Today is my favorite holiday of the year! For the first time in my life, I’m unable to celebrate the way I feel the holiday should be properly celebrated. In the USA I would be happily pulling out my fog machine, getting treats ready for the trick-or-treating kids, and preparing my costume. Here in China, Halloween isn’t a recognized holiday unless you have a large community of expats who want to celebrate the holiday together.
Typically, for each Halloween, I try to come up with treats and tricks for the kids. One year I dressed up as witch in a black costume gown and answered the door saying, “Would you like a poisoned apple or an Otter Pop?” I had tried to make my voice sound creaky just like the disguised evil Queen from Disney’s Snow White. Most kids would stare for a moment and then say “Otter Pop.” One of my favorite visitors that night was a girl around the age of ten who gave me a huge grin and giggled, “Hehehehe! Can I have the poisoned apple?” Naturally, I gave her my real apple and simply fetched a new one from my basket sitting by the door.
No matter your feelings for the holiday, I hope you have an enjoyable day today! As it is a holiday that has people of all ages hitting the streets, we will be closing our offices early to allow our staff to get home safely before all the kids hit the streets for their trick-or-treating adventures.
Our office will close at noon, but we will be back at 8 am tomorrow morning ready to process all orders!
