Home » Growing up Haitian: Trick-or-treating? Not in this house!
When I was growing up, Halloween was considered as “the devil’s holiday.” Trick-or-treating? Not in our house! I remember the one year that my dad allowed us to go trick-or-treating with some friends. I was so freaking excited!! My sister and I came back home with two pillow cases filled with candies. That’s one of my favorite memories as a child.
In 1997 we moved to Florida to live with my uncle. He was a very religious man and as Haitian as can be. The first time I asked him if we could go trick-or-treating was also the last time. His answer?
“Nan ki Halloween mwen té yé!? É fèt djab! ” – What is this Halloween? That’s the devil’s holiday!
His response is similar to 99.9% of all Haitian parents! I remember rebelling when I was 16 and sneaking out of the house to go Trick-or-treating. But it wasn’t fun. Not at all like the time my sister and I filled up two pillow cases. I remember feeling sad and vowing that one day, I would have kids and I would take them trick-or-treating.
Fast forward many many years, and I’m now a proud mom of two. And guess what? We go trick-or-treating! I’m way too old to go trick-or-treating alone, but I can enjoy it all over again through my children.
We do it all for the candies!
Halloween is the ONE day out of the year that I can binge on sweets and not feel guilty about it. Sure, I could buy candy at the store, but going trick-or-treating is so much more fun! I enjoy getting the kids dressed up in their Halloween costumes. There’s even that one time I made my son a mummy costume. I don’t feel that Halloween is the “devil’s holiday, ” but I know that many Haitian parents believe that it is.
Trick-or-treating is just ONE of the many things we weren’t allowed to do growing up in a Haitian home. I’d love to share more stories in the future. Do you have Haitian friends that can relate to this? Be sure to share!
Were you allowed to go trick-or-treating when you were a child? I love to hear from you guys!
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I love it! There are people I know who absolutely think that Halloween is the devil’s holiday. It’s not. It’s just a chance for kids to have fun and eat candy.
I love learning about other heritages!! Thank you for sharing this, I know my kids love hearing about how holidays are spent in other countries.
We love trick or treating. I know different cultures view Halloween differently, but all kids love candy!
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Trick or Treating has always been a part of our family. Even in my late 40’s I still dress up!
This is such an interesting perspective that I have never thought of before. We simply think of it as a day to dress up in costumes, have fun, and eat candy.
I bet you have a bigger appreciation for the holiday than most due to your background. Your kiddos look so cute all dressed up!
I loved Trick or Treating as a kid and I can’t imagine having not done it! I’m glad you get to go now!!
We love trick-or-treating at our house. It’s great for kiddos to get that socialization – this year was the first year my kids went and we had a blast!
I love that you still take your kids trick or treating! It’s good to expose them to both cultures, your uncle’s response sounds like some of my families response.
CANDYYYYY! I actually think my kids would trick or treat even if they didn’t get to keep the candy, they have fun dressing up, running from door to door, being around other kids… (although I could be wrong with that comment… I think candy is the motivation… hmmm?!) Loved hearing your story and learning a little more about you!
I loved Trick or Treating when I was younger. I always took my kids because I wanted them to grow up with the memories. We usually go to festivals or to a Trunk or Treat (Trick or Treating from car trunks). This year, my son saw all of the kids walking around the neighborhood and wanted to go trick or treating. So I told him to get dressed and took him. He had a blast.
I had friends whose parents were very religious and felt it was also a devil’s holiday. They were never allowed to go. I thought that was ridiculous. We love Halloween in our house and spook up our house for trick or treaters.
I was allowed to go trick or treating when I was younger. We love to celebrate Halloween in our house. It is so fun to hand out candy and see all the little ones dressed up.
My husband’s family is religious and don’t do any holidays, not even birthdays, so I understand completely. I used to be able to celebrate holidays, but now I don’t get to do the same things I had experienced when I was younger with my daughter. Shrug. It’s not a super big deal, but it is fun.
I always went trick or treating growing up. However a little over a year ago we moved to Norway and Halloween isn’t very big here so our kids don’t really go trick or treating. Maybe one day it will be bigger here.
We went trick or treating as kids, I think but honestly I don’t have any memory of it. I just assume it happened. I do take my kids even the 14 year old daughter goes with and dresses up. She says she would rather be with family and do that then do what her peers are doing, which is thinking they are too old to do it or going out and getting into trouble.
This is really interesting. I did not know that Haitians felt this way. I am not a huge fan of Halloween myself. I love to learn about traditions in other cultures, so this was fascinating to me!
Halloween has always been a big deal in my family from the time I was a little girl. We try and keep that tradition going even though we are now in our 60s. We love seeing all of the kids when they come to our door on Halloween night. Your kids are adorable and I am glad to see you are enjoying Halloween with your little ones.
I think I was about 10 when I learned that one of my friends from school wasn’t allowed to go trick-or-treating. Her family was really religious and their church preached that it was the devil’s day. I felt bad for her because she just sat off ot the side while we did our halloween events at school but it was interesting to hear the perspective of others as I hadn’t been introduced to that before.
Trick or treating is just a fun day to dress up and get candy. My birthday is on Halloween so my parents always had parties and made the holiday a pretty big deal. I have done the same with my kids. Glad your kids get to enjoy the holiday.
I didn’t celebrate Halloween growing up and didn’t celebrate once I had kids. I explain to my kids why we don’t celebrate, but they will have to make that decision for thier families when they start one.