Thread: Halloween for dummies

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I joined that forum be cause I'm a Halloween maniac ( as everybody here ).
But the more I read the different messages left the more I have the feeling that Halloween is so far from what thought know.

As you might know I'm French and it's a pretty new world for me, so could you guys explain/describe/show what a typical american halloween looks like?
I want to know every single little things about it!



PS: Other USA foreigners could also describe how they celebrate Halloween in their respective country, could be interesting to share some cultural customs!

I'm not sure that the Halloween displays of members here would be a representation of a "typical American halloween". We would be the extreme when it comes to decorating, or at least that is what most of us strive for.
If you are looking for a place that can show you how to build many of the things we use, here is the best website to start. http://www.halloweenmonsterlist.info/

Good luck, and please keep us posted on your progress.

Wow, a typical American Halloween? Like Spookineer said, we aren't very typical on these boards. We are considered the "lunatic fringe", if you will.

A typical (traditional) halloween house would have maybe a jack o'lantern, a scarecrow, maybe a witch. These days, everyone seems to have those huge inflatables and lots more "stuff".

If you google "halloween props", (like I did) you will find lots of useful information. Poke around this website as well and look at the pictures and videos some members have put up. Again, please keep in mind we tend to go over the top here and these displays are pretty unique; not every person puts these up.

But merci for spreading the Halloween spirit to our friends overseas!!! Hopefully, we can see your pictures on this site next Halloween!

Even if you are the frange of the frange concerning Halloween decorations, the fact is that there is a lot of other people like you in America: see that forum, it is quite popular isn't it?
To me it's a part of a traditionnal Halloween.

In Europe there is no such Halloween lunatics, where I live if you put some props - even if it's the cheapest basic screaming skull - you'll appear as a person living in an other world.
There is no such global enthousiasm gathering peolples around the celebration.
Halloween in France is so tasteless because French see it as a marketing invention in order to make you buy Halloween product, so there is a sort of boycott.

Theses are the reasons why I'm feeling here like a children in a candy store!

Yes Halloween is very popular here, and has been for many years. Most people put out at least some decorations. With all the props and decorations available now, more and more people each year decorate for it. Even grocery stores sell decorations.
I have enjoyed Halloween since I was 5 years old, and that was 55 years ago! I can not imagine living where it is not celebrated.
It is a good thing you are doing there, be strong and share the dream with your countrymen...

I am sure you will find someone in France that shares your interest. At least you know you have fellow fanatics on this side of the pond! Yes, I can see where your fellow countrymen would think it was an "invention" in order to get them to spend money; it is not something that has been ingrained in the French culture. You did not grow up with Halloween; hence, it is seen as something new and strange. But I believe that is what happens when cultures start overlapping; when I was growing up, Cinco de Mayo was not a big deal. Now, restaurants (especially the Mexican ones) promote the daylights out of it.

I'm sure you can put a very unique French twist on Halloween. Take a look at what Disney did in the Haunted Mansion in Paris (ironically, our Haunted Mansion in Florida and the original one in California are based on homes in New Orleans....which I believe was settled originally by.....oh....could it be...the French? Lol). So, if you look at it that way....the French have always been involved in scary, Halloween-type stuff.....

Hmmm...this begs the question: is Halloween really only popular in the USA...? I always thought that it was celebrated at LEAST in Europe/Western Asia...

Anyone out there from other countries other than the US or France that can weigh in?

Your countrymen are right, much of Halloween in America is a marketing ploy to get us to buy more. The difference is, we don't care!

They don't 'celebrate' halloween in the Netherlands. They do however have some halloween themed articles in certain party stores in october. I've lived in the Netherlands for 8 years now. In the beginning, you couldn't find anything halloween. In the last few years, you see more and more halloween items in the specialty stores and at some garden stores they even have pumpkin carving for kids.

Dr Z....when I threw my first halloween party here in the Netherlands there were a few people who thought I was crazy and I had to teach the dutch people how to celebrate. Now they are more crazy than I am about Halloween and every year the party gets better and better...as do the costumes. If you want to see how an american living in the Netherlands celebrates halloween, check out my webpage below or better yet come to our next party

MsM

Originally Posted by MsMeeple

If you want to see how an american living in the Netherlands celebrates halloween, check out my webpage below or better yet come to our next party

MsM

I'll come to yours if you come to mine...