Halloween Decoration Etiquette

Halloween Decoration Etiquette

When scary becomes scarring

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Comic by Grace Buchele Mineta

I foolishly assumed that because bakeries have Halloween-themed treats, karaoke parlors are decked out in pumpkins and skeletons and a nearby department store has a huge “Happy Halloween!” banner hanging by the entrance, Japanese families celebrated Halloween.

A couple days ago over dinner, I told my husband I wanted to decorate our house a bit for Halloween. He suggested the ¥100 store. Two hours and ¥1,700 later, I walked out of Daiso with two bags full of awesome, cheap and gaudy Halloween decorations.

Two days after that, my husband told me our outdoor Halloween decorations were (apparently) scaring our neighbors.

We moved the decorations back inside and peace was restored.

ハロウィンデコレーションのエチケット

近頃町のパン屋さんやカラオケ店で多くのハロウィングッズを見かけるため、私は日本でもハロウィンを祝うのだと知りました。ある晩、私は夫にハロウィン用に家を飾り付けしたいと打ち明けると、100円ショップを勧められました。100円ショップに足を運んでみたところ、2時間で1700円分もの安くて可愛いハロウィングッズを買う事が出来ました。しかし2日後、夫に外に飾り付けたハロウィンデコレーションが隣の人を驚かせてるから片付けるようにと言われてしまいました、、、残念ですが、ハロウィングッズをしまい、事は何事も無くおさまりました。

Grace Buchele Mineta is an author who blogs and draws comics about her daily life in Japan at www.HowIBecameTexan.com.