Do the French celebrate Halloween?

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lifo

The 1st november is a day off in France since a long long long time (a religious heritage). But "celebrating" Halloween is very new and very very very commercial, nothing to see with our culture. We have always heard about the american halloween and the marketing staffs have done all what is necessary to make it happened in France. So maybe 5 years ago it was really up to date in shops and for children,but now it's already loosing its popularity and it's a good point because it was really too much commercial. Where I live in Brittany, where we are Breton and so Celtic, some people "celebrates" Samain on that 1st november to celebrate the dark season. But they just have a breton dancing party called fest-noz and some get dressed with all those halloween stuff but it's more cultural than commercial at least.
My point of view is that celebrating halloween in France in the American way is not the best thing to do. Each country (or region) has his own culture and habits and it's better that all cultures survive than to try to have one from another place. I have been in Mexico, el pais, for "el dia de los muertos", this was really amazing !!! two days celebrating gone people in happiness and reminding. If one example must be followed I would prefer to take this one.

Don Adriano

It's not at all common, but they are starting to pick it up--at least in Paris. In the past couple of years, I have seen increasing numbers of store windows decorated for the occasion, and "halloweeny" clipart used in advertisements.

I think they get it mostly from the American ex-pat community and from watching American television and movies.

Last year, I even got trick-or-treated from a couple of kids in my apartment building who knew that I was American. Of course, they showed up on October 30th, and they weren't in costume, so there's still a few kinks to work out!

Cabal

It is not a holiday, as said above marketing made it mildly popular for a time but it is falling again. There were no big parties, a little dress up and some door to door trick or treat.

sweetmommy

No, not at all. All of my French friends want to come see our Halloween because they have heard about it and are curious.

Vladimir ILL

Yes for centuries french have been very careful about honouring their family tumbs - it is " le jour des morts " which is the day before the Toussaint
meaning "Day of all holies" - which is very close to the word "All holies
evening" -

The day of Toussaint shows anb incredible intensity in road-traffic, because everybody goes to cemeteries with fresh flowers, and things to clean the graves - It is extremely deep in french minds, and Halloween is perceived in comparison as something " imported -
stranger - ridiculous"

That's probably why this non-catholic invasion failed -

zafir

No they don't, it's purely an American tradition.

Bear

:) they do in parts of france i'm from the usa been over here in france for almost 10 years my first year was not easy see i still did things like make pumpkins for halloween the kids and adults loved them now they also went to door to door in costoms for candy but they stayed only in the complax we lived in it becoming a fun day now for many i seen some markets selll kids costoms for halloween and decor for the house it liek christmas they never put lights on there homes well the first year i was here i did put lights out side and decor i went nuts lol well kids and adults love it next year i started seeing more and more lights going on homes at that time now it growing big not sure i started this but it kind of funny they never did it until i did hehe that was 10 years ago .

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