HALLOWEEN IN INDONESIA

A Halloween-like (in some ways) religious/cultural event in Indonesia is Nyepi, which is celebrated by Hindus in Bali. The night before Nyepi, the Hindu New Year, Balinese leave their homes and make a lot of noise all through the neighborhood and community, to scare away the evil spirits. The next day, Nyepi, Balinese must stay inside their homes, not doing any work, cooking or making any noise that would invite the spirits into their home. So, if an Indonesian friend asks you to explain Halloween, you may find it easier to point out the similarities with Nyepi than to describe how the pagan origins of Halloween turned into the candy-seeking, costume-wearing party that it is nowadays.

Jack-O’-Lantern

If you're looking for bright orange pumpkins, they will be hard to find in Indonesia. A local Jack-o-Lanternequivalent, labu parang, has a similar shape - though the color is tan. The meat and seeds are similar - so the carving experience is comparable.

You can purchase labu parang at larger pasar and neighborhood markets. Neighborhood vegetable salesmen rarely stock labu parang on their carts, but you may be able to place a special order a few days in advance. Other squash can also be found that are the same shape as a jack-o'-lantern, but the exterior would be green or green-orange. Even though these aren't the traditional jack-o'-lantern colors, your children will have just as much fun carving them.

Costumes

Most parents will find it easy to create Halloween costumes in Indonesia. Seamstresses (tukang jahit) and tailors are used to making clothing based on a picture given to them. Halloween costumes wouldn't be any different - other than explaining what this strange outfit is going to be worn for.

Trick or Treat

Informal neighborhood expat groups usually organize trick or treat activities in Jakarta. The most popular locations, where they occur most years, are in Permata Hijau, Pondok Indah, Executive Paradise, and Kemang Club Villas, as well as in other housing estates where there is a high concentration of expatriate residents. You will need to find a friend in that neighborhood who knows about the trick or treat festivities so that you can find out which day/what time it will be held. It is not always celebrated on October 31st. Also, if you are not from that neighborhood, it's customary to contribute your share of candy to a friend's house on the route. The candy goes quickly!

In the bigger sub-divisions, since not all houses participate, most trick-or-treaters travel from house to house by car. There may be a map which is distributed detailing the houses on the route, or you can drive around at random through the sub-division searching for orange and black balloons or jack-o'-lanterns at the front gates of participating houses. This is one day in the year where you will actually find people's front gates open!

Public Venues

Each year some of the international hotels, restaurants and night clubs such as Smoking Joe's BBQ, Grand Kemang, Hard Rock Café, Planet Hollywood, will put on special promotional events for Halloween. The staff may be wearing costumes or they may be featuring a special menu or activities during the days before and after Halloween. Call your favorite restaurants and see if they have anything planned. Some clubs and lounges have parties for adults to celebrate the night  and dress up in costumes as well.

By : Michella Eleanor