Halloween

One of the topics that comes up again and again from our friends back home is whether or not Halloween is celebrated in Germany. From what we've heard, five years ago we would have said, "No, it isn't," but that is not the case today. Many Germans shake their heads over this recent phenomenon and each year it gets bigger and bigger.

A few weeks before Halloween, stores have a decent supply of decorations, candy and costumes. But actual trick or treating happens only in certain neighborhoods where there are lots of kids.

Last year, we were invited to trick or treat at the American compound in Frankfurt where government workers are housed and it was a lot of fun. But this year, James had a lock-in sleepover at school, Micaela went trick or treating with friends at the compound, and David and I wanted to see what the deal was in little Liederbach. We had heard that there was some Halloween activity in a different section of town that was loaded with kids.

Here's our little La-La Teletubby and Mulan. Rebecca fell asleep during a car ride and at 6:00pm, a co-worker from Lufthansa who lives in Liederbach called to report, "You better get over here soon! There are kids everywhere and people may run out of candy!" Becca was very grumpy when we first got her up and dressed, but David said she changed her tune after they rang the first doorbell and got candy. There is a little rhyme your can say when you ring a doorbell, but most people resort to the shorter "Süßes oder saures!" (Sweet or sour!)

It was a good thing we got that call. David said that neighborhood in Liederbach looked just like an American neighborhood on Halloween and the kids had a great time. Becca and Emilie ended up with many little bags of gummi treats, some chocolates and a few Ricola cough drops.

I stayed home to man the front door. Even with Halloween decorations out front and the light on to welcome little witches, ghosts and goblins, no one rang our bell.

I did chuckle as I put the La-La Teletubby costume on Rebecca. Each year, I see articles in magazines or stories on TV of how you can save money by making or sewing your own Halloween costumes. Ha! I sewed this costume for Micaela about 10 years ago and by the time I had bought the pattern, fabric and notions, it cost 4 times as much as the La-La costume at the store. However, it has been worn on Halloween 5 times by 4 different kids (Becca wore it last year as well) and it gets worn quite a bit around the house for fun. So, I figured in the end, it paid for itself.

Scary La-La.