Hello there, dear readers! So, you know, I'm a Hungarian. Yep, proud and true. But I have a little confession to make: Halloween was a total mystery to me when I was a kid. You see, in Hungary, we've got our own special spooky celebration called "Halottak Napja" (Day of the Dead), and Halloween just wasn't on the menu.

But fast forward to my adult life in the land of pumpkin spice lattes, I found myself faced with a new holiday: Halloween. Now, let me tell you, trying to understand Halloween through the eyes of someone who once thought witches only lived in fairy tales was nothing short of hilarious.

First off, there's the costume conundrum. Apparently, it's not just for kids here. Grown-ups transform into whatever they fancy: zombies, superheroes, even sexy cats. I once saw a man dressed as a giant avocado, and I couldn't help but wonder if he was making a political statement about guacamole trade agreements. In Hungary, we put on our finest clothes to remember our dearly departed, but here, they put on costumes to look like the dearly departed (or a giant fruit).

And then there's the whole "trick or treat" business. When I first heard about it, I was a bit confused. It sounds like an interrogation technique – "Tell us your secrets, or we'll egg your house!" In Hungary, we just light a candle for our ancestors, and I must say, it's a lot less messy.

Pumpkin carving is another source of bewilderment. In Hungary, we place candles on graves to guide our loved ones' spirits. Here, they carve faces into pumpkins and put candles inside them, as if saying, "Hey, spirits, come check out our vegetable art!" Sometimes, the pumpkins even look like politicians, and I can't help but think that's a particularly American way to pay tribute to the deceased.

But the most curious tradition of all has to be the haunted houses. I remember the first time I went to one, thinking I'd be terrified out of my wits. Instead, I ended up chuckling at the folks dressed as zombies and ghouls, trying to make me scream. I thought, "Are these the spirits of people who once binge-watched 'The Walking Dead'? Because they're not very scary!"

All in all, Halloween to a Hungarian who grew up celebrating the Day of the Dead is a bit like trying to learn Hungarian grammar – you know something interesting is happening, but you're not quite sure what. It's a wild and wacky world of costumes, candy, and creativity that I'm still trying to fully grasp.

So, this Halloween, I'll be embracing the spirit of fun, even if I still don't quite understand why people dress up like avocadoes and pretend to be zombies. Maybe, just maybe, I'll blend my Hungarian heritage with the American spirit of Halloween and make a "pumpkin-infused goulash" to remember the departed while celebrating the quirks of this wild holiday.

In the end, whether you're from Hungary, Timbuktu, or Transylvania, Halloween is a reminder that no matter where we come from, we can all enjoy a good laugh, a few tricks, and a whole lot of treats. Happy Halloween, everyone – and may your avocado costumes be ripe and your pumpkin carvings be top-notch!

Can you spot me in the background? It is a Halloween Party in Yokohama and I am a pineapple.
Trick or treat?