My Account
Recent celebrations on the Hibiscus Coast indicate that Halloween is growing in popularity with families with young children and that even Guy Fawkes has its fans.
Halloween evolved from a pagan celebration marking the end of autumn (thus the carving of pumpkins) when it was believed that the walls between the living and the dead became thin, allowing spirits to appear. Dressing up and running about powered by sugar is fun, but there is a real lack of Kiwi context.
Shortly afterwards comes Guy Fawkes, which has had its day in some parts of NZ – when it comes to public events at least. Some have ceased because of lack of funding or manpower (as happened to the fire brigade’s event in Orewa), noise complaints or the feeling that it is irrelevant – why do we celebrate a failed attempt to blow up the British parliament in the 17th century?
Those who enjoy letting off rockets and Roman candles in the backyard are increasingly unpopular with neighbours, the emergency services and animal owners.
The Wellington Mayor announced a couple of months ago that the city has dropped its Guy Fawkes festival in favour of fireworks at Matariki. Whether or not fireworks will go on sale to the public at that time is not yet known.
Fireworks make a dramatic finale to all sorts of celebrations and feel totally right for occasions such as New Year’s Eve, Waitangi Day and Matariki. The fireworks at the end of the Surf Sounds concert after the Orewa Santa Parade are a good local example.
Perhaps in time our celebrations will better reflect this place and not be an imported add-on that never sits quite right.
