Halloween Party

The fates smiled upon us and costumes and cupcakes were ready in time for the Birralee School Parade and Party today.   With a painted wig, makeup, and lots of accessories, Annaliese was transformed into "Draculara" of the Monster Girls.

Melita, nearly a head taller than the other girls and looking a bit too barbie-like, was transformed in Malibu Barbie with a  poodle purse.    Pretty certain that I won't switch to become a red-head though.

Norwegians have only recently started celebrating Halloween.  They have some common misconceptions about the holiday. 

1) They think costumes must be scary.  When I explain that most young girls come as fairies and princesses and most boys are superheros, they look genuinely surprised.  They think a costume must be ghosts, skeletons, devils, vampires, and lots of blood and gore, which is all good in my opinion -- the scarier the better.

2) The candy they sell is unwrapped in bins like at a candy store with small shovels.  I've been wondering how to serve up loose candy to children. Do I use a spoon?  Do they reach in with their dirty hands?  The logistics baffle me.  I finally asked my coworkers.  Apparently some put the loose hard and soft candy in small bags for kids, but they probably only have a few kids coming around. 

3) In the U.S., Halloween is not considered a religuous event (at least by most) and is celebrated at public schools across the country.  But to the Norwegians, the name "Hallow" seems to imply something more akin to All Saints Day with religious overtones.

4) No pumpkins or scarecrows or corn husks or house decorations to be found.

5) The Norwegians seem afraid of being commercialized by the U.S. and having Halloween really be officially and widely celebrated.  I have two words for them: costumes and candy.  Who can resist?  I further explain that it is also an autumnal celebration with pumpkins, hayrides, corn maizes, and, for us Westerlians, walking our kids around the neighborhood with a wagon full of cold beer.  There's fun for young and old alike.  

Give it a few more years and they will concede.  Loose candy will be a thing of the past, pumpkins will be growing in patches with grazing reindeer, and they will have mini-wrapped bars of "Kvikk Lunsj" (my personal favorite chocolate bar here) specially designed for Halloween giving.  However, I still like the Norwegian sensibility of homemade costumes.  And, everyone can agree on homemade chocolate treats mmmmm