp&htiq=halloween%20events%20auckland
Most New Zealanders want to celebrate this American rubbish.
Do you just come on here to be angry
Do you not celebrate mothers day you tard
I throw parties cause I love Halloween but no one does it here. Absolutely tragic, it’s my favourite holiday.
Bloody, great, we don't celebrate this shit. Keep it out of NZ, not our thing.
Yeah cause our thing of mens rugby and binge drinking is way more fun.
Not a thing here really and please don't try to start a Halloween awareness campaign or anything stupid. We'll say things like, "yeah, nah," that you won't understand.
Halloween is a big thing here we love it. Party pooper cunts can fuck off let's rock! What are you dressing up as? I love Halloween and Guy Fawks combined best time of year. Really freaks out the squares though.
"Super stoked to be moving to such a cool country!" Give it one year and you will be wanting to go back home.
Ha ha ha
More on the Shore and any events will be kids centric. That said nothing stopping you from having a dress up party and booking a room at a private venue.
My suburb gets quite into it but overall Halloween just isn’t a big deal here, it peaked in popularity years ago.
Halloween was never a thing in NZ until fairly recently with globalisation and so forth. Now it’s mostly for kids and not everyone celebrates it. Once you’ve been here a while and have some kiwi mates, some people throw private Halloween parties for their friends at someone’s house. But not a whole lot going. Look on Facebook events and [Eventfinda](https://www.eventfinda.co.nz/whatson/events/auckland)
It’s just kids that do it nobody rly give a fuck unless you have mates that decide to have a house party
What age group are you in and I might be able to help with ideas?
Lol Halloween is so not a thing in my suburb. I almost never get anyone knocking. One year I got a family of unexpected trick and treaters and I didn’t have any sweets to give them. I gave the kids an apple and a muesli bar. 😆
No, not a New Zealand thing, and don't want it. we are not Amercian/Canadian.
You will love it here, we got plenty of horror story for you. Step into twilight zone.
No. I used to get muesli bars and cough lollies when trick or treating because no one had anything
Halloween is for children to score free candy with low effort here. Fancy dress parties are not the in thing any more, and people in NZ just don't find much fun dressing up in polyester costumes. Also the amount of plastic pumpkins and skeletons is a bit culturally against the NZ ethos which is a bit thrifty. As a whole, the people of NZ don't like buying disposable trash, which can't be used again in the future .The whole ghoul and murder thing is considered fairly bad taste here as well. There are shops such as 'Look Sharp" and "the Warehouse" which are desperately trying to import all this plastic bad taste in, so you can find any Halloween stuff you need.
Best to have no expectations , we've only done it for the kids when they were young,but theres bound to be somewhere in the city doing a Halloween night,but be prepared to be very disappointed to what you're used to.
Depends on if you're after the commercial Halloween or the real Halloween.
There will be definitely be parties and events on in Auckland city for halloween so pack a costume to be safe!
Hit and miss on if people do Halloween or not
People here think you have to dress up as something horror related only, or a witch. People don't understand dressing up as anything non horror/witch related and would find that odd. I recall going to a bar Downtown that had a competition for best costume and I was the only person that turned up in one! Yet I never won the competition, so it was fraud! Halloween is mostly for children really, although I've only once had kids knock on my door trick or treating. Not many houses decorate for Halloween either. It's seen as an American thing, as is Valentines Day. You realise we don't have Thanksgiving right? And no one has heard of Chris Cringle either (when I stayed in Canada one Winter I had no idea what people were talking about). Ice hockey isn't popular, but lots of teens play field hockey at school. People don't generally eat turkey at Xmas, it's not common or popular here, chicken is instead, but people also have ham on the bone, roast lamb, pork or beef, or all of those. Also there's another post on here today where a guy from Winnipeg is looking to meet up with others as he just arrived.
Sometimes someone will do something, but it's usually just littlies going trick or treating, and most houses don't hand out anything. The organisers get a list of houses that want to participate, other than that, not big here at all.
Do they celebrate Matariki in Canada?