Trick-or-Treat

The times, they are a-changing. When I first arrived in the Netherlands over a decade ago, you’d be hard pressed to find any reference to Halloween. But as the years have passed, it’s become more and more popular here. This year, the shops on our little neighborhood shopping street welcomed children to come trick or treating.
With high expectations, Miss V and I (Miss P was otherwise occupied), joined by one of her classmates and her mom,  proceeded down the shopping street for a little trick or treating.

Miss V and her bud started off a little shy, but after a couple of stores, their announcement of “trick-or-treat” became more audible and animated. While the sentiment of the stores was wonderful, the execution left a lot to be desired. As mandarin after mandarin and a few limes were plunked into Miss V’s treat bag and her face took on the “all-I-got-was-a-rock” expression of pissivity that Charlie Brown wore in “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown“, I realized that Halloween hasn’t really gone Dutch.

All in all, Miss V enjoyed herself. She did get a few pieces of candy along with her citrus fruit. She and her friend even got a couple of euros from one establishment and told to buy something from the bakery because he didn’t have any candy (not sure if he ran out or didn’t have any to begin with). Miss V bought a Pepto Bismol pink, gooey confection, which she and Miss P enjoyed after dinner. A very sweet Halloween treat.