Do costumes and candies make you shiver with excitement for the Halloween festivities to start? You’re not alone. But do you actually know the history of this ghostly tradition? We often see Halloween as a purely American holiday. However, it actually has Celtic origins. The Celts, who lived in Great Britain and Ireland, celebrated the beginning of colder months, the harvest season and the decrease of daylight at the end of October. They believed that the increasing darkness was thinning the frontier between the word of the living and the world of the dead. Halloween made its way to North American much later. During the second half of the nineteenth century, Irish migrants brought with them two traditions: dressing up (adopting the spirits’ appearance was a way to hide from them) and trick-or-treating. Thi activity was originally an occasion for poor people to beg for food in exchange of prayers. It then became a childish hunt for sweets.
Parties
Start celebrating on October 26th or 27th at the Coyote Bar on the Boulevard Pont d’Arve. Grab you witch hats and your fake blood and head over there to taste terrifying shots. From 5 p.m. on Friday and from 8 p.m. on Saturday.
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On October 27th, The Village du Soir goes all out with its Megalloween party. A spooky decor, shots and good music will be there for you to have a terrific night.
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Musical spirits are waiting for you on October 27th at the Tipsy Bar. Come and dance the night away to devilish tunes.
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If you’re still in the mood to celebrate next weekend, the Café Jules Verne hosts a hip hop Halloween after twerk on November 2nd.
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Children and family activities
Manor will teach your children the art of icing baked treats on October 31st between 3 p.m. and 5:45 p.m. Limited spots available.
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For the most fearless of you, the Parc Aventure des Evaux offers you to go on a ropes course by night on October 31st and November 2nd. Upon reservation. 50 francs for adults and between 38 and 41 francs for children.
In Puplinges, the Mamma Lisa restaurant invites little monsters to take part in a Halloween tea time with food, animations and DIYs on October 31st from 3.30 p.m.
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For a homemade Halloween
If you’re more of a homebody, the La Fraisière farm in Meyrin has a pumpkin patch, where you can pick your own squash. Perfect if you like making soups and pies or carving jack o lanterns. For those of you aren’t DIY fans, la Gaité, Geneva’s most famous costume store, will provide you with everything you need from clothes to decorations. You can also rent costumes at La Carverne d’Ali Baba and at La Mascarade.
http://www.lafraisiere.ch
https://lagaite.ch
https://la-mascarade.ch
La Caverne d’Ali Baba
Rue du Grand-Bureau 26
1227 Les Acacias
022 342 36 36
Is you costume ready for Halloween? What will you dress up as? Let us know in the comments!
Mathilde M. – Journalist for Color my Geneva, all rights reserved
Credit photo : Golden lakes village
