This is Halloween... Part 5. Trick or Treating

Trick or treating is a favourite in our home - my children love sweets and chocolates, and so do I! We have also been fortunate enough to have lived in three different countries and have experienced the way each of them celebrates Halloween.

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In South Africa, up until I was in high school, my parents would take a group of us trick or treating around our area. We would send out letters to our neighbours forewarning them that we would be trick or treating - with the letter, we would supply a sticker that they could use if they were happy to participate.

In fact, one year our interact committee even decided to host a Halloween charity drive. We dressed up and went trick or treating to collect sweets and donations for children in care. We then packaged up what we collected, and delivered them to the very excited children. It was one of my favourite Halloween celebrations, to date.

When D was little it was easier for us to host Halloween parties at home. When he was 1 years old, we moved to Malta. Malta, being a conservative country did not wholly embrace the idea of Halloween; so we continued the tradition of throwing parties instead of trick or treating.

In 2011, we moved to London. Our first Halloween, was very quiet - we were living in a hotel, as we hadn't found a house yet. Shops had very minimal decorations and supplies and we found that people weren't really used to the trick or treating idea - well especially not in the hotel anyway. ;)

After that, we moved to Ewell in Surrey - we moved on Halloween - and our neighbours made us aware that a few of the children in the road would be trick or treating. We quickly put up some decorations and D put on his Fireman Sam costume (I am still not sure why!?) for his first ever proper trick or treating.

Since then, we have been trick or treating every year - we have either gone to friends houses for a party and then been trick or treating or hosted parties and then gone trick or treating locally. Last year, we decided to go trick or treating in Kensington, for something different. We had heard stories about how beautifully decorated the houses were.

And one thing that the people in Kensington REALLY know how to do is Halloween! I have never seen anything like it before. Here are just some of our photos of the awesomeness that was Kensington Halloween.

Trick or Treating in Kensington

This year, we have a party on Sunday and on Halloween and some trick or treating; however I am still tempted to find an area that really do go all out for Halloween (even if it is just to look at their decorations) - anyone have any tips?

Did you know? It is believed that trick or treating may have originated from the Celtic tradition of putting out treats and food for the spirits who roamed the street for Samhain - an ancient sacred festival that marked the end of the Celtic calendar.

Not long now... See you tomorrow for more Halloween Fun!

Kalli x