Book Club: Halloween 2019
Gimnazija Vič Book Club was delighted to continue with its tradition of organising different activities to celebrate Halloween and our main event took place on 24th October. Through the week leading up to this, students had the chance to hear about book recommendations for this spooky time of year, take part in some creative projects associated with the celebration, and attend special classes which focused on the Halloween customs of the UK and Ireland.
First year students had been busy coming up with ideas for a creative poster display which was on show as students began the celebrations. Congratulations must go to all those whose pieces were selected to go on display and especially to those who had their art and writing judged to be of especially creative quality and who were also awarded a Trick or Treat goody bag.
The main event followed the plan that has been established over the last few years with a showing of a vintage British horror film. For 2019, we chose a classic from the Hammer House of Horror. This is always popular as it allows students to watch something connected to the Halloween season that would not be their typical choice otherwise.
After the screening, the audience had the chance to discuss some of the books put forward as recommendations for over the week of holidays that take place every year during the last week of October. The process of dividing different books up into “Tricks” (scary, gruesome, unsettling, etc.) and “Treats” (funny, light-hearted, less realistic, etc.) is a method that students appreciate as they can use it to choose something to read which is within their own limits and preferences so they can enjoy it more.
After some delicious refreshments, the annual Quiz of Horrors took place at which students got the chance to show off their knowledge of Halloween traditions, horror books and films, superstitions, and a range of other appropriate topics. The competition was fierce and the winning team was very happy to leave with a selection of sweet treats to be enjoyed over the Halloween break.
This is the first major event of the school’s Book Club calendar and we are already looking forward to other such occasions in the months ahead.