Although trick-or-treating has really been an American tradition, the Germans have been gradually adopting it, such that - since we've been living in this house - we've needed to stock up with a greater number of sweets every year, ready to hand them over to the various ghouls, ghosts, vampires and other young monsters that visit us at Halloween once night has fallen.
Lucy chose just about the ugliest of rubber masks to dress in this evening, making it difficult for neighbours to recognise her, but it earned her a big bag full of sweets and chocolate, so she is more than satisfied. I enjoyed chatting to the local kids in English and was pleasantly surprised when they answered readily with little bits of English and also very politely.
It's a shame that the time of the candle-lit pumpkins is so short. Now they will be thrown into the compost bin and replaced again by decorations more neutral and autumnal - only for a few weeks and then there'll be holly wreaths appearing on the front doors in our street.
