Halloween and Toussaint

Halloween in France is a bit (well a lot) different than what I've experienced in Canada...to give you an idea read the article here http://french.about.com/library/bl-halloweeninfrance.htm

I saw a few trick o' treaters today and some kids came up into the apartment complex after supper. I have to confess that I pretended I wasn't home when they rang, partly because I didn't have any candy and partly because they were loud, rude and banging on my door. Ah well, call me the Grinch of Halloween.

Tomorrow, November 1st is a national holiday in France called Toussaint, or All Saints. A public holiday all over France, it's traditional to visit grave sites of lost loved ones , usually with a gift of chrysanthemums to place on the grave. I've seen some flower shops full of these chrysanthemums, in all colours, arranged in big pots. SO here's a heads up...not a good idea to buy mums as a gift for someone or to have as a house plant, because here, it's seen as a reminder of death and graveyards. Not exactly the thing you want to show up with at a housewarming party or a baby shower or something. Anyways, Toussaint is a catch-all day for all the saints who don't have their own feast day. And it's a public holiday...so no work tomorrow! Yay!