I often get asked the question: do Australians celebrate Halloween?

It’s a well-known fact that Halloween is an “American” thing.  I wrote about it last year and how I was embracing Halloween now that we’re in America.  In fact, we started embracing it when our gorgeous American friends “introduced” us to their favourite “holiday” while we were in Shanghai.

We were invited to a Halloween party at their house and the kids could go Trick or Treating in their compound.  I’ve talked about this a few times now but the story never gets old (to me!) Thinking we all needed to dress up Mr H and I rushed out to the Fabric Markets and got Fred & Wilma costumes made.  We were so impressed that we pulled it off in such a short time only to walk in and find that none of the other parents had dressed up.  Yep, leave it to the Australians to make their mark.

 

The Americans do Halloween well.  And, if for no other reason, Halloween is fantastic because, along with Thanksgiving (to an extent), it keeps the Christmas stuff out of the shops until it’s over.  It’s so festive to drive around and see the houses go all out and decorate as they do.

In Australia …

Australians don’t “do” Halloween.  It’s true, that’s changing but it depends where you live as to what they do.  The area I live in in Sydney’s inner west actually has quite a bit of trick or treating going on which is fun.

I listen to Australian breakfast radio via the Nova app.  They were talking about who does Halloween and who doesn’t.  While the spirit of Halloween is definitely growing, it can still be spasmodic.

The thing in Australia is we can be quite guilty of anti-American sentiment.  So there are many Australians who refuse to embrace Halloween traditions America-style because, well, it’s American.

What’s the difference then?

Because Americans embrace Halloween they research the right areas to go and visit.  I talked about how people flock to many streets well reputed to have great Halloween decorations and trick or treating (think Claire on Modern Family).  It must cost them a fortune in “candy”.

So Americans generally gather together, eat, then when it gets dark will spend the better part of the early evening trick or treating.

Australians, if they go out, will come home from school, get dressed then go out before it goes dark.  The tendency is to stay in your own neighbourhood—or your friends—but not make an entire (spooky) night of it.

This year there will be lots of Halloween parties around town because it’s Saturday.  My daughter is going to one but sadly it’s kids only and we come to the sad realisation that our kids are growing up and don’t need us around as much anymore.

I’ll leave you on this note found a friend’s Facebook site and posted to my page:

https://www.facebook.com/halloweenisunaustralian/photos/a.10151206006899886.470253.164235144885/10151206006919886/?type=3&theater

 

I don’t know about you but when I think of Halloween I think of the fabulous Thriller by Michael Jackson.  They’ve been playing it on the radio so I thought I’d share it with you.

Happy Halloween!

xx It Started in LA xx