Halloween
Find out about Halloween and explore Halloween and scary stuff at libraries.
What is Halloween?
Halloween is celebrated on 31 October. The name is a short version of All Hallows’ Eve, the evening before All Hallows’ Day (also called All Saints’ Day) on the 1st of November. Many things we do at Halloween come from the Celtic festival Samhain.
It is a time when we enjoy being scared by witches, ghosts and other creepy creatures! We might dress up, have a party, read scary stories or make some yummy treats.
The traditional Halloween activity of trick-or-treating is mainly followed in North America but is becoming more popular in New Zealand. Costumed children go from house to house, asking for treats with the question, "Trick or treat?" Traditionally, those who refused to offer a treat might then have a "trick" played on them but this tradition is not followed in New Zealand. We're polite trick-or-treaters!
Canterbury Stories
Spooooky! A Canterbury Stories set of ghostly goings on.
A little bit eerie, off-putting or monstrous.
Halloween websites
Halloween at Britannica Library Kids
Lots of information about Halloween and its history. (Access with your library card number and PIN / password)
Halloween at Learn English Kids
Games to play, stories you can watch and stories you can be in!
Halloween at Activity Village
Halloween colouring in, crafts, and games for kids.
25 Halloween games for kids
Crafts, games and activities for kids with a Halloween theme.
Halloween for kids
Trick-or-treating
It's good to have fun at Halloween, but to keep things from getting too scary, New Zealand Police have some tips for safe trick-or-treating:
- always go trick-or-treating with an adult
- stay in areas that are well lit
- only visit houses where you know the residents
- be careful not to scare elderly people.
Halloween for kids
Scary Stuff for kids
Scary stuff for teens
Horror and Thriller - Rainbow Reads - Teens
Horror for teens
Scary stuff for adults
Horror fiction reading guide
Horror
Read It Before You See It 2025: Nosferatu and Bridget Jones
creepy, creepy, creepy. A well written short little novel that packs a giant punch centering around the ethical questions of AI development, robotics and…
Read more of this comment about William
Enjoyable and faintly reminiscent of Emily Danforth's Plain Bad Heroines. Mara's an engaging character, the story has a good twist, and I really like the…
Read more of this comment about Haunt Sweet HomeRead It Before You See It 2025: Nosferatu and Bridget Jones
A great spooky haunted house book that is genuinely scary and atmospheric. Gave me a bit of the ole "House of Leaves" in the way the building changes,…
Read more of this comment about We Used to Live Herecreepy, creepy, creepy. A well written short little novel that packs a giant punch centering around the ethical questions of AI development, robotics and…
Read more of this comment about WilliamEnjoyable and faintly reminiscent of Emily Danforth's Plain Bad Heroines. Mara's an engaging character, the story has a good twist, and I really like the…
Read more of this comment about Haunt Sweet Home
We Used to Live Here
A great spooky haunted house book that is genuinely scary and atmospheric. Gave me a bit of the ole "House of Leaves" in the way the building changes,…
Read more of this comment about We Used to Live Here