How We Trick or Treat in West Africa

I've lived in Niamey, Niger now for nearly three years. Raising three American kids outside the United States has its advantages and disadvantages. My kids are not exposed to constant commercials on TV and ads to buy things they don't need and that I can't afford. They not only speak English fluently, but are getting pretty good at French. And they have no concept of what life in the grassy suburbs is like, because our house is surrounded by a cement wall and dirt streets full of goats.

Nevertheless, they are totally familiar with American culture and holidays, and look forward to each celebration just as much as if we lived in the U.S. One of those anticipated events is dressing up each October for Halloween to go trick-or-treating!

The American community here is comprised of three groups. The largest group are evangelical missionaries, who have no interest in celebrating or exposing their children to Halloween, based (I suppose) on the idea that it is evil or Satanic in some way. The missionaries have their own school which incorporates Christianity into their studies.

The other two groups of Americans here are aid workers and diplomats assigned to the U.S. Embassy. While some of those children attend the missionary school, most of them attend an English language International school with an American curriculum which includes learning about U.S. holidays. Halloween is always a fun and exciting day there, especially for those students from Africa or Europe who have no idea what it is all about.

We have no Walmart or Target here, and cannot just run out at the last minute to buy costumes or candy. We have to plan ahead and order supplies months in advance. In my family we have a tradition of buying costumes right after Halloween, when they are on clearance. Last year my kids picked out costumes in the next size up to wear this year.

Since trick-or-treating door to door here wouldn't achieve the desired result, the school organizes Halloween-themed activities for the day, and in the evening we trick or treat by driving from house to house. Those Americans who wish to give out candy sign up, and a volunteer puts together a map of houses where candy will be available and a caravan of drivers.

While it lacks the element of walking outside in the dark, breathing in the crisp, cool air of fall, and passing other goblins and ghouls on the streets, it is still fun. We even find big gourds here that look something like pumpkins to carve, though in the heat they rot quickly. It isn't exactly the same kind of Halloween that I experienced as a child, but I have no doubt that my kids will relish the memories.