A Lesson in Kiwi Holidays

Halloween is not at the top of my holiday favorites list for a number of reasons. I have only found one other dear individual (S. Hargett) who shares my contempt for the carryings-on. For one, I hate thrillers, slashers, and all other types of Horror flicks. Ugh, I shudder just thinking about it. I dread the previews at the movies or late night ads on TV this time of year because there ALWAYS is at least one scary movie, for which I have to plug my ears and hum just to ensure I can sleep at night. I have avoided these kind of terrors quite easily in NZ, as I do not have a TV and the last movie I saw was Julie and Julia- hardly the audience for the next Saw. Secondly, I can never think of a creative, original costume. I have made a point to write down good ideas in my diary over the last few months, however, most of these were very 'American pop culture' and probably wouldn't have been recognized down here. Third, I am too old to benefit from the ONLY aspect of Halloween that I liked-- the candy. Actually, I really like carving pumpkins and roasting the seeds... how's that for being positive?

Lucky for me, Halloween is not the commercial costume-and-candy freak out that it is in the States. I saw like one or two ghouls in windows, 1 fake carved pumpkin (btw, pumpkins here are kind of green/white), and zero candy corn. In fact, I pretty much forgot it was Halloween until Jenna, fellow American in NZ, reminded me. To celebrate, I bought a bunch of candy bars, figuring I'd sample some Kiwi classics while reading in the Botanical Gardens. Remember when I said I have a new found sweet tooth? This is when I realized I had a problem.

That day I tried a Picnic, a Moro Gold, and Pineapple Lumps, all made by Cadbury. I had high hopes about the Picnic, which reminds me of a Snickers but hunkier, like a 100 Grand bar, but I wasn't very impressed. It had peanuts and this extremely crunchy butterscotch comb stuff dispersed through out. The butterscotch stuff makes up the inside of a Crunchy bar and I find that it tastes rather fake, not to mention I nearly sliced my gums trying to take a bite. I savor a good chewy candy bar with nouget, taffy, or caramel with a cookie crunch- think Twix and Milky Way (Dark especially). I struck (Moro) Gold when I sampled this bar...seriously I went out and bought two more. I cannot stop raving about them, as they remind me of Twix but better, because there is chocolate inside of the cookie/biscuit. Pineapple Lumps were pretty tasty as well, and embody a huge candy bar trend I have discovered exists in NZ. Chocolate covered fruity marshmellow seems to comprise like 30% of all lollies. Later in the week I grabbed a Chocolate Fish, thinking Swedish Fish, only to discover thinly chocolate covered cherry, or berry, flavored marshmellow. At Sunday dinner following Halloween, I recounted by candy experiences and was greeted with even more Kiwiana candy. I had a PerkyNana (choco covered banana marshmellow), a Jelly Tip (an ice cream bar with raspberry (maybe?) "jelly" at the top and creamy vanilla ice cream at the bottom, covered in chocolate), and a few more, which have slipped my mind as I fell into a sugar overdose.

Chocolate here is dominated by Cadbury, no surprise because the factory is here, whereas back home Hershey's rules. The only time I can think of eating Cadbury is 1) Easter, I hate those discusting marshmellow fluff eggs and 2) in Canada, where Brendan and I fight over the Aerobars (plain or minty chocolate that has been aerated so the inside has little air bubbles- it makes it melt really well). Like I said, I really didn't eat much chocolate at home, and perhaps it is because my tastes are more in line with the Cadbury formula for chocolate. Or maybe my tastes really are changing. I have been warned that a party pack of lollies has been purchased for my sampling this Sunday, so I am preparing myself.

OK, that was a large digression from the topic at hand: Holidays. While Halloween passed rather quietly, I became aware of an unofficial NZ holiday following October 31-- Guy Fawkes Night on November 5th. My historic knowledge has been lacking since I majored in science, but I recognized this individual from the movie V for Vendetta, where one of the main characters tries to replicate Guy's plan to blow up Parliament. Stores are allowed to begin sales of fireworks a few days prior to the date, and people go crazy a la July 4th. Bonfires are also popular, but I think you need a permit or something. I went with a few of my new flatmates to see the display but due to rain, nothing but a few minor noisemakers went off. The weather has been great since then and you can hear the leftovers being lit off all through the night.

Thanksgiving is not celebrated here, much to my surprise! Since Canada also celebrates Thanksgiving, I assumed other members of the Commonwealth did too. I have been recounting the "Thanksgiving story" of the Pilgrims and Indians that I learned in, like, 3rd grade to my inquiring flatties and friends at their request. Kiwis have a lot of exposure to all things American via TV/movies/music, but some things (like Thanksgiving) aren't clearly explained because they are made for American audiences. After making my first turkey last Thanksgiving, I have taken on the task of making classic Thanksgiving, with an NZ twist, for Sunday dinner with my fave Kiwis. Unfortunately, I have to substitute chicken for turkey, as the latter is quite expensive/rare, but I just did a test run last night and was quite satisfied with the result!

Making the roast chicken, and thinking of Thanksgiving, made me quite homesick, because Turkey day, aka "Christmas of food," is one of my favorite holidays. I'll definitely miss watching the dog show with my family and planning where to go shopping in the morning for Black Friday. I couldn't be more thankful that I have a NZ family with whom I can share my favorite American traditions. It makes home seem not so far away.

Glenda and I on the Taieri Gorge Railway, which goes inland near Central Otago.