The haunt has just begun…

Andrea Brasset is a mother of two living in Ottawa’s McKellar Park neighbourhood. She works in public relations. 

The doorbell rang at night. The ring echoed clearly through our dark and empty hall. Curious, and a little disquieted, I pulled myself from the couch, wrapped my sweater closely to my chest and made my way, slowly, to the door.

I opened the door to a cool breeze – my only greeting. The porch was empty. I scoured the black sky for my mystery guest and was about to retreat into the house when I looked down. A little orange ghost stared up at me with a defiant smile.

“Ghosted!”

Ghosting, I’ve since learned, is a popular tradition in our new McKellar Park neighbourhood. A few weeks before Halloween, neighbourhood children and their parents set out at dark, intent on gently spooking the neighbourhood in anticipation of the grand event on October 31st.

Have you been ghosted?

And so the excitement in our home began…

The next morning, in anticipation of our own ghosting adventure, we set out to buy our treats. As we walked down our street, casually glancing at our neighbours’ doors, our excitement grew to amazement.

Nearly 20 homes on our street were adorned with papery white and orange ghosts: crooked grins, menacing glares, and droopy eyes stared out at us from every direction.

While there’s no way to know if ghosting will take root in other Ottawa neighbourhoods, one thing is for sure: for our family, the haunt has just begun.

We LOVE this great little community story! Have you been ghosted? 

My beautiful friend Renee started a yearly tradition for our old mother’s group, and her family: the Fete des Rois, held on the 6th January every year. It means Festival of the Kings and is a celebration of the 12th day of Christmas, and the arrival of the three kings.

I love traditions between friends. What has been so lovely with this one is that we have met and made new friendships with members of Renee’s family and church, and although most of us from our mother’s group are not aligned with any particular religious background we all enjoy this festival for the community we feel in each other’s presence.

In the past we have dressed up, played games, danced, sung carols around the piano, but out of necessity this year was a bit more casual. Always though, we have celebrated with the galette – a cake baked by Renee. This year the recipe was a gluten-free one from the region of Brittany in France (recipe please Renee!)

Adorned in party clothes, and the odd cape and crown we met at a park and picnicked. When it came time to cut the galette cake Renee’s daughter hid under the table and called out the names of the children who would receive the next slice of cake. If you find the feve in your slice you are the new King or Queen for the year! This year Renee used a date as the feve and hid it in the cake to be found by … Ned!

The feve is hidden inside the galette!

And so reigning King Max (in absentia) and Queen Inge-Marie handed over their crowns to Ned, and his chosen royal partner Frida. This is Frida’s second year as reigning queen! Please excuse the fuzzy photo!

And here is the newest prince at his first Fete des Rois, dressed in his first royal cape: