My first Halloween abroad was celebrated in an unusual fashion, by attending my friend Farida's jazz singing class. Those of you who have been unfortunate enough to karaoke with me know that this in itself is quite scary. While Farida and her classmates worked to put finishing emotional touches on their blues renditions, I was stuck on the warm-up exercise of pursing my lips together to make the "broken down car" noise. Funny, when I opened my lips to sing, plenty of broken noises were easily produced! Some good laughs (in private) were also enjoyed at the expense of the other students. What killed me most was to hear middle-aged French women sing soul music (in English of course) with lyrics they do not always understand and, thus, to which they did not always lend the right emotion. (But I have to point out that my friend's English is perfect.) I kept wondering how their teacher, a New Yorker with a voice I think belongs in Harlem, found herself in this station. As for my report card, she told me after class that there is hope for every student.
Outside on the streets, I enjoyed some glimpses of Halloween spirit, mostly thanks to the fact that the jazz class was in the 'burbs of Paris. Ghosts were the strong majority. The 10-yr old daughter of my friend was out trick-or-treating. Though I don't know if you can call it that if kids simply knock on doors but do not actually say « Trick or Treat ! » « Smell my feet …give me something good to eat! » is lost on them. These poor kids! Some sources in lab told me that Halloween just came to France a few years ago, by which time they were too old to partake. These deprived adult ! No adult in my lab could be convinced to dress up with me.
My conclusion for the 31st of October in France is that it goes unnoticed. Except for the few haute chocalatiers with Halloween-themed window displays. What a waste of the ample time they have to fete the eve: The entire week around the 31st is a school vacation, and the 1st of November , Toussaint Day, is a national holiday. Still , the seed of Halloween has just been planted, 3 or 4 years ago, courtesy of McDonald's, Hallmark, etc. So with careful care, it could fluorish. Though more likely it will fizzle, as it's already doing, seen as another imposition of American culture. I did my part to continue the imposition by disseminating amongst my friends here the virtual pumpkin carving link, http://www.coasttocoastam.com/timages/page/pumpkin_sim.swf, sent to me by my wonderful aunt, and by sharing the Peeps candies mailed to me by some wonderful New York friends. Though if the holiday does take off here, Peeps must be renamed. The word is already used in French slang to mean either a joint of marijuana or a sexual act that has been illegal in some countries.
