The Dingus Family: Halloween in Taiwan

Goblins, ghosts, witches, super heroes, and princesses.

Last week in America, the much anticipated holiday of Halloween was celebrated.

For adults, it's the chance to don a costume and have a little fun. For mommies and daddies, it's the opportunity to dress up their little angels and pirates.

For most kids, it's all about the candy.

While living in America, our family celebrated autumn and harvest, more than Halloween in itself. The reasons are multiple and varied, but that is not the reason for this narrative.

I will just add, for those who do not know the culture in which we now live, ghosts (ancestors) are perceived as powerful entities that are pivotal to one's security and success in life. An entire month is devoted to appeasing these ghosts so they will not "haunt" or make your life miserable. This appeasement includes burning money and other representations of items needed or wanted in the after life, the setting out food on tables, and various other sacrifices. For most Taiwanese, the thought of ghosts are not entertaining or fun.

I was first introduced to this during my original six months of living in Taiwan back in the 1990s..Let's just say it left quite an impression on this young adult.

Halloween, however, is mostly a fun part of American culture.

It is not here in Taiwan.

In recent years, it has begun to make more of an appearance. I have seen some stores begin to carry a small selection of costumes, as well as spooky decorations.

I unexpectantly, saw this sign the week before Halloween outside a Thai restaurant.

While we love living in Taiwan, we do miss some aspects of American culture, as do most expats. Its just natural to miss what you grew up with. For me, fall in Ohio and Christmas time are the two times of the year I feel that tug the most: changing leaves, pumpkins, cider, football, bonfires, and of course, the various traditions of Christmas.

All that to say, Americans living in in an non American culture will sometimes adapt traditions because it creates a connection- culturally, as well as emotionally. Kinda like curling up with a warm, fuzzy blanket on a cold, dreary winter day.

It comforts.

For example, pumpkins are not readily found, and if they are, the price tag is high. So carving pumpkins is not an easily accomplished task. Unless, of course you are a creative problem solver.

These carved pumpkins are the mastermind of high school students from the dorm Carl substitutes in once a week. Never crossed my mind to substitute the inexpensive yellow watermelon.

Or how about this one?

This was created by a first year Morrison community member. I think maybe adaptability is high on the list for expat wannabes!

Another tradition our K2 classes have carried out for several years is the Storybook Character Day. This gives the teachers a chance to provide a little bit of fun and creativity while teaching and assessing language arts benchmarks. My students were giving oral book reports on their character's picture book. The report and parade was the culmination of a reading unit on fiction story elements.

To be an effective educator, a teacher always needs to be prepared to demonstrate expected outcomes!

Meet Viola Swamp, the alter ego of a very kind and loving teacher from the picture book Miss Nelson Is Back.

She only existed about an hour before the makeup and wig became intolerable!

She did stick around for the parent loved character parade.

Our wonderful librarians always join in the fun!

Our parade began in the upper hallway where the third, fourth, and fifth graders applauded for their younger counterparts.Then on through the library....