Trick or Treaters

Back in the 1970's when I first arrived (yeah, I know -- ancient history) Halloween was virtually unheard of in England.  It was all about Bonfire Night.  By the time I had kids I wanted them to experience a bit of Halloween.  So we would have a party for neighbourhood kids.  They would dress up and we would do apple bobbing, doughnuts on strings and that sort of thing.  They would get a goodie bag with appropriate treats.  I had a hard time locating suitable pumpkins in those days -- they were usually rather pale anemic looking things -- but we usually managed a jack-o-lantern.  As the kids got older they would go out trick or treating in a group around the neighbourhood.

We never had a bonfire ourselves but always went to some friends.  Or else a local church had a community do (until someone accidentally set off a complete load of fireworks all at once!)

I think the popularity of Halloween now is down to retail greediness.  There are so many decorations, pumpkins, candies, fancy dress, etc. etc. they can flog.  With Bonfire Night it's pretty much just the fireworks because people would usually make their own parkin and such.

I was a child in the 80s and we definitely celebrated Halloween in the UK by then, though it wasn't nearly as commercialised as it is now - I grew up bobbing for apples, carving turnips (rather than pumpkins) and occasionally Trick or Treating (though we didn't do it much).

I haven't had any Trick or Treaters come to my door in years though. Never to any of the houses I've lived in since I left home, but my parents sometimes get them.


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parkin

Oooh, parkin! Yummy! 

We had 3 trick or treaters on Saturday, 1 on Sunday, and about 8 who came all in a group on Halloween night. Not bad considering we had none last year! I wasn't feeling good yesterday, so I turned off all the lights and went to bed around 8. I wonder if I would have received any more trick or treaters after then. I also had pumpkins and Halloween decorations both inside and outside. Our house was the only one on the street that was decorated. Sitting in the living room, I've seen a few people pass our house and do a double take at our decorations!

Halloween was a big deal my house growing up, and my Mom always (and still does) went overboard with the decorations. It was so much fun though. My husband (the Brit) never celebrated Halloween as a kid. Last year was his first time carving a pumpkin, and this year was his first time going pumpkin picking at a pumpkin patch. I think he enjoys it though 

For those of you who live in regions that have a Halloween culture, I can see where the Americanisation is annoying.

When it comes to culture...Use It, or Lose It.   'American' (or, more accurately, Hollywood/Walmart) Halloween hasn't overtaken traditional 'British' Halloween.  It's simply filled an enormous vacuum.

Halloween was always a thing where my husband grew up, in the Hebrides.  It never stopped being a thing.  And, aside from easier jack-o-lanterns (you're less likely to lose a finger carving a pumpkin, than a swede) and, arguably, better treats (candy, instead of just peanuts), very little has changed. 

A lot of other areas-- particularly more urban areas-- lost touch with these traditions generations ago.  They were embarrassing, cringey, parochial, teuchter-ish, etc.  Eventually, there was 'no such thing as society.'  Without that, what happens to social customs?

People miss them, that's what.  They're not even sure what they're missing, but they know they're missing it.  So they see stuff in TV and films, and it looks like fun, and there are companies chomping at the bit to sell it to them, nicely pre-packaged, but they don't actually remember what it means.  They don't quite get it.

Then, when it all comes out a bit wonky, they start blaming American culture for taking over.

I'll tell you one Americanation that is absolutely pernicious- The American Style Prom!   It's getting more and more popular, spurred on by limo drivers and chav suit makers.  The American version is dislike able enough but at least there is some traditional basis.  The British version is just spoiled, horrible kids who want to emulate Katie Price.

I'll tell you one Americanation that is absolutely pernicious- The American Style Prom!   It's getting more and more popular, spurred on by limo drivers and chav suit makers.  The American version is dislike able enough but at least there is some traditional basis.  The British version is just spoiled, horrible kids who want to emulate Katie Price.

I wondered about that. My mother-in-law was telling me that my Telford-based nephews looked so handsome in their suits for their Prom. I didn't think it was an American-style Prom. When did that become a "thing"? Only one of my American-based kids have gone to Prom and he hated every second of it. I can't believe my "Everything in America Sucks" brother-in-law actually allowed his sons to take part in that.


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Yeah, I'm not surprised by the kiddo asking for money either.  I think some kids do that on first footing (stroke of midnight between Hogmanany and New Years Day) as well.

We got 10 guisers ,which is cool since I live in a village and that was probably the entire lot of kids who were between the ages of 6-12.
   
The usual smattering of jokes.
"Why didn't the skeleton go to the dance?"
"Because he had nobody to go with"

Costumes, nothing on the American scale, more of the Tesco Halloween scale, but 
very polite and thankful kids.   

I think there is actually a minor resurgence of the 'neep' carving. Long may it continue. 
http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-37798074