Halloween in Translation

How do you explain Halloween to a four-year-old?

When the four-year-old doesn't speak English? (although he's learning faster than other family members).

When the family knows nothing of goblins, ghosts and trick or treat. As we know it.

The Yakoos, a family of seven, fled Iraq to a refugee camp in Syria where they languished for the past four years. Six weeks ago I greeted them at the Atlanta airport, one of a church group ready to help them become productive citizens of the U.S.

A heady experience, welcoming a new family to their new country. Imagine: the ancestors of almost all of us coming into Ellis Island, the Statue of Liberty, America the Beautiful playing in the background. Yes, I can be the romantic fantasizer. Actually I stood at the Atlanta airport holding a bouquet of flowers, a dozen balloons and a sign in Arabic saying Welcome--no music, no history and no family as they got lost from the landing gate to baggage claim.

But flash forward six weeks. Their English exceeds my Arabic by about five words. I play a good game of Charades. Even when we go for vaccinations. But everywhere we see the orange and black of Halloween, a fun holiday for the kids. So how do I explain to the Yakoo kids, four daughters and four-year-old Hermez, a boy?

What are the words for "pretend," "scary," "fun," "tradition?" What will they understand, if I pantomine? What in their experience will it relate to?

They are Christian, as is our sponsoring group. We have fun with this holiday. Will they? Will the ghosts and goblins be fun for them? Or, are real ghosts and goblins too recent in their experience? What happened to push this family from their native land? What did they suffer along the way?

I'm a writer. I'm drawn to this family's situation in a number of ways. One is that I wrote books about two holidays, Christmas Trivia and Hanukkah Trivia. Thought about writing one about Halloween, but have veered in a different direction.

Another is that I'll soon be immersed in Arabic, as I travel to Egypt next month. Just for fun, and I'll be home by Thanksgiving.

But on a deeper level, I marvel at the courage of these people who, like my ancestors long ago, are striking out in a new land, determined to find work and make their way as new citizens.

Halloween may pass them by this year. Maybe by next year I'll know how to explain the holiday, or they'll greet me in their masks and costumes.

More about the new book next time.