Syrian refugees' first Halloween a nervous, exciting experience

When Richmond'sVickenMajarian'syoung children first noticed the scarier parts of Halloween,he says they were reminded of their war-torn home of Aleppo, Syria.

For people who've lived here all their lives, Halloween is an ingrained yearly tradition that needs no explaining, but imagine being new to Canada, experiencing your first Halloween, with little understanding of what's going on, or why it's all happening.

• Reporters' notebook: 3 months covering Syrian refugees
• Syrian refugees find work against the odds
• Syrian refugee dentist and engineer face long road rebuilding in B.C.

"They began to think 'What's all this about, isn't it enough in Syria, all that blood and bits? Here it is again.'I told them 'It's just an occasion,'" he told On the Coasthost Stephen Quinn.

Majarian and his wifeAlin Arekelian arrived in Richmond last year, sponsored by St. Gregory Armenian Church,with their four-year-old daughter, Karni, and their eight-year-old son, Haig.

This year, they're celebrating their first Halloween, and Majarian says once he explained the holiday to his children, their fear turned to enthusiasm.

Confusion and fear turn to excitement

The family is fully immersing themselves in the fall tradition, last week visitinga pumpkin patch festivaland a Halloween party at St. Gregory.

On Monday, they went trick-or-treating atMetrotownmall,Haigdressed as a knightandKarnidressed as a witch.

"They were very excitedbecause they like candy," said Majarian, who worked as a dentist backin Syria.

"I'm trying to keep them away [from too many sweets], but it's their occasion."

Fireworks, however, were one part of the Lower Mainland Halloween experience that had even theMajarianparents nervous.

Fireworks make for nervous night

"Hundred per cent, we remember Aleppo," said Vicken.

"It was really difficult.Even yesterday evening, my wife said 'What is going on? It's so much like bombing.' I said 'Really, I don't know.'"

Despite the reminder of theviolent home he left behind, Majarianis grateful to be safe in his new home, and that his new community has welcomed him.

"[Everyone is] very friendly,with smiling faces, which is giving us more power to go forward."

He looks forward to celebrating more Halloweens to come, and turning the holidayinto a happy tradition for his family.

With files from CBC Radio One's On The Coast