Do they come to your door? I live outside a village in Ariege, and am wondering will we get visitors on Oct 31 for trick or treat
So what do the French typically do at this time. The brochures from the shops suggest similar to home (Ireland)
Is it a big deal here? Thanks all
Was originally Irish, but the Americans re-vamped it. Then, just like Macs, Kfcs, etc., they have shoved it onto the rest of the world.
Jazz is their only saving grace!
Elaine, thanks for the ideas. Yeah, I should do a bit of decoration to encourage the neighbors! And perhaps I'll talk to a few people on our street and see if they want to do a little exchange. Otherwise, it's going to be cupcake decorating with invitees--that's a lot of young kids running around my house with frosting! In California we can do all the messy stuff outside practically year 'round. It's kind of a shock for me. Sigh.
Trish, do you know any of the moms locally? Just arrange visits between you guys, even 2-3 calls is enough for smallies 
Or as suggested, start putting out decor that clearly shows your game ball (i.e. Receiving visitors).
Happy Hallowe’en
I would love to find a place where kids come out for Halloween. We live in the 05 Hautes Alpes and I've heard of trick or treaters coming to other people's houses but never mine! We were back in the States last year for Halloween and my almost 3 year old daughter is not comprehending that people just don't do Halloween like they do back home. I'd love to find something for her to participate in--even small scale. She did come home singing a halloween song from preschool this week, but I'm thinking trick or treating opportunities will be limitted.
Hmm, reckon I’ll get a few treats in JIC, and then do nothing and see what happens
Understandable Celeste,
Another way of getting the punters in. It was all over my Facebook page at the time (Aug/sep?)
Hi Elaine,
we have a few children in the village who come around to houses which are marked - last year I made a witch on a broom stick silhouette and stuck it to the gate with a candle nearby so they could see I was 'available for treats'! They don't want to go to houses where they might not be welcome so one of the accompanying parents asks beforehand to leave a sign out if they are welcome.
Thanks all.
I was amazed to see the brochures full of costumes. And so cheap!!
So the consensus is, buy a few sweets, and hand out with fruit and olives if anyone calls.
Our village is also small, but the next town is selling the costumes, may mean nothing, may mean a lot.
Thank you! I barely remember the history of it myself, but I understand the effort to sensationalise it to make money. Ireland went crazy with St Patrick and Hallowe’en festivals, trying to make a week event out of them, just to attract tourists and make money
All gone now tho, people have more serious things to be concerned about. Strange though, Arthur’s Day seems to be picking up momentum…
It's a non starter here, Elaine, or very low key compared to the UK, Ireland and US. They tried to make something of it 5 or 10 years ago but it never really got off the ground in the same way. We don't do anything for our kids and won't be doing anything in our shop either. I think it depends where you are too, there's nothing here and no visible signs of any interest in the other shops. Having said that we're very small town/rural...!
Hey Elaine, I can only speak for the town of Talloires, but I know that the parenst or school organise a trip out, trick or treating, and people open first floor windows and chuck sweets at them, or leave baskets in their porches.... Fruit and nuts were a big part of it, and the kids here do dress up. I dressed as spongebob squarepants last year, and waddled about handing out mini treats.
Same as back home, only without the bonfire stinking up the clothes!!, lol.
Hi Elaine. Hope all is going well with you over there in the Arriege. We have had French children come to the door, much like Ireland. What I have found is the French kids just call looking for sweeties, etc., but there are some English kids in the village who dress up. So I usually have a few little mini-bars of chocolate and some fruit. Last year, I had some olives, which the French kiddies went for! :-) So, I'd expect a couple of calls if I were you.