La Toussaint (All Saints Day)

I have a confession to make: Halloween has never been a big holiday for me. I know, I know, some of you may think I’m crazy.

My kids get really excited about the trick or treating, the costumes, the candy, and the decorations.

I prefer to decorate for fall. It must be the French in me. You see, in France, they don’t really celebrate Halloween. It’s just not a thing there. They do, however, celebrate La Toussaint, or Toussaint, on November 1st.

Toussaint is the equivalent of All Saints Day. It literally means “all saints.” It is not only a Catholic holiday, but also, a public holiday in France.

On this day, the French people remember, and visit the graves of their loved ones, who have died. Traditionally, they bring chrysanthemums to place at the grave(s).

Its interesting. Here in the U.S., we decorate with mums for fall. You see them on porches, doorsteps, and shop windows. They are “in season” and just beautiful this time of year.

In France, it would be considered morbid, and odd to do this. The French associate these flowers with death and dying. So, one should never offer a bouquet of chrysanthemums as a gift, to a French relative or friend. This would be très gauche!

You can, however, adopt the custom of remembering your loved ones, and bringing mums to their graves on November 1st. You can do this wherever you live. It is one more way that you can incorporate a little French living into your life.

So, go out and get some chrysanthemums, and visit those deceased relatives, who meant so much to you.

You’ll be glad that you did!