Halloween in France

[menton1]

According to a report by the AP, the Halloween phenomenon that has been growing for the past few years in France is now starting to wane. Apparently more attention is being given to Nov 1, All Saints Day, a major holiday all over the country. The big losers are the merchants and the bars that did a nice business connected to "alloween". I think they are on the right track-- this Holiday has become somewhat of a nuisance here in the US-- it's not like the Halloween I remember growing up. Halloween Fading in France Article

[Bux]

Sounds like retro-chavinism to me.

"The French market has moved away from the gory side, it's now more about being 'scary but cute'," said marketing director Isabelle Geniez. "It's a good compromise."

How can you not like "scary but cute?"

[tryska]

hmm..how do the french celebrate All Saint's Day?

[Louisa Chu]

Halloween's weird here in Paris - kids get dressed up for school parties weeks ahead - then night of - last night - it's mostly guys out drinking - no trick-or-treating really anywhere. At the Plaza Athenee we did the cutest candies for guests - little cello sacks of white chocolate ghosts, dark chocolate mendiants in witch face molds, etc. - and had Brochettes de Halloween at the Personnel Restaurant - very scary indeed.

Toussaint - All Saints' Day - is a quiet, Catholic, family-oriented holiday. Most businesses are closed - and it's celebrated the way most holidays are celebrated here in France - with family, friends, and food.

[Pan]

this Holiday has become somewhat of a nuisance here in the US--  it's not like the Halloween I remember growing up.

How so?

[tommy]

this Holiday has become somewhat of a nuisance here in the US--  it's not like the Halloween I remember growing up.

How so?

the kids don't even say "trick or treat" anymore.

[hillvalley]

this Holiday has become somewhat of a nuisance here in the US--  it's not like the Halloween I remember growing up.

How so?

the kids don't even say "trick or treat" anymore.

Could it be because kids today are greedier than ever and not taught to say "please and "thank you?

[tommy]

this Holiday has become somewhat of a nuisance here in the US--  it's not like the Halloween I remember growing up.

How so?

the kids don't even say "trick or treat" anymore.

Could it be because kids today are greedier than ever and not taught to say "please and "thank you?

dunno. though that sounds like a generalization.

[hillvalley]

this Holiday has become somewhat of a nuisance here in the US--  it's not like the Halloween I remember growing up.

How so?

the kids don't even say "trick or treat" anymore.

Could it be because kids today are greedier than ever and not taught to say "please and "thank you?

dunno. though that sounds like a generalization.

It is, but a qualified one. I have spent the past eight years working with all kinds of kids.

Kids today expect more material things than they did when I first started. I have to "teach" please and thank you now.

There are kids out there who know how to say please and thank you, are aware how lucky they are, etc. but they are not as common as they were just a few years ago.

[Pan]

All kids have to be taught to say "Please" and "Thank you," and it's always been that way. I guess what you're saying is that the kids you work with weren't taught that by their parents.

[tommy]

All kids have to be taught to say "Please" and "Thank you," and it's always been that way. I guess what you're saying is that the kids you work with weren't taught that by their parents.

yeah, i think when hillvalley says he/she needs to teach children, he's/she's referring to others' children.

most of the children i come across are very polite. i just don't know if i accept a generalization like that. and i don't know if a trend of that sort could be recognized in a few short years.

Edited November 1, 2003 by tommy (log)

[Pan]

We're basically in agreement, Tommy. During my lifetime, there have always been polite and rude children.

[tommy]

We're basically in agreement, Tommy.

i don't think i suggested otherwise.

[Pan]

We're basically in agreement, Tommy.

i don't think i suggested otherwise.

You didn't.

[menton1]

this Holiday has become somewhat of a nuisance here in the US--  it's not like the Halloween I remember growing up.

How so?

1/ We could actually go without our parents, door to door, and not worry about razor blades in the candy or being accosted, or worse...

2/ No one sprayed shaving cream on car windshields (very difficult to clean)

3/ On the morning of Nov 1 the entire neighborhood was not littered with toilet paper.

[Pan]

I'm sure it's just as safe for children to trick-or-treat without their parents within the building I grew up in than it was in the 70s, when I did it. Trick-or-treating outside of the building was off-limits, and we were warned about dangerous weirdos that might be waiting to poison us, etc.