Translating 'Trick or Treat'

Local residents wanting to trick-or-treat some place new on Halloween should stroll down Embassy Row, the section of Massachusetts Avenue that's home to ambassadors from around the globe.

“We have been participating for over five years,” said Jenni Jarventaus, 29, of the Finnish Embassy. “Don’t expect anything out of the ordinary. It’s pretty hard to get Finnish candy in the States, so it will be the American usual.”

Embassy of Finland -- Washington D.C.: The front of the Embassy of Finland located at 3301 Massachusetts Ave. NW, Washington D.C.

Jarventaus said over the years the average ghosts and goblins looking for a treat have been students from local universities.

“Last year we probably had anywhere from 50 to 60 students walk through our gates,” she said.

Although Jarventaus admits Halloween is not a traditional Finnish holiday, she said its popularity is growing back home.

“I just moved to the States three years ago, but before I left Finland, the young people were starting to celebrate – dressing up, buying candy and throwing parties,” she said.

Finland, Ireland, Indonesia, Greece and Paraguay are just a few of the international hot spots confirming they will be ready and waiting for any trick-or-treaters. They recommend getting your pillow case ready by lunch – most of the embassies close at 4:30 p.m.

But don’t be surprised if you get a look that's lost in translation when you knock at some of the doors. Not every embassy will participate in this year's Halloween festivities. In fact, some have laughed at the American holiday that asks its international neighbors to treat or be tricked.

A spokesman for the Malaysian Embassy said they would not be handing out any candy, but enthusiasts should not use the lack of treats as a deterrent for visiting the embassy's offices.

In order to maximize your tasty profits, make sure you call ahead to the embassies you plan on visiting to verify their hours of operation and participation.

The Web site www.embassy.org has the contact information for all the embassies as well as Google maps of their locations; a must for the well prepared witch or political pundit.