HALLOWEEN IN GERMANY?

On American military bases in Germany, it is quite common to see German kids trick-or-treating on Halloween! When there is free candy involved (even if it is American chocolate) the good news seems to have no trouble crossing the language barrier!

I noticed this for the first time when my Dad was stationed in Bamberg. The American housing area is open and accessable to everyone. I noticed that a couple of kids had costumes that were just a bit different. I couldn't quite put my finger on what was unusual, but I knew something was different... Then I heard them quietly speaking German and I knew what the deal was! Their bright costumes were more in the vein of Fasching than the "scarey" costumes that we Americans traditionally associate with Halloween. No matter. Judging by the size of their bulging trick-or-treat bags they seemed to be making out just fine!

Kindly submitted P. Mayer

  • Other German kids have told me that they've had Halloween parties at school but that they've never gone trick-or-treating.

  • There are of course many other dress-up and get-candy days throughout the German Holiday Year - St. Martin's, Advent, Walpurgis, New Year's, Karneval-Mardi Gras, etc.

    2017 - German kids still manage to figure out where the Americans live. They don't always say a joke or sing - mostly they just say "Suesses oder Saueres." Search Youtube for Halloween + Berlin

    Return to Customs and Holidays Page to look those holidays up or return to Halloween Page