French Halloween Traditions

CELEBRATING Halloween is catching on in France, even though it is still seen as something of an American import. More traditional here is the significance of All Saints Day (November 1) – or All Hallows as it used to be known (hence Halloween for “All Hallows’ Eve”).

A bank holiday in France, All Saints Day – La Toussaint – is associated with honouring the dead, and is when French families typically visit grave yards to place chrysanthemums on loved ones’ graves.

This should strictly-speaking be done on November 2, All Souls Day (La Fête des Morts), however this gets overlooked as it is not a bank holiday.