Miss C-Jaz's Third Halloween...in Sweden

In the last week I've observed that Halloween in Sweden is almost non-existent.  Some stores, like H&M and KappAhl, have a small selection of Halloween costumes and clothing.  Grocery stores, like COOP and Willy's, have Halloween themed candy and decorations, but not a lot.  It's very much known here as an American tradition.  Rather than Halloween, Swedes focus on All Saints' Day on November 1st to honor people who have passed, though I'm not sure what they do.  Perhaps it's just another day to take advantage of as a holiday.

For Miss C-Jaz's first Halloween she was a lady bug dressed in a red turtle neck and black leggings with lady bug wings.  All she could really do was lie amidst candy.  For her second Halloween she was a Dalmatian puppy with a round suit, puppy shoes and a floppy ear hat.  She was one year and four months, and when she met Galahad, the biggest dog ever, of her Polish godparents, she stuck her tongue out to copy his panting.  It was the cutest thing ever!

For Miss C-Jaz's third Halloween this year we dressed her up in something we thought would be cute and we dressed her up in something she thought would be 'piiity'.

Here she is in her 'Risky Business' outfit like the Playboy Playmates' Guitar Hero 5 Commercial.

And here she is in her fairy butterfly costume with her Juliet tights and a Disney Princess top.

 

If we were home in Vancouver we would be dropping by the grandparents' and trick-or-treating in my old neighborhood, but since we're in Sweden we don't have that option, and I still wanted her to have fun.  So, last week on our walk during the 'misty moisty morning' to Sickla, we bought some Halloween-themed decorations from Willy's and some Halloween-themed candy from COOP (sugary and sour gummies), including some Swedish chocolates.   We decorated with skull garland,  home-made 'goats' as Miss C-Jaz would say (a.k.a. ghosts), and a big moving spider cut out from my hand prints.

We played music, had a great salmon dinner and even got to Skype with Mita, Wowo, and Nang (my parents and sister).  J hid the candies that I got from COOP while I distracted Miss C-Jaz with dinner and Skype-versation, then Miss C-Jaz had her trick-or-treat hunt.  It was so new and exciting for her that whe was so quiet, intently looking and collecting her goodies.

While Halloween usual means cold weather, random fireworks, and dozens of goodies (and not-so-good candies) from dozens of strangers, we had our fun in our warm loft nibbling on treats that did not need inspection.  Miss C-Jaz was great with her treats.  She only took a couple of bites from her orange jujub, sour peach, and Marabou chocolate (this she would have eaten if I hadn't stopped her).  Most of Sweden may not celebrate Halloween, but Miss C-Jaz surely did.