Yesterday I made my appearance at the pre-school as a witch (a good witch). This is a small pre-school with only about 35 children from ages 3 to 5 and every year the teachers go all out and make costumes for the kids (I'm only there about an hour!) This year there were black cats, princes and princesses and maids. (maids?)
Calico Cat commented yesterday that Halloween in Japan probably was introduced when Tokyo Disneyland was built in 1983. Disneyland has Halloween parades during the month of October and the TV commercials set the Halloween atmosphere. Up until 15-20 years ago there weren't any Halloween goods sold in the stores but nowadays the shops are overflowing with Halloween stuff. For all that I rarely see Jack-o'lanterns and there isn't the custom of trick-or-treating. I was asked years ago to show the children at the kindergarten some American celebrations and this turned out to be a bigger hit than I expected. I made my dress and a Halloween vest, added a Wal Mart hat with a Styrofoam spider attached, made some pom-pom spider earrings and voila... a good witch. I once tried to make myself scarier (black cape, heavy make-up) and I got a lot of sobbing kids for my efforts so I keep this light.
As for trick-or-treating, the three teachers disappear to their rooms and after a quick run down on Halloween English..."Happy Halloween!" "Trick-or-treat!" "Thank you!" the kids go off in pairs and collect three pieces of candy (one from each teacher) and a cookie (from me.) I'll do this again on Wednesday at the kindergarten I also teach at but there are too many kids there to go to this extent. No costumes for the kids but candy and cookies from the teachers. No matter, everyone has a lot of fun.I made a stop at the supermarket on the way home from the kindergarten and just as last year, not a person made a comment or asked me what I was doing. Tetsu's opinion is that everyone must think I've escaped from a mental institute...
10 comments:
The kids and you all look so cute!
What a gorgeous 'good witch' you are!!! We don't generally celebrate Halloween here but this year I have bought some little 'pumkin' lights to decorate with and plan on making a pumpkin pie for dessert, my family think I am mad!!!!
What a wonderful time the children must all have - and I bet you do too. Isn't it strange how Hallowe'en is such a big thing in America, and for Americans and yet is so little regarded elsewhere. Our shops have Hallowe'en goodies and there will be some home decorations and some trick-or-treating, but very little really.
The kids are so cute and I love your "good witch" outfit! Thank you for the cookie recipe, also, I will have to try it soon!
They are adorable, and so are you. What a fun way to teach children about other cultures.
You and your students look SOoooo cute, the costumes turned out to be much fun.
You and your students look SOoooo cute, the costumes turned out to be much fun.
You and your students look SOoooo cute, the costumes turned out to be much fun.
I can just see them looking "sideways" at you and trying to be polite but secretly wondering what is wrong with you. Tee hee.
The children are adorable. Tetsu's opinion made me chuckle. Cute!
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