Hello everyone! Or hello to those of you who still read my blog, despite how quiet it's been for the past month or two.
I was sitting at work and wondering what mail would be waiting for me when I get home this evening, which eventually reminded me that I have a blog about mail!!
My excuse: I've been busy with work and school. And I'm working on fun Halloween-themed mail to send out later this week. By the way, for those of you outside the US - do you have a version of Halloween? I'm wondering if my pen pals in Canada, Germany, etc should be on my Halloween mailing list. (Side note: it's amazing [read: embarrassing] how US-centric my world is. Despite the fact that I listen to international news stories I really don't know nearly enough about other countries. Although I guess the fact that I want to change that means I'm ahead of lots of people, right? Maybe?)
Anyway, I'm curious to learn about fall holiday traditions in other places - feel free to leave a comment or let me know in your next letter :)
Back to work...
~ Anne
Hey Anne!
ReplyDeleteHalloween is not a common holiday in Germany. I think I first heard about it when I was about 12 years old. I think nowadays there are many teens who go trick or treating (in German you'd say "Süßes oder Saures" ("Sweet or Sour")), but the kiddos don't do it.
We only have one nationwide fall holiday, which is our national holiday. It takes place on October 3rd, but there isn't really a big celebration or anything - I think there are some concerts, it's also the day of the open mosque and there is a "citizen festival" in one city of Germany each year - which to me sems more like a exhibition of the different states. No fireworks or parades or flags that day.
The only thing I remember to be a fall holiday is St. Martin's Day (November 11th), when you have paper laterns and sing and go through the streets after sundown. I loved it as a kid!
And then, in early December, you have Nikolaus, which is celebrated on December 6th. You have to clean your shoes the evening of the 5th and then put them in front of your house and the next morning, they are magically filled with apples and nuts and chocolates :) Such an exitment in the morning when you found the "star powder" everywhere - my mom still scatters it throughout the house. I love that holiday!
Phew, that comment got kinda long!
So, to conclude everything: Nope, Halloween is not a common holiday here - but at least we have carnival! hehe
Take care!
Caddi
Hi, Anne! How are you? This is my first year here and my second Halloween. I'm really looking forward to this one given that we didn't do anything last year. It's amazing how many holidays you guys have in this country. But I won't complain, they certainly make the cold season more enjoyable ;p.
ReplyDeleteHope your week's off to a great start! ;D
Hi Anne! I got your letter last week and will be writing back soon. :)
ReplyDeleteI've recently moved to Morocco, and here Halloween is completely unknown (except in the English schools, I guess).
ReplyDeleteBy the way, the country is now preparing a very different festival: the festival of Sacrifice. Nothing to do!
Here in Japan, Halloween is getting popular among small children. Instead of going for "trick or treat", they have party at home or just buy Halloween candies and exchange them with their friends just for fun. And I can't think of any autumn festival in Japan. We have some public holidays, but we don't celebrate anything.
ReplyDeleteIn Mexico we have "The Day of the Dead" in Novemeber 1st and 2nd :D
ReplyDeleteWe prepare altars in our homes with traditional food, drinks, bread, etc, to the souls of our relatives comes and enjoy all they liked when they were alive :'D The souls of the children come on October 31, then the souls of the adults come on November 1, and we can eat some things of the offering on November 2, especially the bread and the funny chocolate (or sugar) skulls X3. It is a special tradition, very ancient, colorful, peaceful and even fun X3