Tips for Chinese Parents on Halloween in Toronto, Canada

Hallowed Eve, or Halloween is an interesting tradition in North America, where kids of all ages dress up in scary costumes, and knock on neighbour’s doors for candy and treats. The kids will exclaim “Trick or Treat” and will expect some kind of treat. Halloween is a North American farming tradition where ghosts and other scary monsters call on your house. They will leave you in peace and allow you a good harvest season if you give them a treat. Here are some guidelines to follow for Toronto, Canada for parents of Chinese kids.

• If you own a house and do not wish to participate in Halloween, turn off your outside front house light until after 10:00pm. If you keep your house light on you will have many kids ringing your doorbell all night. This is annoying to you but more annoying for the kids and parents participating.
• Conversely if you are a parent with kids that will go door to door collecting candy, if a house has no front light on, pumpkin, jack-o-lantern or other Halloween or scary ornaments, do not ring the doorbell. These houses are not participating.
• There are special boxes of chips and candy sold especially for Halloween. If you are shelling out, buy these. Do not distribute loose, unwrapped candy. These will be thrown away and deemed unsafe.
• Do not let your kids run wild on the street. There are cars that are driving around that may not see your kids in their black costumes. Many kids have been killed due to the neglect of their parents. Your spoiled kids will look much cuter if they are not in a hospital ward.
• Always ask your kids to thank people that give them treats. This is common courtesy that is often taken for granted. People do not HAVE to give your kids candy. It is a tradition they do for the benefit of the kids.
• If you take your kids out, leave the car at home. Trailing your kids in a vehicle is dangerous for all other kids and parents doing the same thing. I know you think it is inconvenient, but you just look like a bunch of ignoramuses to everyone else. The walk will also do you some good, as you are looking fatter than a pig close to Chinese New Year.
• Kids need to dress up in a costume. This is mandatory. Your child cannot go to Halloween dressed as a Chinese kid. A Chinese kid is not a costume. Use some creativity to create a costume and enjoy the tradition. Costumes need not be expensive. Dress your kid up, even if only a little.
• At the end of the night do not leave your jack-o-lantern outside. Local kids might steal it and smash it on the road, leaving a large mess for someone to clean up. If this is your jack-o-lantern that was smashed, please clean up after your mess. Your neighbours will know you don’t care if you ignore the mess on your street.

These unwritten rules should be self evident for most parents. This is apparently not the case here in Toronto. I have therefore written them down. While China does not have this tradition I am sure your kids will take to it and eat all the candy they can collect. Have a safe Halloween.