Excellent question, my kid (6) also wants to go trick-or-treating, but I don't know if that's even acceptd in Geneva...any ideas?

Hi Nir,

Unfortunately, I still haven't found any locations.  I am now considering buying candy and distributing them to my neighbors in the building for them to give to my son.  I wish I know enough expats who practice this halloween activity so maybe we can get together to bring some halloween spirit to the kids.  If you have any ideas please let me know. 

I hear you. I might resort to doing the same. 

I just emailed all my parent friends with the same question, will update you if there's any good news

In my appartment block, most of the kids dress up, meet downstairs first and come around in a group, pooling their treats and then sharing at the end. The older kids take care of the younger ones (and the sweets)  there is normally a mother present to keep things under  control. 

Ask any neighbour who has children if their kids would like to dress up and join you, or your concierge will know if there's Halloween in your building, if you live in an appartment block.   

I wonder if trick-or-tricking is more acceptable in neighborhoods with lots of expats / Americans, cos I think some of my neighbors wouldn't even know what's up if a kid came knocking on heir door at Halloween...(-;

Shirley: is that the case in your building block, that there are lots of Americans?

No, it's multinational, i'm the only anglophone in fact
Shirley T, Oct 19, 2014 @ 21:47

I have been the only anglophone in my building for years and I’m pretty sure that none of my neighbours know anything of the Hallow’een traditions.  What’s more, they won’t want kids ringing at their door – the concièrge certainly won’t.

One of the sad but true reasons is that many break-ins are now carried out by young teenagers so that’s another reason why children in disguise risk being given short shrift these days.

But of course, it does depend a lot on where you live and whether it’s a family-oriented area.

R.

Although it originally came from the europeans, Halloween has been an american tradition for a long time now. Let it stay like that and let it stay over there. We don't need it here. That's my opinion.I don't need a foreign tradition being pushed on me (and mainly out of commercial reasons). If kids start ringing my doorbell for Halloween, I'll drop an ice bucket on them!! (without donating money to als research...)

Halloween in the USA: good for them

Halloween in Europe: no thanks

HEEELP!   My 13 year old have been saying that he is soooo excited to try some drugs  (thanks to youtube).  Does anyone know if there is any place in Geneva where he can get some? I have been surfing the net all night but all I can't find any.

HEEELP!   My 15 year old have been saying that he is soooo excited to to go paint graffiti on public walls, buses and trams (thanks to youtube).  Does anyone know if there is any place in Geneva where he can buy spray paint? I have been surfing the net all night but all I can't find any.

HEEELP!   My 23 year old have been saying that he is soooo excited to go buy and shoot some guns  (thanks to youtube).  Does anyone know if there is any place in Geneva where he can get some? I have been surfing the net all night but all I can't find any.

JR, Nick, 

What is wrong with you guys? If a kid trick-or-treats Nick, Nick throws water on him. For JR, trick-or-treating is similar to kids trying drugs / shooting guns. Guys, it's just kids doing harmless fun and enjoying a tradition, why be so hostile about it?

hi Francedith, this is not exactly an answer to your trick-or-treat question... but here is a link with information of halloween parties goping on in Geneva (and nearby) for kids. http://www.genevafamilydiaries.net/geneva-blog/halloween-switzerland/

Hope you have fun with your 3 year old, mine is 15 months old and I'm considering the event at the Hotel d'Anglaterre because I believe is the only party which takes place during the day. Although the one in Divonne seems pretty cool starting at 5pm.  

Ana

Ana: BIG thanks, some great stuff in there!

Hi! 

I do child entertainer, face painting, games, decoration, snacks,... For kids parties. If you need something else here is my website: www.genevaparty.webs.com 

thanks! 

Patricia

Thanks for the positive responses.  For those who does not seem to remember being a child, your personal comments should be kept to yourselves. If you do not have to give negative comments.  It is not necessary.  We are all adults here, Right?

Thank you Patricia.  I will definitely think of you.  

glocals is an English-language site but many of its users are not Anglo-Saxons or even fluent English speakers.  Many have never lived in an English-speaking country, so for them Hallow’een plays no part in their childhood memories.

They see the costume displays in Migros, Coop et al. as just another sales gimmick that has been vigorously promoted in the past five years or so, and they are irritated when some  expats fuss that Hallow’een isn’t celebrated here in the way they happen to have known it in their native lands.

In my view, people are entitled to hold and to express their take on Hallow’een, albeit hopefully they will do so politely.  As expats we are guests in CH and Geneva has a magnificent “Escalade” celebration in December which gives youngsters the chance to dress up, parade in the streets and generally have a lot of fun.  All may take part, irrespective of race, creed or nationality.

So does Geneva really need an imported festivity such as Hallow’een which, in any case, isn’t universally celebrated anyway.  Moreover, not wanting to  celebrate Hallow’een doesn’t mean we are forgetting what it is to be a child.

Ritchie, 

No prob at all with people not liking Halloween or not wanting to celebrate it. 

But surely comparing kids celebrating Halloween to kids taking drugs or using guns ain't in the same ball park as someone saying they don't like Halloween...

I am well aware that Halloween is not a common tradition in the world.  I posted for my own personal information.  For those who may share the same issue.  If you do not feel the same then that is fine.  I never intended or have the intention of pushing the idea down anyone's throat. 

I don't think that there is anything wrong with me wanting to incorporate a bit of home into my child's life in a foreign country.  If you don't understand that then I don't ask you to.  

I truly appreciate the positive and informative responses to my post.  Thank you.

thank you Ritchie for expressing exactly the same thoughts in a much more subtle and gentle way as I seemed to do (although, having re-read my reply a few times,  I still don't find my reply unpolite or so). Anyway, I'm off to eat some pumpkin soup... which is a seasonal thing...

First, “thank you” to Nick for his kind words.

As to the “fun” of Hallow’een, it might be as well if we also remember that, for many people in western Europe, All Saints and All Souls are two of the most solemn days in the Christian calendar.  Even today, some people still regard All Hallowstide as a time for quiet reflection rather than a time for games and parties – a sentiment that was also brought home to me today when I asked a Migros contact how sales of Hallow’een gear were doing.  Seeningly not that well because “after all, Hallow’een is an Ameircan import”.  (No matter that it was originally taken to the US by Celtic immigrants!) .

All this to give, for what it’s worth,  some further explanation as to why the local reaction to  Hallow’een festivity may appear to be lukewarm.

That said, I hope everyone who wishes to observe the pagan custom of celebrating the end of Summer will have a happy time -- though why anyone should want to do that baffles me to say the least.

Yours aye, R.

Hi  linked to this topic I woudl like to share that a great place to rent kids and adults costume is Vet'shop , the second hand shop of the Red Cross at teh beginning fo Rue de Carouge in Plainpalais . In the basement they have hundreds of costumes that can be rented starting from very cheap prices.

Another way to procure costumes for kids is to go to the school TROC's the places where private people sell their kids clothes, toys , sport equipments and so on ...there you can buy kids' costumes for 5-10 CHF

I have foudn all these advice in a blog called  http://howtogeneva.blogspot.ch/ , although it looks like pretty basic , it's full of useful tips

I hoep it helps

Salvatore

OK, so in case the question of Halloween for kids in Geneva comes up again next year, here's my experience from trick-or-treating in Geneva tonight, in Grand Saconnex, with a 7 years old kid:

1. There were quite a lot of costumed kids in the street. 

2. The main issue was getting into buildings, cos all of them have intercom doors. But once we got into the buildings:

- about 40% of people opened their door

- of those, nearly all knew the drill and happily gave candy to the kids

So bottom line, trick-or-treating works. 

Nir

Grand Sac. (also locally known as the international ghetto) isn’t  exactly typical of Geneva and its environs, but I’m glad you all had a lot of fun.

R.

Giving a compliment with one hand and a 'sarky comment with the other. Yes we get it, you don't like Halloween. There's really no need to be mean, Ritchie

 All you and Nick L need is the "Jason" hockey mask. Sounds like you have the perfect attitude to scare children at Halloween :)

Halloween went down well at Avenue de France too. I had about 20 kids visit, all living in my building. Big success and lots of happy children.

Thank you again for the positive responses and encouragements.  My son had fun as well.  I asked some of my neighbors to help me make this little tradition possible for my son and they were more than happy to participate.  Thanks to them, my son was able to experience a bit of what I used to enjoy doing as a child.  They also enjoyed seeing my son in his iron man costume. So I guess not everyone hates halloween here in Geneva. 

Hi Ana, 

Sorry I'm a bit late on my reply.  I didn't see your message until now.  Thank you.  

My son did enjoy himself and I loved the smile on his face as well as the smiles that he got from people as we walked around Plainpalais. 

I hope you were able to go the party and enjoyed yourselves.  

I really like Halloween and wanted to head back to the U.S. for a proper American Halloween but ended up having to stay in Geneva for work.

It's fun seeing the various costumes and it can bring together neighbors. I'm really glad to see that they made it happen for the kids in Grand Saconnex and on Avenue de France.

Maybe with more organization we could give more kids and neighborhoods the opportunity to participate? Such as in designated buildings/streets or buildings marked with special Jack-O-Lantern signs?

Another option that some organizations, schools, and neighborhoods do in the U.S. is hold a "trunk or treat." Often this is in a large parking lot and people wear costumes and sometimes decorate the cars. Kids then can go from car to car to get candy. Some examples are here: http://www.buzzfeed.com/mikespohr/36-trunk-or-treat-themes-that-really-nailed-it 

I know Halloween is already passed but I just wanted to say that there is a similar tradition during Escalade in december when children dress up and go from door to door singing and getting candy. Apparently this has been a tradition for a very long time.

So maybe next year you can explain to your kid to just wait for a few weeks until Geneva has its most important celebration of the year! :-)

Eva: why tell him to wait, when I can tell him to Halloween in November AND to escalade in December...(-;