Get spooky with Tricks, Treats and Traditions 

By Eva L., Lily S., Eylül M., Grade 10 

People from different parts of the world celebrate Halloween. It is a shared tradition and creates a common theme for everyone. Each country celebrates differently with a variety of activities. 

In MIS lots of people celebrate Halloween as well. We have interviewed a few teachers and students from various grades and of different nationalities, to talk about their experiences on Halloween. Halloween takes place on the 31^st of October and traditions such as eating specific things and dressing up are seen around our school and in homes.

There are many traditions all around the globe when celebrating Halloween. From carved pumpkins to trick or treating every single door in the neighbourhood., including embracing the spirit with many different decorations. 

“I believe that kids that have never trick or treated are missing out in Germany on the spirit of Halloween; we used to do it so much when l was little in Canada”, said Ms. Gabel, English teacher.

Ms. Gabel mentioned that in Canada there are many kids celebrating Halloween as their favorite holiday and getting the full experience unlike in Germany where the Halloween is not really a culture or a general celebration for the kids. 

“In US, we had many decorations on the streets and in the houses”, said Charlotte H., grade 10.

As a student in MIS that now lives in Germany and came from US, she highlighted that Halloween was an outstanding holiday all around the country. From people turning their basement into a haunted house to preparing Halloween snacks that look scary, all people have their own way of decorating. 

“At night we sometimes had bonfires and there where many snacks like candies apples that we ate as traditions.”, Said Libby B., grade 10.

As a student, Libby mentioned the snacks eaten on Halloween and a bonfire as a tradition as well as making smores which could warm up the person’s heart after a long day of ‘trick or treating’.

Unlike in US or Canada, Halloween is not passionately celebrated in Germany. The students in MIS and Teachers that either came from or grew up in places that celebrated Halloween fully with many traditions gave advice to students in MIS that hardly got to see the full experience of Halloween and how they could celebrate the holiday in the future.  

 “Since in Germany there is not many places that you could get the full experience of Halloween outside, you could go to Halloween parties and dress up to get ready like how you would normally”, said Libby B., Grade 10.

Dressing up is a huge part of Halloween. Whether you’re wearing a scary costume or a princess dress, there’s something for everyone. Often, children dress up at night-time and go trick or treating around their neighbourhoods. 

Ms. Gabel dressed up as Ralph the Rabbit

When asked if she dresses up for Halloween, senior school student Charlotte H replied, “Yes every year!”. Libby B says she loves wearing Halloween costumes and that she’s mostly gone as “vampires, bats, or witches my whole life, never princesses. Sometimes a ghost when I forgot it was Halloween, like I just cut up a bedsheet. But Germany isn’t great for trick or treating, not many people do it. Usually, we just go to a party or do something with our friends”. 

The Halloween spirit extends to the parents and teachers as well. When asked if they dress up three teachers, Ms. Gabel, Ms. Clower, and Ms. Tousignant said, “Yes in capital letters!”, “Of course!” and “Yeah, I always dress up on Halloween!”. 

Halloween costumes are a chance to be creative, expressive and have fun. 

“I went as my mum when I was five, one time I went as an M&M, another year I went as the Queen of Hearts and I got a sandwich board and I was a huge queen of hearts playing card”, Ms Berkman has been everything! 

Halloween is an inclusive and fun holiday for everyone. It provides opportunities for kids to create memories about this celebration by dressing up and decorating their house! If you have the chance to create new traditions, dress up in a new costume, or go trick or treating for the first time, Halloween is the perfect holiday to do so!