Halloween, traditionally a Celtic holiday, is not readily celebrated in France.  However, since the mid 90’s, it has become more and more popular.  This popularity is due mostly to American cultural influence and corporate marketing.  Disney, McDonald’s, Coca Cola and other major corporations have introduced the Halloween theme (pumpkins, for instance), to make Halloween more easily recognizable.

Trick or treating is not really what it is in the U.S.  In fact, until recently most trick or treating in France has been done at shops and storefronts.  Slowly but surely, candy manufacturers are getting in on the deal by creating Halloween specific bite sized candies that are easily doled out for Halloween.

At this time of year, you can see some (not many) bars decorated with fake cob webs, with witches and ghosts.  Chocolate shops get into the spirit by creating some beautiful Halloween creations, all orange and black and white, wonderful to see in the windows.  At some pastry shops, like Fauchon, you can get a wonderful blood orange eclair, whose icing is a beautiful deep orange color. 

I was at a friend’s in Montmartre for Halloween last year.  He was shocked when, at about 9 p.m, there was a knock on his apartment door.  He opened the door to a ghoul and a witch who promptly belted out “Un bonbon ou un sort!”  which would translate to “Candy or a spell!”  He looked at me frantically and said “What do I do??”  I told him he owed them candy, he had none.  He gave them fruit.  They were happy and went on their way.  (The French are trying, but they have a lot to learn about the importance of the perfect treat.)

I don’t know if Halloween will make it long term in France, some French people refuse to celebrate an imported holiday that is really a corporate creation.  For now, Disneyland Paris has a huge Halloween festival, as does the entire city of Limoges which boasts a crowd of 30,000 - 50,000 during the street festival.  And in the streets of Paris, don’t be surprised if on October 31 you run into a little vampire or witch (then tend to stick to the scary) ready to get their “bonbons” and party all night….they have no school on November 1, it’s All Saints Day!