"Nightmare on Holt Ave"

We got lucky and just a few days prior to Halloween we found out that we happened to live in the neighborhood that has some of the biggest trick or treating of anywhere in Sydney. From what we had read and heard from people previously, Halloween is celebrated in a limited capacity in Australia, similar to what we experienced in Switzerland. It really is an American holiday after all. So while we had seen a few decorations and costumes in stores here or there we didn't expect much. Yet, lo and behold, thanks to the other mums (yes I think I'm going to adapt to the Australian version of the word mom pretty quickly) at a playgroup we went to we discovered that Holt Ave and a few other surrounding streets just a couple of blocks from us actually had quite a few trick or treaters and participating houses.

Quite the decorations!

Someone was very ready for her face to be painted...

Can I open my eyes mom?

"Mom, what color are you painting? What color? What paint color? Can I see? Can I see now?"

I took to the internet to try and do a little more research (I didn't want Emma to have too high of expectations) and was shocked to find an article titled "Nightmare on Holt Ave." While the title might have been a bit of a stretch, it was interesting to hear the history of how this neighborhood had come to celebrate Halloween. It supposedly was a result of a neighborhood resident that just happened to be in the U.S. on October 31 to see all the festivities. She introduced the concept to her neighborhood back in Sydney the following year and it took off more than anyone anticipated. Now, 15 or 20 years later parents from all over Sydney evidently drop off children in this area to participate and houses report over 1000+ kids visiting during the allocated two hour window.

Showing off the progress

That's right, the Aussies are a little more rigid and have some specifications around the celebrations. The article stated that the neighborhood would only have formal trick or treating from 4 - 6 pm, children 12 years and younger only, a parent should accompany, only approach the houses with open front gates and clearly designated Halloween signs, there would be one "lollie" per child per house, and some houses were suggesting that you should donate lollies to the cause if you did not live in the neighborhood.

Pretty pleased with herself

Almost done!

Well, I wouldn't exactly say all the rules were followed to a tee, but it was humorous to watch a few older children calling out their friends for taking more than one piece of candy. I also quite enjoyed the mom dressed as a witch and holding up her hatchet saying "one piece only" as the 10 something year old boy rummaged a handful of candy out of her giant pot.

"Oh, you still have more to do mom?"

It was fun to see how festive the houses that participated were. Many Australian houses have privacy fences around their small front yard/courtyards, but it was a chance to see them opened up and very decorated. Most of the adults handing out candy (and many parents walking around with children) were dressed up. Also, most houses that were handing out candy were making the most of it and were clearly having a good party for the adults in the courtyard or inside of the house as well. While I would still estimate only about a quarter of the houses on these few blocks participated, it didn't stop the streets from being absolutely packed. Often times when we approached a participating house we literally had to push our way through the crowds and tiny Emma would shyly try to get to the front and sometimes reach up over her head for a lollie. However, she would boldly proclaim "Happy Halloween" to the person handing out the candy, it was absolutely adorable.

Cheese!

Do you want to see my bucket?!

Standing in front of all of her Halloween artwork... I'm starting to better understand why she came home with 10 new pictures drawn every day at preschool back in the U.S. This girl loves to color way more than I realized.

Unfortunately Emma took a bit of a late snooze on her dad that afternoon and we had to wake her up and get her re-energized a bit so we didn't make our way out until almost 5 pm. As I expected, there were already several houses that had shut down and had signs up that said "Sorry, all out of lollies." We brought a few bags to share and handed the to houses that looked like they were running low.

Emma AND dad had a late snooze...

Luckily it didn't take her too long to get going!

While Emma's bucket may have been a bit more modest than a typical American Halloween stash at maybe 20 pieces or so (and most were very small candies), I think it was probably most appropriate for a three year old and means we won't have a bag of Halloween candy for the next year sitting in the pantry. And more important she still was blown away by all of her treats.

I'm not quite sure what to call this face while holding her bag of loot.

And while I don't think they look very good to me to eat or that I'm going to let Emma eat them, it was in a way refreshing to see the unwrapped small candies that were given out (although there's something about knowing there were tons of small hands rummaging through the bowl). The Australians aren't freaking out that someone was trying to poison their child with drugs or razor blades or anything else, they were simply able to let their children enjoy a fun childhood tradition without worrying about the "what ifs."

The first house had spectacular decorations!

Fighting the mob

I think it's fair to say that all of us enjoyed our first Australian Halloween. While it's certainly not the same without the cool, crisp air and fall colors, it was a bit of an overcast, drizzly evening, which seemed more appropriate than a few of the very hot spring days we have already encountered here.

Trying to help Emma to the front...

Trying to help Emma when she nearly got trampled and dropped her bucket and had to scramble to pick up her spilled candy! Luckily no meltdown occurred as we got it all picked up.

Our purple butterfly was very happy with her last minute costume made of mostly things we already had at home. All it took was randomly stumbling across a shop with a purple bucket and purple braids (don't ask me how that went with the butterfly theme - butterfly viking maybe?) and a promise that I would paint her face and she was happy. I would agree, she made a pretty cute butterfly. I can't wait to see the two creatures we take out next year :)

Happy Purple Butterfly!