It's been a while since I've done Halloween, so doing it in a country where it seems to be pretty big is a little scary (no pun intended!). Like Christmas in Australia, there were Halloween decorations, costumes and candy for sale in the shops for weeks leading up to the night in question, and every time I went in and had a look, I was so overwhelmed and confused that I just walked straight out again, just like Christmas in Australia!
Thankfully, Austin's daycare came to the rescue. They sent out an email saying that they were organising some specially themed activities the week of Halloween which would culminate in a Halloween costume party on the 31st of October. I'd been reading Austin some Halloween stories (for kids!), and obviously the daycare had introduced the children to the concept, so when I asked Austin what he wanted to wear to the costume party, he said either a mummy or a pumpkin. This time when I entered the local Dollarama looking for costumes, I knew what I needed. And luckily they supplied, in the form of a pumpkin!
Thankfully, Austin's daycare came to the rescue. They sent out an email saying that they were organising some specially themed activities the week of Halloween which would culminate in a Halloween costume party on the 31st of October. I'd been reading Austin some Halloween stories (for kids!), and obviously the daycare had introduced the children to the concept, so when I asked Austin what he wanted to wear to the costume party, he said either a mummy or a pumpkin. This time when I entered the local Dollarama looking for costumes, I knew what I needed. And luckily they supplied, in the form of a pumpkin!
There were two other things that were still on my mind: how to trick or treat, because it must be different to what I remember the one time I did it in Australia when I was 10; and what if people knocked on our door asking for treats.
Funnily enough, the second was answered by the first. Our neighbour downstairs had invited us to join him and his 10-year-old daughter to walk around the neighbourhood (because he knew the best = most lucrative streets to go to!), but dissed us at the last moment (right before dark). No worries, though, because we now knew that just walking around as soon as it gets dark is what people do here.
Funnily enough, the second was answered by the first. Our neighbour downstairs had invited us to join him and his 10-year-old daughter to walk around the neighbourhood (because he knew the best = most lucrative streets to go to!), but dissed us at the last moment (right before dark). No worries, though, because we now knew that just walking around as soon as it gets dark is what people do here.
We went out at about 6pm and there were already lots of families with not only children dressed up but the parents in full costume as well. I wonder if they got more candy for that? Anyway, after some initial hesitancy on Austin's part, and quite a large fright when a scarecrow with a pumpkin for a head turned into a real person and scared the living daylights out of Austin, and me, Austin got right into it. I don't think he actually realised it was all about the candy because he really didn't seem overly excited about it. He was more into choosing the next scary house, or the next house with a lit pumpkin to visit even if there wasn't anyone there to give out candy.
And there is the answer to my second question: people were either standing by the front door ready to open it when children came up their front stairs, or they were standing or sitting on their front doorstep ready to hand out their goodies. It made it a lot easier to know which houses would provide and which were a waste of time. Not that it was about the candy.
When we got home, while we were waiting for dinner to cook, Austin and I stood at our front door, with our neighbour, and handed out candy to kids that came up. It was just that much later than when we'd gone that the kids were older and dressed a bit scarier, with ghouls and skeletons and bloody murderers a go-go. I think Austin enjoyed the handing out of candy just as much as gathering it. He even said he thought it would be boring but it actually wasn't!
Now, if only we knew what to do with all Austin's collected candy and the leftovers from our distribution because Austin certainly can't have it all!
What did you do for Halloween this year? Did you use to go trick or treating when you were little? Have you ever done Halloween in another country? I'd love to know!
When we got home, while we were waiting for dinner to cook, Austin and I stood at our front door, with our neighbour, and handed out candy to kids that came up. It was just that much later than when we'd gone that the kids were older and dressed a bit scarier, with ghouls and skeletons and bloody murderers a go-go. I think Austin enjoyed the handing out of candy just as much as gathering it. He even said he thought it would be boring but it actually wasn't!
Now, if only we knew what to do with all Austin's collected candy and the leftovers from our distribution because Austin certainly can't have it all!
What did you do for Halloween this year? Did you use to go trick or treating when you were little? Have you ever done Halloween in another country? I'd love to know!