Halloween Event - Children's Workshop
Dates: 26th, 27th, 28th, 29th, 30th, 31st October
Times: 2.00pm & 3.00pm each day
Duration: 60 minutes
Location: The Irish Wake Museum
Suitable for: 3 – 12 year olds
Join us this Halloween as the veil is lifted between the living and the dead and all rules and order are suspended. Come along to the Irish Wake Museum to learn about historic Irish traditions surrounding the festival of Samhain – your own little ghouls will make their own traditional fiddle face mask to fend off spooky spirits, discover the secrets of the dead centre of Waterford and if they’re brave enough they can discover what their future holds through the magic of divination…
Please note children must be accompanied by an adult.
Fiddle faces (or false faces) are traditional masks made around the Halloween season by gangs of children who would roam the countryside asking for food and money – very similar to modern trick or treating. If they weren’t given what they wanted, mischief ensued. Usually made of cloth and hair they’re unusual and a little frightening and a reminder than most Halloween traditions from jack o’lanterns to trick or treating have their roots in the Irish festival of Samhain. Like carved turnips they were meant to confuse the spirits of the dead who had returned to earth during this period.