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Added by admin November 3, 2013

Bad pun? Maybe. Interesting question? I think so… Is Halloween winning in France?

Apparently Halloween originated thousands of years ago among the Celts. At that time, people celebrated the passage into the new year, the new season.
Growing up in France, I first heard of ‘Halloween’ when watching American movies. What we celebrated and still celebrate on November 1st in France is “la Toussaint” (literally all Saints’ day and in other words, the ‘day of the dead’). It’s a day of remembrance and that day, people go to decorate the tombs of their loved ones, bringing them flowers – traditionally chrysanthemums.

In the 1990s, Halloween started to grow into something in France, despite a strong reluctance coming from French culture lovers who showed a hint of anti-americanism, let’s admit it! However the influence of the American culture over young French minds eager to have fun couldn’t be ignored. Plus, businesses found their interest in the whole “tra-la-la” (song-and-dance). A pretext to make money? Hell yeah! These two groups of people having found a common interest, Halloween parties started to pop up all over the country. But beware! The French like to keep it spooky and creepy. Boo!! No little princesses or super heroes around, just mean, threatening ghosts, witches and vampires…

So, does Hallow…win today? The celebrations are common somehow they have not been fully integrated into the French way of life so to speak. Yes, it is the occasion for some people to party and have fun, but many still don’t celebrate the occasion still showing some resistance to the anglo-saxon cultural influence. So, Halloween yes, but does Hallow..win? Not really… Not yet anyways..

In the meantime… JOYEUX HALLOWEEN!!!!

Vocabulaire

Une araignée = A spider

Une citrouille = a pumpkin

Des bonbons = Candies

Une sorcière = A witch