How do You Celebrate Halloween? Tell us and we’ll haunt your blog. Maybe you can give us some very good tips too?
How Swedes Celebrate Halloween
Halloween is a rather new event in Sweden. It started very sparely in the mid eighties and didn’t really burst out until the end of the nineties and therefor seems to be most celebrated by the youngsters. Even today, you don’t notice much of Halloween. I’m sure it will grow a lot in the future though.
Actually I did search for some Halloween events to attend, but found only one: a ghost town walk in the old town in the evening. I was tempted to book us in, but it involves a lot of walking on cobblestones and with this weather we’re having, my back would probably crack totally. Ah, well…
There are some Halloween activities for the kids in the Kungsträdgården area in the middle of the city, since they are having their fall break from school this week. There are activities like doing Halloween makeup, making masks and other costume details and a scary show for kids.
We probably picked up the Halloween tradition from immigrated Americans and of course, from movies, books or comics and of course the trading have made heavy campaigns. Swedes tend to take after the U.S. in a lot I can tell you. There may also be some connection to the growing interest of witches, predictions and other occult things.
The youngsters throws some Halloween parties and you can see some house owners decorating with pumpkins outside, but that’s about all. The pumpkin growing has increased of course, earlier on pumpkin wasn’t any common find in our gardens.
Very many Swedes don’t care at all to decorate or even acknowledge Halloween as something to celebrate. One reason for that may be that it’s in conflict with the All Saints Day when we commemorate the passed away.
The Trick and Treat custom is not particularly common either, it’s mostly within the daycare centers or preschools or between friends families as the most. Then the kids dress up as witches, ghosts or skeletons.
I’ve never seen any kids going around my neighborhoods ever. We have another tradition around Easter instead when the kids dress up as witches and go around for some treats, but it seem to have decreased a bit during the years too.
Not many know this, but Sweden has actually been having similar traditions as Halloween for as far back in time as the Viking age. We have used costumes and symbols around the death and even lightened vegetables like neeps or Swedish turnips, just not for Halloween, but for other holidays.
The date for celebrating Halloween in Sweden may differ from the date in US. Even though Halloween parties can appear at any date in the end of October, it’s most common with the night before All Saints day that is the first Saturday in November, so some years we celebrate Halloween after the 31th, in the beginning of November.
That is about the only wrong in the Swedish Halloween celebration in my meaning, it should always be the 31th like in the US – also because it’s not a good idea when it does conflict with the All Saints Day more religious meaning.
Lifecruiser Halloween
Me and Mr Lifecruiser love to dress up in costumes of all kind, so I really hope that we another year will be able to throw a Halloween Party in real life.
So how will we celebrate Halloween? At home with you!
All bloggers are spooktacular welcome tomorrow Wednesday the 31th October to our big Cyber Cruise Halloween Party!!!
Don’t forget to post a picture of your Halloween costumes (fake or real!) and other scary things in a post at your blog and come here and party with the other ghosts…
…and if you wanna dress up your blog for Halloween to get the right atmosphere, go and get some of Gattinas FREE headers for Halloween!
Others How do You Celebrate Halloween Posts:
- Waterloo Celebrates Halloween
- Catalans chestnuts and panellets
- How thebluestbutterfly spend Halloween
- Halloween: Candy, Costumes, Dad – Now and Always
Banner courtesy: Sanni the BUTTon goddess
Wow ! Is that a special Halloween theme ? Nice !
I grew up in France where Halloween wasn’t celebrated. It changed a bit now, but it’s still mostly a US “thing”.
Here in Canada it’s more fun… but I don’t have kids yet, so for me Halloween is mostly handing out candies to little monsters all evening. Oh well
Lifecruiser, I have conjured my version of Halloween American-style.
I need to go find out what a neep looks like and see if I can safely light one tomorrow or the next day.
Thanks for a great party!
SandyCarlson’s last blog post..Strange Attractions: Walls in Color
Hello captain… As you had said, I have posted one of my scariest experiences that happened to me when I was in my teens… Even if it dint terrify you, it really terrified me!!! You can find the post at http://svijayspeaks.blogspot.com/2007/10/halloween.html
vjai’s last blog post..Halloween!!
It is the same here in Belgium but In the UK and Ireland it’s celebrated and children go from door to door I experienced it when I was in London at this time of the year. But it is far more discreet ! The Irish immigrants brought Halloween uses to the States where it spread over rather quick and now it’s more celebrated in the States than in its land of origin.
I also take part virtually, come have a look on (one) of my costumes, (my son “manipulated” the picture, lol) The others will be for tomorrow for the big party !
Differences aside, I think what people want to do is just…party!! Any reason is a good reason! Pumpkin decorations can be seen in Spain nowadays, but it is a recent event. Catalans celebrate with “chestnuts and panellets”!
.: mar’s last blog post..chestnuts and “panellets”
Dear Lifecruiser….This Is Such Fun!
I am already CELEBRATING HALLOWEEN over at my blog….Spooky Spooky Funny Videos especially for Halloween…BOO! And hopefully lots of laughs. So come by and take a peak if you get a chance….!
I will be back on Wednesday, too!
OldOldLady Of The Hills’s last blog post..halloween boo!
Mine is up. It is just Husband and I…so, I guess we have our own traditions that work for us.
thebluestbutterfly’s last blog post..Vigil at the Top
Now-a-days, being the old duffers that we are, I only decorate. No celebrating with parties when the kids were home and little enough to enjoy the season. But the decorating is still LOADS of FUN!!!
I have a story on my blog today [Tuesday] about a hair raising experience hubby and I encountered in our new home! You’ll not want to miss it!!!!
I guess I explained the most about Halloween in Norway in my last post (will appear in the end of this comment) as an introduction to our party last weekend at Tor and Anna’s. So I assume it’s good enough to put on your list
So it’s pretty much the same as in Sweden I think and the best part of it is fun for the kids – and that is great.
The day for the limited celebration in Norway will be tomorrow and I’ll be home and ready with some treats of course
RennyBA’s last blog post..Norwegians just don’t get Halloween
I had never really decorated for Halloween either but I do love to decorate with fall colors and I love this time of the year! Mine is up. That’s some interesting information, I didn’t know Halloween was so new in Sweden.
I am also busy to decorate my virtual party room for tomorrow !!!
I really enjoyed this post! I’ll be back here tomorrow!
And Miles To Go….’s last blog post..Fall Bloggy Giveaway!!
I love the template…. (how do you get the flags of your visitors to show that is cool- ie Novy German flag said:)
OKay For me it is Samhain,
every year I add things, so I didnt have most of this in 2005 or 2006 but this is what I have for 2007
I decorate my house starting Oct 1st
I take out my door hanger with Hazel witch and Edgar (my tarantula) on it to watch our door and I have smaller T’s that watch each window for mischievous spooks
(or children)
I have a large cauldron that sits with my broom at the door (for candy to any who come to my house)
Webs all over the house with spiders, orange and black streamers…
several candles holders from a ghost to pumpkins
Large glass pumpkins in my window and real carved ones outside my door
laughing bats
I have an orange table cloth with place mats with a fall squash on it and sprinkle bats, cats, spiders, happy Halloween sequence on the table
A happy Halloween sign
Flowers : Dried red leaves, Wheat sprays and Chinese-lantern flowers (because they look like mini hanging pumpkins) and a ghost witch and pumpkin straw bouquet
I have a feast for the dead… I have my wiccan ritual before at sunset and then when guess come we have dinner, I set a plate empty with a candle in it to represent those who are not with us
I also provide candles for my guess
We eat, and then toast those who we wish to remember
we watch Halloweens movies and listen to Halloween songs
I wear my cloak and bring out my broom
Pictures of me and my cloak 2005
http://caroladawn.blogspot.com/2005/11/halloween-is-over.html
I will post pictures this year later
Novy
Novy’s last blog post..-A break : HAPPY SAMHAIN
We Chinese have our own Ghost Festival and it lasts for a month with lots of food and noisy entertainment for the ghosts who are on vacation. haha…..
I’m preparing for your Halloween Party already….. a really beautiful photo…….
eastcoastlife’s last blog post..Halloween Night – Wordless Wednesday
hi, thanks for added me to all your blog rolls. i´m going to get on looking for the posts that i like most. happy halloween.
and i´m going to come to the party tomorrow. how exciting:)
I think it is important to remember that Samhain is not connected to the occult in anyway and it is unfair to keep saying that. Many pagans and actual witches celebrate the Sabbat in a totally different way and I can certainly understand how annoying it can be to have supermarkets full of ugly, hag-like witches at this time of the year.
I’ve never felt connected to 1 Jan as New Year so maybe my Celtic blood pines for a Samhain New Year.
Caledonia’s last blog post..Samhain
Happy Halloween!
jenn’s last blog post..More Tests
*BOOH*
Sadly I have never been to Sweden during Halloween. I bet it´s much fun to walk through Gamla Sta dressed up like a witch. Okay… I wouldn´t even need to change my dress *giggles* – simply refrain from painting my face
The Ex has been to Germany and we had a LOVEly Halloween Party many moons ago. Today, Frank and I celebrate at home with little Luis and the furry diva. Some friends are invited, too. So I´ll join the Cyber Cruise fun a little late, but I won´t miss it.
*puss*
Sanni’s last blog post..BOOH!
It’s the same thing by us my Captain! The supermarkets have stopped to sell halloween costums and all things we could see a few years ago when we tried to capture this funny fest! That’s why don’t think you will stay at home tonight! Where are your costums, Mrs and Mr Lifecruiser you are waiting at Dracula castle with all the other cuisers!
claudie’s last blog post..VIP party by Dracula!
I’ll share mind tomorrow, it’s my first time here in the US celebrating Halloween. But I think living near in downtown there’s not much to expect because they’re still busy with their own work. And I agree Halloween should be celebrated in midnight of Oct 31st. Happy Halloween!
scart’s last blog post..Halloween Treat!
Interesting that the Swedes and Norwegians “celebrate” Halloween at about the same level – which is very low. Ref RennyBA’s post from last Saturday.
There are shops, that sell more or lest junk of every kind that also offers Halloween remedies. I bougth some for our cyberparty.
My first knowledge of Halloween was in Donald Duck (Kalle Anka in Swedish) and from classical Peanuts cartoon stripes. But I did not really understand what it was all about. In our neighbourhood – lot’s of kids are around with their trick’n treaty costumes. Of course they hope for lot’s of sweets.
And as said above: It’s a good opportunity for a party.
we will join tomorrow.
TorAa’s last blog post..Cats on Tuesday – Oct 30 – 2007
The last few years we really haven’t celebrated Halloween at all. We live waaaaaaaay out in the country and NOBODY comes to our door… so I finally gave up buying candy – because WE would end up eating it all – and none of us really WANTED to do that! So we’re done with it until Little Luz livens us up again! Next year I’m sure I’ll get the decoration out, and we will take her to Trunk Or Treat at the church, and probably a little party somewhere! We have all kinds of costume parades and community events to choose from. We will also visit a pumpkin patch (of course!) and go on a hayride… maybe find a NOT TOO SCARY haunted house! I’m pretty positive that my daughter will NOT take her trick or treating to houses. She really doesn’t promote the whole candy thing!!!
Melli’s last blog post..Saturday Photo Scavenger Hunt … PINK!
OH! I forgot why I came over here… to tell you that my Halloween TRICK OR TREAT is UP on my blog!!!
Melli’s last blog post..Wordless Wednesday… Halloween Style… MUUAAAAHAHAHAHA….
LifeCruiser, thanks for creating this party. I have explained Halloween through the past two generations of my little family at sandycarlson.net.
SandyCarlson’s last blog post..Strange Attractions: Walls in Color
My daughter carved pumpkins on Sunday for the two little ones and the teen carved her own pumpkin. They are sitting out on the front doorstep now (you can see them in a photo on the post I did today – that took me the whole ever-loved day and half of last night to finish said post too! Thank you so much to loverly (not) Blogger’s miserable errors and photo posting problems!
Tomorrow, I will be the one here at home, left to contend with the ghosts and goblins come calling, begging for treats! Daughter will take the two little ones, dressed in their little costumes, and be the ones out banging on others doors and begging them for treats too! This will be the first Halloween since three years ago that I have been not under the weather, recuperating from surgery or some such so here’s hoping the kids don’t run me out of candy before the lights go out!
Jeni Hill Ertmer’s last blog post..Honors Abound!
Welcome to my contribution of the party ! Amongst other stuff you have a Halloween women urinal, brains to squeeze, and a lot of eyballs for the buffet ! I am sure even you will have enough to eat !!
[...] is done in verius part of the world and I’ll gladly share it with you: In Sweden from Mrs. Lifecruiser, in Spain at Maremagnum’s, in Belgium at Gattina’s and in US at The Bluest Butterfly as [...]
OH yes, the same here. I like it but we don’t practise. Even something like christmas here turns into a casual excuse to get the family around, but that’s about it.
aka R’acquel’s last blog post..Bismillah – In The Name of God?