Halloween in Buenos Aires

Halloween is not necessarily a widely celebrated event in Buenos Aires, although is creeping up with all the stealth of the Creature of the Black Lagoon.

If you ask the older crowd they will tell you that ten years ago no one here even thought about celebrating Halloween. That is no longer the case and according to night-crawlers the best way to celebrate Halloween this year in Buenos Aires is to enjoy the wide variety of parties. A few nightclubs and bars pick up on the event in Buenos Aires, especially the Irish pubs. I heard Le Click , Free Argentina Exchange and expat connection are sponsoring several events, as well as the International Student Network Buenos Aires are having a Halloween themed party that night!

While porteños don’t seem particularly interested in the holiday, it is hard to resist an excuse to party. Even though it is not a holiday traditionally celebrated here, many stores are unable to pass up the opportunity to boost sales by selling Halloween themed candy and customs. Some stores even decorated with orange and black. Check out Avenida Santa Fe 4500- 4900 (map) for costumes, plastic pumpkins, and fake blood. Just look for the stores that say “disfraces!”

Last year I saw many school children in costumes and I wondered if they would be going to trick or treat. It is hard to imagine trick-or-treating in Buenos Aires. Instead of getting fun-sized Snickers or Skittles, they will probably get small alfajores (tiny cakes with layers of dulce de leche) and Rocklets (imitation M&M’s that are far cheaper than their imported brethren). And instead of saying “trick or treat!” maybe they will yell “dulce o travesura!”, but I doubt it.

Photo credit: lobo235 on Flickr