Celebrating Halloween in France

These days, out-of-town shopping centres stock Halloween goods and local towns now offer Halloween activities. For example, in our nearby town of Aigre 16140, there is a costume parade in the town centre, rewarded by sweets given by the shopkeepers and an evening meal in the Salle des Fetes.

Being conscious of our impact on our environment, we try to buy less plastics and go home-made for a re-use, recycle ethos where we can. Pumpkins and squashes are in abundance, so we always have a display and the children carve them with their friends.

We host our own party which involves an array of home-baked ‘spooky’ food and games. Why not share a few British traditions with your French friends and neighbours, too!

Halloween is a great opportunity to learn some new French vocabulary – here are some essentials!

costume           un déguisement

bat                    une chauve-souris

 black cat          un chat noir

 devil                  un diable

 ghost                 un fantôme

Grim Reaper     la Faucheuse

monster            un monstre

mummy            une momie

 scarecrow        un épouvantail

 skeleton           un squelette

 spider               une araignée

 vampire           un vampire

 werewolf         un loup-garou

 witch                 une sorcière

 witch’s hat       un chapeau de sorcière, un chapeau pointu

 zombie               un zombie

And remember, we don’t ask for a TRICK or a TREAT in France, we ask for sweets or a spell:

« Des bon-bons ou un sort ! »

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