Hailing from the UK, I think it’s safe to say that nowadays Halloween is a much larger affair than it used to be. When I was little it wasn’t half as commercialised, but the celebration still existed.
I have fond memories of carving ridiculously small swedes (which took forever) and listening to stories of witches cats, along with the decrepit looking egg box spiders and black sugar paper (and often crumpled) pointed hats we brought home from school.
Occasionally, if we were lucky, there might be a Halloween party happening, which usually involved dancing to “Thriller” on repeat, and where bobbing for apples was the order of the day. But we didn’t really go trick or treating – that’s much more popular nowadays, where the unwritten code of an illuminated pumpkin placed on a door step or in a window usually indicates that trick or treaters are welcome (whilst the lack of any such decoration typically means that someone doesn’t want 55 children knocking on the door over the course of an evening!). When last living in the UK, we were usually welcomers, up until we ran out of sweets or until Small (then positively tiny) People had to be packed off to bed, and out of fear that the constant ringing of the doorbell would wake them up. Then the pumpkin would be brought inside (and any left over sweets eaten!), slowly filling the lounge with that seasonal fragrance otherwise known as “Burning Pumpkin Lid”…
During our Expat life, it’s been really interesting to see how a couple of other countries do Halloween, and it obviously spreads much much further afield than Europe. Although dates may vary, there are ghoulish celebrations a plenty, from the respectful ancestor worship celebrations such as Obon in Japan, and Chusok in Korea, and Mexico’s better known Dia Les Muertos, to the slightly more gourmet traditions of baking your ancestors cakes such as Beans of the Dead in Italy, and Bones of the Holy in Spain…
Here in Germany all knives are hidden away to protect households from returning souls who might have a bit of a vendetta (or who possibly just like to cook?).
Don’t imagine that the more commercial form of Halloween is relatively new in this part of the world either – I remember being petrified by my first ever trick or treaters when I lived in Germany the very first time around at the grand age of four (far far back in the mists of time…)! Unexpected skeletons and witches will do that to you when you answer the door (I think my mother knew we were expecting such spooky guests by the way as answering the door at that age wasn’t typically the norm – but she could have warned me!)… And despite personally finding Krampus and his buddies far more scary, it’s even more popular today, with the smattering of trick or treaters increasing every year, and a few fancy dress parties and obligatory school fancy dress day (should you be in this part of the world where such shops are scarce, and like me plan on abandoning all attempts of “home-made” fancy dress through lack of time, do pop over to www.Horror-Shop.com (they also have two “real” shops – one in Munich, and one just outside, if you want to visit in person!). I think they have every Halloween costume imaginable, together with masses of make up, capes, and amazing translations that will keep you entertained – who’s wants to be Edward Mit Den Scherenhanden, anyone?)
In Denmark, we also experienced the gradual rise of Halloween and Tivoli is THE place to strut your Halloween stuff, putting on the most amazing Halloween Spectacular each year (complete with thousands of pumpkins). We usually had a few trick or treaters visiting as well, making the foreigners house (ours) the first port of call, as we were likely to have the most sweets (or so it seemed)…
My favourite recent(ish) Halloween Celebration to date though, has to be in the country that probably does it best – America.
Late night trick or treating – New York…
We were days from moving here, and had gone from Florida’s heady heat for my Brother in Law’s wedding, to a unseasonally snowy New York in all of its Orange and Black ghoulish glory.
Not wanting to miss out on the trick or treat action, we made like locals and went trick or treating from shop to shop (which we had no idea happened, but it’s done to discourage kids from knocking on strangers doors, and to avoid any nuisance issues, which can only be a good thing right?), and came back with the most magnificent haul of candy, some of which we grown ups HAD to eat out of fear for our infants teeth.
And this year? Well we are surrounded by pumpkins anyway here in Bavaria, but as for other festivities (as I am fully expecting to be sleep deprived with the arrival of a completely different kind of wailing little monster – who STILL hasn’t arrived), we will probably keep things low-key with our usual Halloween Tea at home (which at the insistence of both Small People usually consists of witches hair (squid ink) spaghetti, fingers (frankfurters), eyeball olives, spiced pumpkin muffins and anything else their imaginations conjure up, and that I am instructed to make as Chief Witch…
The Americans certainly know how to do Halloween properly, don’t they!
They excel at it! :D Thanks Donna!
We don’t do halloween in our house much to the kids protests, its too grim and horrible now days. when I was a child we would crave a pumpkin and thats it. Some of the shops where we live are to scary for children. roll on christmas.
It’s not everyone’s cup of tea! :)
Oh I love this, must have been so great to see Halloween in other countries. I must have done it in Australia as I lived there for two years although I can’t remember what we did! Do have a thing for Christmas markets though, was looking at Stuttgart but flights so much!
Congratulations again by the way, hope all is going well xxx
Drive to Cologne Charly, it’s not too long a drive from the UK, and they have really lovely markets! :) Thank you xx
Halloween in America is the absolute best isn’t it?! I’ve been lucky enough to spend a couple there and always wish I was there when October 31st comes around again!
My inlaws live in Florida, and we have been there for Christmas and Halloween, but think they do Halloween the best! :D
Last time we were in New York, they were only starting to decorate for Halloween, as it was the end of September. I had wished ever since to be able to return and do proper Halloween there!xx
It’s great to see! Next time Oana? :) xx
I would love to experience Halloween in the USA! It would be epic!
It really is. Thank you! :)
It’s really taken hold in the UK now which I kind of like although the door knocking trick or treat varies depending where you live. Think I’d creep out ab it if I lived somewhere that hid knives ;)
I am not planning on hiding any! :D Thanks Andrea! :)
The Americans went all out with those inflatables! We like to carve a pumpkin to show that we are happy to get knocks at the door, and my kids really love Halloween. I hope you find your knives on 1st November ok or there will be no cooking!!
Might be a takeaway night! Thanks Nadine! :)
I do love Halloween – more than my kids do actually!! Good excuse to watch scary movies until too late at night – and to try and eat a doughnut dangling from a string!
Love the doughnut idea. They do that with pretzels here! :D
I’m not a massive fan of Halloween, but I do fancy a trip to America to celebrate in style!
And they do Christmas much bigger than we ever do as you can imagine! :D Thanks Joanne…
The Americans just have to do everything bigger than everyone else but I would love to see it for myself
It’s fantastic! Thanks Kara! (:
Wow. My husband would be in his element, and tge kids too…well for sweets that is
The amount of sweets was unbelievable! :D Thanks Clare…
I have read the whole post but am still laughing at ‘burning pumpkin lid’ – been there!
It’s just one of those seasonal aromas isn’t it? Thanks Trish! :)
I love seeing how other cultures celebrate. Halloween is certainly is getting more and more fun here in the UK. I remember the swedes and how hard it was to carve them!
I think that’s probably what our mums enjoyed about us carving swedes Jen! Took us hours in our house! :D
Loving the Halloween pics from the states – one year I’ll have to go over for it.
It really is great fun. Thanks Erica! :)
Ha! Ha! Ha! Chief witch!! All sounds so much more fun than Halloween in Isleworth!xx
Oh I don’t know… Bet you will get a few trick or treaters this year even if it is just F, J & C!! :D xxx
We rarely get anyone at our door at Halloween now. When I was younger pretty much all the kids in the street got bags full of goodies. I would love to experience Halloween in America, they go all out
They really do! Thanks Angela! (:
Hey Emma,
Thank you for sharing how it is like to celebrate Halloween in different cities and countries.
I guess Halloween celebrations are on the rise in many countries. Even in Malaysia where we don’t celebrate it traditionally, we are starting to see Halloween-themed parties in nightclubs (commercialized I guess), friend gatherings and even offices. More people are willing to fork out money to rent costumes just for the occasion too.
I’m gonna share the photo of the guy setting up a giant spider in front of his house on Twitter. I think it’s pretty cool! :)
Thanks so much Wayne! I LOVE Malaysia, it’s been far too long since I last visited, but I have a very good friend currently living in KL so hopefully next year! :)
I love Halloween, I always try to make an effort for the kids. I’d just love the UK to celebrate it like the US x
They know how to do it properly don’t they? Thanks Sonia! (:
I do wish we celebrated Halloween here in the UK as they do in America x
It’s a huge deal there isn’t it? Thanks Rachel! :)
This year we are going to be away for Halloween – we are holidaying in Majorca (and I a can’t wait). Needless to say Little A isn’t pleased about the situation so I need to make sure she has lots of Halloween sweeties for when we arrive home, and we’ve said she can wear her witches outfit on our way home in the plane too. I am assuming your bump hasn’t arrived yet? X
We have spent the last few Halloween’s abroad, and there was usually something going on. Have an amazing trip if I don’t speak to you before! No, no news yet! :D x
Oh aren’t your new York pics fab!
Thanks Becky! (:
I have never been one much for Halloween but now I am a mum I like the idea of celebrating anything and everything! Love the sound of the Haloween Spectacle!
The Halloween thing at Tivoli is incredible, the most pumpkins I have ever seen in one spot! :D Thanks Lucy! (:
Ha, I still laugh when I remember the ghost at the door event! I love the dog fancy dress costumes – they would go down well in England I am sure. x
I knew you would still laugh about it. Has to be one of my earliest vivid memories!! :D xx
Very fun post to read. We are so far from feeling Fall-ish, that while I did pull out the Halloween placemats, they just don’t feel at home here in Saudi.
I can imagine that must feel really strange Brooke… Will you go home at Christmas? Hope all is well x