Halloween

There's a good chance that you know that Halloween is one of my favorite holidays and I am more than happy to celebrate it as much as possible.  Though I'm still getting used to the too-old-to-trick-or-treat status, I've usually been able to find other ways to enjoy the season.  
Three years ago in Germany I was still new and didn't know people in Erlangen, so my Halloween consisted of me staying in my room watching a movie on TV and eating candy.  This year I was excited because for the first time since being here I had nightlife plans, and not only that, it was for Halloween, so I could dress up!  Sadly, it is not to be.  I'm sick, and it looks like I will have another night of staying in my room watching a movie on TV, but not eating candy. (I know, it's not officially Halloween yet.  But Monday is back to work day and I'm busy pretty much all day).
However, I'm making the best of it.  Since fall makes me a little giddy to be outside, I decided that, being fall foliage peak season, I would venture out of my apartment today for a walk in the woods while the weather was still warm.  Wednesday I had discovered a nice little park in the Kleefeld neighborhood and on my way back to the subway, another section of the Eilenriede woods which I hoped to discover soon.  So I decided a bit of fresh air would do me good and headed out.  Getting off of the subway, I was excited to see that a Halloween celebration was going on on the little square!  After my health-constrained short walk through the woods, I decided to pass through the fest.  It wasn't anything that exciting, but there was a stage with a blues band playing and a few tents, and there were some costumed children running around.  There was the drink station (beer and wine - this is Germany after all,) the farm stand, the cake, and then I saw it... pumpkin soup in a bread bowl.  So I celebrated Halloween by eating good pumpkin soup in a bread bowl while listening to blues and gospel music.  And on Monday, when I'm hopefully all better, I will break out the candy.

Can't you feel the excitement?

Halloween in general is something new to Germany.  Only recently has it begun to be celebrated, and now I hear that even trick-or-treating happens.  However, it is not at all to the same extent as in the States.  There aren't really decorations, and certainly not in homes, and there is not the same overload of Halloween food, Halloween music, Halloween movies, etc.  But there are usually a few parties around.  In terms of candy, Snickers, Twix, Kitkats, Milky Ways, Mars bars, and M&Ms have made the leap over the Atlantic.  What I miss the most is that US-style pumpkin baked goods have not made their way here, and hence pumpkin puree is nowhere to be found.  Pumpkin (really squash) baked goods here involve shredded pumpkin.  Wednesday I felt successful by making my own pumpkin puree and making fairly decent pumpkin cookies and pumpkin pasta sauce. Yay fall!  
Have a Happy Halloween everyone!