Halloween/Thanksgiving

Anyone doing any exciting events for these two American holidays?

If my visa ever gets approved (still waiting) and I'm in the UK for Halloween, I fully intend on having a big Halloween Bash It's my all time favorite holiday... Not being in New England for this is going to be tough! I'm going to miss all of those haunted amusement parks and haunted houses that pop up every October around here...

Thanksgiving... I think I might have a go at my first deep fried turkey. Should be interesting!

Well, since Thanksgiving has already passed ( ) and I did nothing again this year, I'll be doing Guy Fawkes Night on 5th November a la the local council.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guy_Fawkes_Night

To find out what your council is doing, find your local council here:

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Dl1/Directories/Localcouncils/index.htm

Why don't you try it out, if you haven't already? For those in the North, a Parkin is also required! 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parkin_%28cake%29

Well, since Thanksgiving has already passed ( ) and I did nothing again this year, I'll be doing Guy Fawkes Night on 5th November a la the local council.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guy_Fawkes_Night

To find out what your council is doing, find your local council here:

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Dl1/Directories/Localcouncils/index.htm

Why don't you try it out, if you haven't already? For those in the North, a Parkin is also required! 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parkin_%28cake%29

Erm, did Thanksgiving pass? Maybe I am being really thick but I thought it was sometime in November??

It's definitely in November! 

Not being in New England for this is going to be tough! I'm going to miss all of those haunted amusement parks and haunted houses that pop up every October around here...

Actually...you might find Alton Towers Scarefest VERY interesting around Halloween ... Highly Recommended if you happen to make it by then or not try next year  .

Erm, did Thanksgiving pass? Maybe I am being really thick but I thought it was sometime in November??

She's Canadian - they have Thanksgiving at a different time. 

Yes, US Thanksgiving is always the 4th Thursday in November, year after year. 

She's Canadian - they have Thanksgiving at a different time. 

Yes, US Thanksgiving is always the 4th Thursday in November, year after year. 

We do it, uh, 6 weeks or so before you lot on a Monday. What I meant to say was by the time you have yours, mine will have passed and I do nothing pretty much every year since being in the UK. Duh me. 

I still recommend doing Guy Fawkes, though! 

I wonder what's with the Monday & October / Thursday & November thing?

She's Canadian - they have Thanksgiving at a different time. 

Yes, US Thanksgiving is always the 4th Thursday in November, year after year. 

Phew :-) Thought I was caught in some weird time warp for a minute!!!

I wasn't aware that Halloween was an "American" holiday. My English friend has had a Halloween fancy dress for the past 2 years.

We've invited other couples over for Thanksgiving with turkey etc and a few decorations. One of our English friends managed to find a turkey hat for her 1 year old.

Actually...you might find Alton Towers Scarefest VERY interesting around Halloween ... Highly Recommended if you happen to make it by then or not try next year  .

You have no idea how excited and happy you just made me! I know that's not too far from where we'll be because my husband has tried to plan a trip more than once. I am MAKING him take me now! Thank you so much!!! I love that Halloweenish stuff!!

You have no idea how excited and happy you just made me! I know that's not too far from where we'll be because my husband has tried to plan a trip more than once. I am MAKING him take me now! Thank you so much!!! I love that Halloweenish stuff!!

I live about 45 minutes away from Alton Towers and we go at least once per year. The first time I went was on my birthday (surprise from my hubby) during Scarefest 2007 and we had a blast...defo get tickets for the corn maze and I highly recommend the Haunted Towers as well --truly worth the queue!

I wasn't aware that Halloween was an "American" holiday. My English friend has had a Halloween fancy dress for the past 2 years. 

Gretel, I think it depends on who you ask!  Halloween does have its roots in the traditional Celtic festival of Samhain and the Christian holiday All Saints Day.

However, some Brits tend to complain that the OTT commercialised version as celebrated in the US is 'taking over' here in the UK now, so in that sense Halloween is perceived (now) as an 'American' holiday. 

Over here, it's tended to be (historically) more of an Irish or Scottish thing - those immigrants taking it over to the US/North America, where it's evolved into more of a big event.

In England, the emphasis is more, I think, on Guy Fawkes Night.  Also in northern England, there is what is called Mischief Night - which is actually the night before Halloween.

For Halloween, we have shipped over several boxes of themed decorations, tableware, etc.  It will always be a special celebration for us as our daughter was born on Halloween and we make a big deal out of that.  She will be 5 this year.

For Thanksgiving, I always cook a turkey on the smoker, no matter where we are.  The English family and friends get a chuckle out of me wanting to do a big meal on a Thursday but they are good sports about it and join in the fun.

I was stressing this very same thing!  Not having my US family with me during Thanksgiving is going to be tough.  But I still plan on my Turkey and Mash! wonder if I can convince my UK relatives to enjoy candied sweet potato... Any good recipes out there?