The day before Halloween arrives, and here in Normandy, there is a delightful silence. No frantic costume planning, no endless aisles of plastic decor, and no one pressuring you to attend five different parties.
And honestly, I love it.
The reality is, Halloween is simply not observed here with the same cultural chaos as it is in the States. The lack of expectation creates the perfect space to practice true intentionality: we get to choose which parts of the holiday we bring into our home, and which ones we happily leave behind.
The Nostalgia of “Halloweentown”
I have to admit, there are certain American traditions that stir a powerful nostalgia in me. When I was younger, living in the States, visiting St. Helen’s, Oregon—the real-life location where they filmed Halloweentown—was a yearly ritual. It was magical, all-in, high-energy fun. That chaos and effort were part of the joy.
It reminds me a bit of my mother’s lesson about being “presentable.” As I wrote before, Mom insisted that even a doctor’s visit was like a job interview. It taught me the importance of presentation. Now, I see Halloween the same way: it’s worth the intentional effort of creating a special, slightly silly memory, even if it’s just for us.
Our Low-Effort, High-Joy Rituals
Here in the quiet French countryside, we skip the door-to-door craziness and focus on simple, cozy, intentional spooky fun.
- The Silly Scary Movie Marathon: We always dedicate an evening to watching movies that are spooky enough to feel festive but silly enough that no one loses sleep. Halloweentown is, of course, a non-negotiable yearly viewing—it brings all those Oregon memories right into our living room. It’s an exercise in pure, unadulterated joy and connection.
- Flickering Light and Warmth: I trade out my normal candles for ones in dark, moody holders or use simple tea lights scattered around the house. It’s not decoration, it’s atmosphere. The flickering light is all you need to set a spooky mood while keeping the aesthetic beautiful and slow.
The Best “Blood and Guts” You’ll Ever Eat
A seasonal ritual must include food, and since we embrace simple comfort, our treat needs to be easy, hearty, and fun.
Instead of complicated candy, we lean into simple, rustic, slightly gross-sounding food. My favorite inspiration comes from the British queen of cooking, Nigella Lawson, who once popularized “blood and guts” (roasted potatoes and ketchup).
Our version is even simpler: “Witches’ Fingers” and “Gore Dip.”
- Witches’ Fingers: Take fresh-cut French fries or simple roasted potato wedges.
- Gore Dip: Mix ketchup with a little mustard and a dash of paprika for a dark red, slightly spicy, savory “blood” dip.
It’s completely low-effort, utterly delicious, and brings instant, goofy fun to the kitchen table.
Halloween here isn’t a stressful, obligatory event; it’s a chosen, intentional evening where we light candles, honor our nostalgia, and eat something ridiculous with the people we love. It’s a perfect French ritual.
Until Next time
Christina
