Halloween in Belgium
I didn’t realize that Trick-or-Treating and Halloween are two separate things until I moved here. Halloween (the ghosts, goblins, witches, dressing up, pumpkins, etc.) is widely celebrated here. The stores sell costumes, decorations, and other party paraphernalia. Most of it is scary. There aren’t a lot of sweet children’s Halloween costumes (think Disney). What is also missing are the many aisles of enormous bags of Halloween candy. It’s very strange, but possibly one reason why the Belgians do not have weight issues. They aren’t stuffing themselves with their favorite bite sized candy from the end of October until Christmas when we turn to our favorite holiday cookies.
Not wanting their children to miss out on a fun fall tradition, the American families create their own Trick-or-Treat night in the neighborhood across from St. John’s International School. If you are going to participate, you donate several bags of candy to one of the organizers who then spread the candy out amongst those participating. On the designated night (which happened to be Oct. 29th this year), everyone comes dressed up and ready to collect candy. Houses have a sign that designates their participation and for one night it feels like home as you repeatedly run into friends and classmates and people that you know, all who are speaking English.
Early into the evening, one Belgian couple was passing out their allotted candy and asked me what we were saying and why. Try explaining what Trick or Treat means to someone whose first language is not English, I did my best and we moved on. I Googled it myself just now. Not sure anyone knows why we say it. There are a few theories floating around out there, but I’ll let you do your own research. Bottom line, just give me the candy and I’ll be on my way! :)
Nick and Lindsey’s schools allowed the kids to dress up on Friday and they celebrated Halloween there with fun snacks and candy. Apparently the big dress up celebration is Carnaval in February. I’ll be curious to see what that is all about.
The town of Waterloo also hosted their own celebration on Halloween Day. The kids were allowed to come to the stores in town dressed up and trick-or-treating. Then, everyone met at the commune and paraded to the park together where there were face painters, magicians, crafts, food, and other fun things to do. Our neighborhood organized a trick-or-treat parade at 6:00 pm and the kids went around the block collecting candy as well. It ended with soup and conversation at a neighbor’s house around the way. So it seems as though some local traditions are begining to be influenced by the American ones, for better or worse :)
From the pictures, it’s obvious Nicholas was very into being Darth Vadar this year. In true Lindsey fashion, our 3 and half year old, was something different each time she dressed up. (Sleeping Beauty, Hello Kitty, purple princess, pink fairy/butterfly). Even though it wasn’t the same as sitting in our court waiting for the kids from Guadalupe to show up, it was a successful Halloween here in Belgium.
