In The Hague’s Archipel neighbourhood, we celebrate Halloween each year with trick-or-treating.
Usually on the Saturday evening before or on October 31st; the actual date of Halloween.
Halloween in the Archipel
Everybody is welcome during Halloween in the Archipel. In principle, however, it’s a celebration for and by residents of the Archipel neighbourhood.
Children (often accompanied by a parent) roam the neighbourhood streets and knock on doors to collect as many candy as possible.
If they like, neighbours dress-up and decorate their homes. On Saturday night, trick-or-treaters knock their doors for candy (or something else).
You can sign up via the registration page.
Going door to door = also opening your own door
Halloween is a frightfully fun celebration, and we’d like to keep it that way.
We see more and more people attending Halloween in the Archipel. We also see that many residents do not register their houses, even though they do go out trick-or-treating.
That’s unfortunate and not really the idea. Halloween is only fun for everyone when there are enough houses participating.
So, if you’re going out and you live in the Archipel neighbourhood, make sure kids can knock on your door too.
Take turns. Have grandpa, and aunt, or the babysitter answer the door. Or simply put out a bowl of candy in front of your house.
Be creative! Because Halloween without houses is Halloween without candy. And that’s no fun for anyone…
Where does Halloween originate from?
The official date for Halloween is October 31st: ‘All Hallow’s Eve’. The evening before November 1st. The day on which Catholics honour all Saints who do not have their own celebration day.
Conveniently the Catholic Church chose the same date as the Roman’s had their harvest festival in those days. And around the same time, the Celts used to celebrate the transition from Summer to Autumn on the British Islands.
Everything about the origin of Halloween can be seen in this video.