On Monday evening, police intervened in a residential area of Esch-sur-Alzette following complaints about Halloween decorations in a neighbour’s front garden.
The police press office confirmed the incident, stating that officers were called due to a fire as part of the decorations.
Specifically, the homeowner had set up a fire inside a cauldron for decorative purposes. Upon arrival, officers spoke with the homeowner and emphasised the potential safety risks. The fire was subsequently extinguished to eliminate any danger.
On Tuesday morning, our colleagues from RTL.lu contacted Patricia Toussaint, the homeowner involved. Toussaint explained that decorating for Halloween and Christmas has been a long-standing tradition for her.
Toussaint shared that her passion for home decorations began at the age of 17 after visiting relatives in the United States, where festive decorations are more common. She mentioned that the skeletons are the “gruesome” highlight of her Halloween display but emphasised that her aim is “to make people happy.”
Although surprised by the police visit, Toussaint acknowledged the officers’ “fairness” and the validity of their safety concerns.
When asked about the incident, the police press office clarified that local municipal regulations generally dictate what is permissible for home decorations. They highlighted guidelines concerning nighttime noise and light pollution as common examples.
The municipal authorities of Esch-sur-Alzette added that such matters ultimately come down to “common sense” and mutual respect among neighbours.
