Halloween In The US

Halloween was new for me when I moved to the US. I am from Hungary where we don't celebrate Halloween at all.

Hungarians call Halloween the Day Of The Dead and the next day (November 1st), All Saints Day. These two days are in the year when Hungarian families go to the cemetery together and commemorate their beloved ones passed away and light a candle to think about those people.

At Halloween I don't think about dead people for me it is just a fun parade. Usually in October all of my American friends who have small kids visit a "Pumpkin Patch". 

What is a Pumpkin Patch? Pumpkin Patches are places where you can buy a lot of pumpkins and the kids can do fun activities such as horseback riding, train riding or jumping in a bouncy house. A lot of Pumpkin Patches have a small petting zoo area for small kids. 

For a nice sunny afternoon it is a very good activity for a family. Some kids arrive at the Pumpkin Patch in their Halloween costumes and the parents take photos of them.

A lot of big companies in Silicon Valley make a big parade for the kids where they can wear their costumes and play fun games.

Sophie and Lili on a parade

In my kids' preschool it is a tradition to make every family a small Halloween bag (filled with sweets or small toys, play-doh, stamps or stickers) for every child. I think last year on October 31st my kids had so much candy and chocolate that it lasted until Spring.

The funniest part of Halloween is the "trick-or-treat" in the evening after sunset.

The kids wear costumes and walk from house to house to ask for treats such as candy or chocolate with the question "Trick or treat?". The trick is a threat to perform mischief on the home owners if no treat is given to them.