Halloween candy

We had our first Halloween in France this year can you believe it? A bit of background, in fact Halloween isn't really celebrated in Europe, my big lament from time to time, but most times no big deal. I'd pretty much tossed it aside and enjoyed the November first aspect of All Saints Day (a day off in France) Also the kids in France are on vacation the week before and a few days after Halloween and traditionally they go to their grandparents (nearly all kids do this because the parents don't want to take time off for a family vacation in November, no ski and no sun!) And so since most grandparents are anti Halloween because it's garishness interferes with a very religious holiday the kids don't have much opportunity to get dressed up and go out. It's been really played down in recent years in France but apparently in the 80's and 90's it was very popular, or so people tell me.

This is our first year staying at home for the November break and our neighbors with kids organize a "betise or bon-bons" sortie so I was really looking forward to it. Each year they go around and pass notes to all the neighbors. If the neighbors want to give out treats they put the note on their door and the kids ring the bell. The kids all gather at the same hour and hit all the houses together which I think is a great idea and really safe. About twelve kids dressed up as witches and ghosts and we went to about fifteen houses where the people were really enthusiastic and some even dressed up! The kids had a TON of candy and got to experience a very American Halloween like I remember when I was a kid.

Now what to do with all the candy, hmmm?