Since I've been living in the US I have loved Halloween more and more, especially with my kids. I'm not the one that will dress up into something crazy, but I enjoy all the activities and traditions that Americans have for that day. Back home Halloween is very different and might surprise some of you. Here are a few things you want to know before you go to France during Halloween. Growing up Halloween was a fun day for me for as long as I can remember. We usually had something at school, especially if Halloween was on a school day. We liked to dress up and do scary things, like watch a scary movie or play a scary game. Hide and seek in the dark is terrifying may I add, especially when a lot of streets in France don’t necessarily have street lamps. When we were old enough my mom would help us throw a Halloween party with our friends. We would all dress up and dance and eat candy. So yeah, trick or treating was absolutely not a thing for us, only in American movies, but we still had some fun things to do. Des bonbons ou un sort (candies or a spell) If we ever had a trick or treating event, it would be in a neighborhood where all the neighbors decided beforehand to do trick or treating. I think I did it once in my grandparents neighborhood, and it was only a few houses. What we say though, is not “trick or treat”, but "des bonbons ou un sort" (candies or a spell). For some reason, it makes more sense to me! Halloween is just not a thing in France As you grow up, Halloween becomes less and less a thing, especially in France. You won't see a lot of adults dressing up (maybe teachers at school). It’s pretty common to have adults throw Halloween parties with friends and family. However they are not always dressed up. A lot of French people think it's too American and a marketing operation (by the way, it's the same thing for Valentine's day). I have noticed that lately more and more people are celebrating Halloween and have some trick or treating events, probably because of social media and the internet. My mother recently told me that my 10 year old sister is going to go trick or treating with her friends, so it seems like more and more people are doing it. Also, some stores will also decorate for Halloween, and might even do trick or treating (not all of them though). Costumes have to be scary Something that I don't always understand in the US, is people dressing up into non scary things, like princesses or heroes. In France, even if it's not a big thing, we get the fact that it's about being scared and you have to dress up into something scary! I know some Americans who don't even like to put scary decorations around their house, but then say that they love Halloween. It just doesn't make sense to me! If you see people dressed up in France, it will be for sure into something scary, like a witch or a ghost. We have another day during the year when you can dress up into anything you want, and it's called carnival. Places to go to for a Halloween experience In Paris there are a couple places you can go to if you like the thrill during Halloween. For families, Disneyland has a lot of Halloween decorations (I mean, it is an American park). I have never been to Disneyland Paris during Halloween but I have seen pictures, and it seems like it is like any other disney parks in the world. For another more thrilling experience, there is also the Manoir in Paris. It is a haunted house in the heart of Paris. There are actors dressed up that will scare you, and yes, they interact with you. It looks terrifying! More info on https://www.lemanoirdeparis.com/. Lastly another place you may want to go to during Halloween is the catacombs, underneath Notre Dame of Paris. What a fun place to go during Halloween! It is not necessarily scary, as the skeletons will not move, but I know I would personally be terrified to visit tombs during Halloween. The day of the dead
One thing that you will see French people do on Halloween, or more specifically on November 1st, is going to the cemeteries and honoring their families. This day is called La Toussaint (All Saints day) and it is a public holiday. Families will gather together and bring flowers to their dead. A common flower that is used that day is the chrysanthemum. There is also a special church service that day called All Saints Mass. I have personally never been to one, but I really like the idea of remembering our ancestors. Halloween is not really a big deal in France, but it has been more and more something that the younger generation is trying to bring into French culture. Maybe one day, we will all go trick or treating and say "un bonbon ou un sort" around all the French neighborhoods. Personally I cannot wait for that day to come! Let me know in the comments what you think about the French people not celebrating Halloween like in the US!
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AuthorMy name is Melanie Ashby. I am from France and I currently live in the US. Here are some tips about traveling to France from a French and an American perspective! Archives
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