'Alloween!

Halloween in France is very much a non-event, pushed only by shops trying cash in on the American-exported holiday. However, as Brits in France, we threw our own Halloween party and invited everyone we knew in Boulogne/Paris – totalling about 20. Our French neighbour invited a group of his friends, meaning that there were ACTUAL REAL FRENCH PEOPLE at our party. 

Beware of the Boggart!

However, their costumes reflected how the French don’t really ‘get’ Halloween. The (literary) theme chosen for our party was ‘BOGGART BASH’; you had to come as what your Boggart would turn in to after it sprang from the wardrobe and you had shrieked ‘RIDIKILOUS’ at it. Essentially something that TERRIFIES you, but made to look a little silly.

For anyone that knows me even remotely well, or anyone who has just had the slightly awkward experience of trying to cook a meal for me, it will come as no surprise to you that I didn’t have to think twice about my costume: SAUCE. More specifically, ketchup, that spawn-of-Satan-sauce. To make it a little rire-dicilous (pun credit to Natalie), I made Heinz Ketchup that little bit ‘saucy’ with the addition of my entirely not-culturally-offensive-or-stereotyping moustache.

Saucyyyy

From butterflies to badgers, a questionable Elvis to an early-morning self-portrait, it was apparent that us English had mastered the theme, and had been perfecting our costume-skills for the last three or four years of our lives a.k.a. university. The French however came in afro wigs and oversized glasses, and ski clothes. “As-tu peur de faire du skiing” – “Non, je l’adore!” (« Are you afraid of skiing ? » - « No, I love it ».) They hadn’t quite got the whole scary ‘Halloween’ thang…

From one point of confusion to another: twins. It transpires that in the flat beneath me lives a set of twins, both of whom were at the party (and who bought another set of twins with them. Must’ve met at twin camp).Thing is, I’ve lived here a month. And I’ve just realised. Now, I’m beginning to question whether it has been more than just the language barrier that has made stairwells conversations a little strange.

Sophie's carved peppers

It may have lacked the raucousness of Halloween formal, and Sophie may have had to carve peppers instead of pumpkins due to a notable citrouil-dearth, but I still managed to have a spooktacular Halloween in Paris!