Halloween conversation

[A Quiet Monkfish]

Now whilst I admit to taking one of my son's out about 25yrs ago, I really don't like the Halloween cult. Anyway, leaving the house last night around 6pm a crowd of about 5 adults and 7/8 nippers swept into my front gate. "happy Halloween" chortled one chap, obviously expecting me to produce free [unhealthy] sweets for his and his mates' offspring.

I pointed out that all the money they spent dressing the kids in cheap plastic could have bought a sackful of sweets for each child to stuff their faces, to which he replied 'obviously not happy Halloween here then '.

But I had a point, didn't I ?

[Taunton Blue Genie]

Now whilst I admit to taking one of my son's out about 25yrs ago, I really don't like the Halloween cult. Anyway, leaving the house last night around 6pm a crowd of about 5 adults and 7/8 nippers swept into my front gate. "happy Halloween" chortled one chap, obviously expecting me to produce free [unhealthy] sweets for his and his mates' offspring.

I pointed out that all the money they spent dressing the kids in cheap plastic could have bought a sackful of sweets for each child to stuff their faces, to which he replied 'obviously not happy Halloween here then '.

But I had a point, didn't I ?

Halloween is like pizza. European concepts taken up by the USA and sent back to us for commercial purposes.

Guy Fawkes Night, traditionally a more DIY affair, has died a death as a result.

Gone are the days when kids made their own guys and they are more likely to be out trick or treating.

However, we were probably suckered into the political propoganda of Guy Fawkes night in the first place. Culture and tradition are moving feasts.

[Watamistakatomaka]

You did indeed sir. Good on you. I actually put a note on my front door requesting no trick or treats.
Its gone totally OTT commercially .

[Harry Monk]

I remember going door to door in the 60's saying happy Halloween, we didn't dress up, we just knocked the door.

Interestingly, I spoke to my great aunt last night (she's 89 on Monday) and whilst discussing Halloween, she told me that her grandmother (born in 1872) used to lock the doors on Halloween to avoid the kids - so the concept isn't new, unlike some would have us believe.

The commercialism I suppose is the dressing up bit? But what about those who make their own costumes? Or is it the giving of sweets etc? We used to be given apples. Plenty of apple bobbing then.

[Organ Morgan.]

It's more popularly known as mischief night in many deprived areas of England where chavs take the opportunity to cause ructions. Here's reports of incidents in Teesside and Liverpool.

'Like the Wild West': 137 'Mischief Night' incidents including buses under attack and woman injured: https://www.gazettelive.co.uk/news/t...chief-15351990

Shocking moment mum's family car is FLIPPED upside down by Mischief Night yobs: https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news...y-car-15353498

[the other bob wilson]

I remember going door to door in the 60's saying happy Halloween, we didn't dress up, we just knocked the door.

Interestingly, I spoke to my great aunt last night (she's 89 on Monday) and whilst discussing Halloween, she told me that her grandmother (born in 1872) used to lock the doors on Halloween to avoid the kids - so the concept isn't new, unlike some would have us believe.

The commercialism I suppose is the dressing up bit? But what about those who make their own costumes? Or is it the giving of sweets etc? We used to be given apples. Plenty of apple bobbing then.

Apple bobbing was the "treat" which I can remember either taking place at our house with one or two friends or family members or with a similar type gathering at someone else's house - the only event I can remember going knocking on other people's doors for was Christmas caroling.

I've always thought of the concept of "trick or treat" as an American import which I believed dated back to around the eighties in this country, but it seems I'm wrong there;-

This

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trick-...UK_and_Ireland

is quite an interesting read as it shows that something akin to trick or treat has been around since the middle ages, or possibly much earlier, in Britain - my recollection of trick or treat being something which started in the eighties is, perhaps, explained by

"Despite the concept of trick-or-treating originating in Britain and Ireland in the form of souling and guising, the use of the term "trick or treat" at the doors of homeowners was not common until the 1980s."

. Another thing I've noticed this year is far more houses with Halloween decorations than I've seen before (maybe it's a Rhondda thing?).

i bought some sweets to give out as I do every year this year (I would never give money to kids for Halloween as was mentioned in another thread), but did not know what to expect from my first Halloween up here and nobody came, so I'm afraid that the half hearted diet I had started on Monday has been cancelled until next week!

[Organ Morgan.]

Same here, Bobsy. My only recollection of Halloween was aiming gnashers at apples floating in a bowl of water. No knocking of other people's doors by anyone or any costumes.

[NYCBlue]

Now whilst I admit to taking one of my son's out about 25yrs ago, I really don't like the Halloween cult. Anyway, leaving the house last night around 6pm a crowd of about 5 adults and 7/8 nippers swept into my front gate. "happy Halloween" chortled one chap, obviously expecting me to produce free [unhealthy] sweets for his and his mates' offspring.

I pointed out that all the money they spent dressing the kids in cheap plastic could have bought a sackful of sweets for each child to stuff their faces, to which he replied 'obviously not happy Halloween here then '.

But I had a point, didn't I ?

The same could be applied to Christmas, birthdays, any exchange of gifts or ceremonial eating of food. But it would take the fun out of things somewhat.

[The Bob Banker Spanker]

Anyone’s house get egged and floured?
I’ve been away with work all week and I’m not back until tomorrow.
Fully expect Llanrumney’s finest to have turned my house into a fecking cake.

[Divine Wright]

Halloween is like pizza. European concepts taken up by the USA and sent back to us for commercial purposes.

Guy Fawkes Night, traditionally a more DIY affair, has died a death as a result.

Gone are the days when kids made their own guys and they are more likely to be out trick or treating.

However, we were probably suckered into the political propoganda of Guy Fawkes night in the first place. Culture and tradition are moving feasts.

I agree with this.

In fact, I think that Hallowe’en derives from pre-catholic celtic beliefs.

Depending on your point of view, guy fawkes is an even more foreign import. At least haloween ties in with Nos Calan Gaeaf which is something that was widely celebrated/observed in Wales up until a hundred or so tears back.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calan_Gaeaf

I’m not mad about trick or treating, but I like the idea of Haloween. It also breaks up the long, dark winter into more digestible chunks of time. 6/7 weeks and I’ll be looking forward to Christmas type stuff and new year ( which is also an appropriated pagan celebration I think).

[A Quiet Monkfish]

Apple bobbing was the "treat" which I can remember either taking place at our house with one or two friends or family members or with a similar type gathering at someone else's house - the only event I can remember going knocking on other people's doors for was Christmas caroling.

I've always thought of the concept of "trick or treat" as an American import which I believed dated back to around the eighties in this country, but it seems I'm wrong there;-

This

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trick-...UK_and_Ireland

is quite an interesting read as it shows that something akin to trick or treat has been around since the middle ages, or possibly much earlier, in Britain - my recollection of trick or treat being something which started in the eighties is, perhaps, explained by

"Despite the concept of trick-or-treating originating in Britain and Ireland in the form of souling and guising, the use of the term "trick or treat" at the doors of homeowners was not common until the 1980s."

. Another thing I've noticed this year is far more houses with Halloween decorations than I've seen before (maybe it's a Rhondda thing?).

i bought some sweets to give out as I do every year this year (I would never give money to kids for Halloween as was mentioned in another thread), but did not know what to expect from my first Halloween up here and nobody came, so I'm afraid that the half hearted diet I had started on Monday has been cancelled until next week!

Yes, there is an historical element to it. But the supermarkets have turned it a ghastly commercial USA-influenced event, just like father's day, etc. Walk into any supermarket and the 1st thing that confronts you is all those tacky costumes aimed at the kids. Next yr. I'm doing a version of the Bob Wilson - switch off all lights and stuff my face with a giant bar of Cadbury's whole nut..

[Harry Monk]

Yes, there is an historical element to it. But the supermarkets have turned it a ghastly commercial USA-influenced event, just like father's day, etc. Walk into any supermarket and the 1st thing that confronts you is all those tacky costumes aimed at the kids. Next yr. I'm doing a version of the Bob Wilson - switch off all lights and stuff my face with a giant bar of Cadbury's whole nut..

Something else the Americans have appropriated. Since they bought the product and changed the recipe, the chocolate has been sh1t.

[Feedback]

you try standing on your doorstep tonight, offering sweets to passing kids and see what reaction you get.

[Der Kaiser]

The same could be applied to Christmas, birthdays, any exchange of gifts or ceremonial eating of food. But it would take the fun out of things somewhat.

Fair point, but Halloween comfortably makes the least sense out of the lot of them.

[NYCBlue]

Fair point, but Halloween comfortably makes the least sense out of the lot of them.

Probably more fun for the kids though.

[Harry Monk]

Probably more fun for the kids though.

If you include "kids" as up to 40. Loads of "adults" out over the weekend at Halloween parties dressed like the Addams family or whatever.

[B. Oddie]

The only thing they got at my household was the vulcan death-stare from two pissed off lurchers who were trying to have a kip.

[A Quiet Monkfish]

Something else the Americans have appropriated. Since they bought the product and changed the recipe, the chocolate has been sh1t.

So true. If only Galaxy did a nut version..

[Trigger]

Remember going out as a kid once or twice with my cousins and remember a party or two with apple bobbing.

The costume side of it is obviously commercialised these days and supermarkets don't really need an excuse to create a themed aisle to flog some crap.

Not sure whether the participation has changed much, we don't ever get a single kid knock the door.

I'd much rather we adopt a day of the dead kind of festival.

[Harry Monk]

Remember going out as a kid once or twice with my cousins and remember a party or two with apple bobbing.

The costume side of it is obviously commercialised these days and supermarkets don't really need an excuse to create a themed aisle to flog some crap.

Not sure whether the participation has changed much, we don't ever get a single kid knock the door.

I'd much rather we adopt a day of the dead kind of festival.

That's roughly what it was until the Christians moved their "All Hallows" (all saints) day to 1st November to ensure they could ensnare a few more pagans under their control. Halloween is a contraction of All Hallow's Eve.

[walinoz]

Halloween ? A load of American Bollox that should stay there
Shops only going big on it so they can fleece joe public for money
I hate it and think my neighbours know this as no one knocks my door
That’s the way I like it

[jeepster]

That's roughly what it was until the Christians moved their "All Hallows" (all saints) day to 1st November to ensure they could ensnare a few more pagans under their control. Halloween is a contraction of All Hallow's Eve.

^^^this^^^

[Croesy Blue]

Just some kids having fun isn’t it? Miserable old bastards

[JennyWren]

Kids having fun. Adults having fun. It's disgusting.

[Harry Monk]

Halloween ? A load of American Bollox that should stay there
Shops only going big on it so they can fleece joe public for money
I hate it and think my neighbours know this as no one knocks my door
That’s the way I like it

It isn't American. It has been hijacked by the yanks, just as it was hijacked by the Christians.