John and I have never really done a stand-up job of celebrating Halloween with the girls. If anything, the holiday tends to pop up and smack us in the face. We are usually ill-prepared and really only go through the motions so the girls will have some thread of a memory to recall when they're grown. So, imagine how hard it is for us to get in the festive spirit when Austrians really don't even celebrate Halloween. I spent four hours out of the house on the 31st. The only people I saw in costume were kids and teachers at Audrey's English preschool and the only jack-o-lanterns I spied were on signs at the grocery store announcing a one-day sale. Boo! Austria!
In their defense, the pumpkin is indigenous to North America...the original Halloween festivities celebrated in Great Britain used carved turnips as lanterns...so I can understand not wanting to hop on that bandwagon. Add in a healthy dose of disdain for American consumerism and I'm starting to nod my head--yes. Of course these people don't celebrate Halloween. But, that doesn't mean our family bowed out of the festivities.
First things first; Audrey's preschool was hosting a costume party...or as the Brits say a 'fancy dress' party. Luckily, Audrey was both in costume and a fancy dress. After much deliberation between Tinkerbell and Sleeping Beauty, the Princess won out. Both Bailey and John were sick on Halloween (not that it stopped The Bear from running about the apartment in her Rapunzel dress for the bulk of the day) so I had the honor of dropping off Audrey at preschool. As soon as we walked into her classroom, she was mobbed--MOBBED by little girls dressed as witches. There had to be at least six of them and they all wanted to hold Audrey's hand. She looked mortified, poor girl. I knew she was making friends, but I had no idea she was inadvertently becoming popular. This must be painful for her. Apparently there was a big party and then lots of dancing in the gym. Audrey said she danced with a boy named Kimo (don't tell John) and the teachers said she actually had a lot of fun and even smiled for some pictures. So, being popular can't be all bad.
Our day was fairly tame after I picked Audrey up from school. She was excited to be home where she could take care of the resident sickies and we eventually got around to carving some small 'pumpkins'. (they're really just squash, but they turned out lovely) Luckily, John was on the ball with making sure the girls had some halloween candy (he is chief head in charge of purchasing sweets) and we all indulged a bit after dinner. I think the only way we could've had a more tame Halloween would've been if we were all wearing sweater vests and discussing the weather.
I have to say one of the rare moments when I absolutely love the internets, though, was the next morning when I got to scroll through pictures of all the kids I wish were ringing my doorbell in their fantastic costumes. I'm sure their mothers put more than 20 minutes into 'em at least. Happy (late/lame) Halloween! Eat some of your kids' candy for me, eh?
John and I have never really done a stand-up job of celebrating Halloween with the girls. If anything, the holiday tends to pop up and smack us in the face. We are usually ill-prepared and really only go through the motions so the girls will have some thread of a memory to recall when they're grown. So, imagine how hard it is for us to get in the festive spirit when Austrians really don't even celebrate Halloween. I spent four hours out of the house on the 31st. The only people I saw in costume were kids and teachers at Audrey's English preschool and the only jack-o-lanterns I spied were on signs at the grocery store announcing a one-day sale. Boo! Austria! 
1 comment:
Awesome post Gillian. You can still dress as a flying monkey.
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