Trick or Treat

[LEO]

[quote user="KathyC"][quote user="TWINKLE"]

Oh for Gods sake - the kids love it!

[/quote]

Kids would also love to live on sweets, cake and junkfood most of the time. Many also love spending all their time playing computer games and watching TV. We have adults in the world to guide and help children to make good choices rather than just to do what they think is fun. Otherwise the lunatics really will take over the asylum! (apologies for non PC metaphor.)

[/quote]

Just thought I would remind everybody, Halloween is only one night out of 365 and the activities on the "night" were enjoyed by us when we were kids.

"All work and no play made Jack a dull boy "

Leo

[Lori]

Miki - You couldn't have said it better.  For heavens sake, it is one night, let them have a little fun.  If you don't want to take part, lock the portail and don't answer the door.  You aren't forced to take part.

[5-element]

A reflection of our times?

We had the usual groups of suspects coming to our gate for Trick or Treat: "Des bonbons ou un sort!"And they all duly got their sweets and went on their way. But latish in the evening, another knock on the door, this time a lone one with a hood on, and he says: "Des bonbons ou la mort!"- I burst out laughing, especially since I had recognised him as one of our neighbours' children - (fortunately!!!)

I did point out that "la mort" was a bit drastic and brutal as a retaliation for non-compliance, and he thanked me profusely for putting him right and then continued on his way.

[Cassis]

Our smallest Trick or Treater was so small I could not see her when I went to the door - une sorcière très mignonne. 

Just a handful of sweeties left this morning for breakfast.

[opas]

Yes a bit of fun was had in our village too!

I bought a pumpkin and carved it.........we will enjoy the carved out stuff in a soup later.

I bought sweets to give away. I even bought an out fit for one and a wig to go with the others outfit........and I let them put make up on! What will the neighbours think of me ?

About 12 children with their mums all turned up at once , all dressup up.........even the mums, what is the world coming to!

Other children of various ages tuned up until about 8 pm........then nothing,

Ours arrived home with a carrierbag full of sweets ( one of  which weighed 1200grams ) They had a great night.

And the pumpkin is still sat on the wall and the car still has 4 wheels!

[KathyC]

Miki

I don't disagree with most of what you've written; it's Halloween I object to, not kids having fun. In the UK, Bonfire Night used to be the fun night for kids and this has now been almost completely overtaken by the ghastly, commercialised import of Halloween. My comment about sweets was in answer to Twinkle's post that we must have it because the kids like it. I don't think that this is a reason for doing things that you consider undesirable, although many people do. The reason Halloween has grown is because it encourages people to buy things; costumes, cards etc. (and if what I heard in Tesco's is common, even presents). If parents don't protect their children from this type of commercialization, who will?

[KathyC]

[quote user="LEO"][quote user="KathyC"][quote user="TWINKLE"]

Oh for Gods sake - the kids love it!

[/quote]

Kids would also love to live on sweets, cake and junkfood most of the time. Many also love spending all their time playing computer games and watching TV. We have adults in the world to guide and help children to make good choices rather than just to do what they think is fun. Otherwise the lunatics really will take over the asylum! (apologies for non PC metaphor.)

[/quote]

Just thought I would remind everybody, Halloween is only one night out of 365 and the activities on the "night" were enjoyed by us when we were kids.

"All work and no play made Jack a dull boy "

Leo

[/quote]

You must be a great deal younger than most people here, or you're an American. Halloween/ trick or treating was unknown in the UK when I was a child but we did have a lot of fun on Bonfire Night.

[Miki]

Bonfire night has been far more dangerous over the years than Halloween

but continues to this day and look at the commercialisation on that

score !

Sure,  Halloween is now highly commercialised and in the face but

so is Xmas, Easter, holidays abroad on the TV, Channels on TV selling

just about anything going, Internet ads coming through  your

computer. We have to accept these things and act as responsible as we

can as individuals. Some parents will ensure that Halloween is

unacceptable to their kids, many others will take it in the spirit of

part of life and

having fun........If anything it is Xmas that has gone crazy but again,

it is up to families to see it in their own way. And anyone tired of

Xmas, is tired of life (or is that London ?) although I do think the

giving of gifts has now become gross within some families (no names !)

Yes to agree somewhat, Halloween is a little bit heavy for some but

surely, for most people,  life is all about grabbing some fun

times where you can but, of course, without pushing it on others who

don't like such things. Those people for their part, should then see

that others who are enjoying themslelves are sensible enough to know

about over commercialisaton and are dealing with it in their own

way  and buying, or not all they need or not, to join in the fun.

Not all the stuff on sale, makes people want to buy,  many

preferring to make their own things and maybe just buy a mask or

whatever. Don't worry, what doesn't sell this year will be on the heap

for next time.....they companies are trying to amke a buck and at the

end of the day, it keeps others in  work [;-)]

[Missy]

[quote user="TWINKLE"]   It is getting more and more popular each year.......   [/quote]

Is it Twinks?.... Aunty Beeb doesn't think so......

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/6103436.stm 

 

[Deimos]

My experience around me is nothing like the claims made in the BBC article. Major supermarkets all have loads of costumes, "accessories", everything you could want for Halloween. Cakes in sacrey faces, super market stall all wearing witches hats, etc. Loads of things.

Not sure how many kids are taking part but by the space in the supermarkets for all the gear, I would think a lot. I'm too remote for any "trick or treat" visits but last year did see rides in a horse cart for local kids where driver, and everybody was all dressed-up in the spirit.

Don't know if these celebrations are just a local thing or whether the BBC article is just rubbish.

Ian

[Deimos]

I also saw on the local Bristol (UK) news that every police man with a warrant card was on duty Halloween night. Previous year had kids trick and treating with iron bars, baseball bats, etc. and the number of 999 calls was massively increased (cannot remember the amount they said it increased by). Seems some kids were using it as an excuse.

Ian

[KathyC]

[quote user="Miki"]Bonfire night has been far more dangerous over the years than Halloween but continues to this day and look at the commercialisation on that score !



[/quote]

Around our way people seem to have firework parties for Halloween which rather seems to defeat the safety objections to Bonfire Night. Apart from fireworks I can't think of much commercialisation to it, no costumes, presents or cards.

As to the rest I generally agree, but without your faith in human nature; cynic that I am.

[Russethouse]

Here it's 'popularity' depends very much on the number of kids in the right age group living here at the time, not much to do with how much the shops hype it, which they have done this year. (Last year our Waitrose sold out of those bags of mini sized sweets on the day, I noticed they were well stocked this year !)

We had two groups of trick or treaters round, which means that there is a big tub of chocolate left over - shame !

BTW Many UK papers published a notice you could cut out and put on your door if you would rather they didn't call  (my mother does this as she is elderly and not so mobile ) no one bothers her.

[TWINKLE]

This happens once a year!

My daughter doesn't own a computer game she prefers drawing and playing 'jeux de societés' with us and her friends and cousins who visit often. 

She enjoys Halloween 'cos' it involves dressing up, imagination, scaring each other and tucking apples.  The sweets are certainly NOT the main attraction.

This is how we live all year 'round.  I'm sorry if things are different for others and their kids but we decide not to bend to the so called 'peer pressure'.  We are the adults we make the rules and the simple things in life are the best.  Fun doesn't have to involve a lot of money and who can buy their kids the most sweets, games, clothes etc...

 

[LEO]

[quote user="KathyC"][quote user="LEO"][quote user="KathyC"][quote user="TWINKLE"]

Oh for Gods sake - the kids love it!

[/quote]

Kids would also love to live on sweets, cake and junkfood most of the time. Many also love spending all their time playing computer games and watching TV. We have adults in the world to guide and help children to make good choices rather than just to do what they think is fun. Otherwise the lunatics really will take over the asylum! (apologies for non PC metaphor.)

[/quote]

Just thought I would remind everybody, Halloween is only one night out of 365 and the activities on the "night" were enjoyed by us when we were kids.

"All work and no play made Jack a dull boy "

Leo

[/quote]

You must be a great deal younger than most people here, or you're an American. Halloween/ trick or treating was unknown in the UK when I was a child but we did have a lot of fun on Bonfire Night.

[/quote]

Hi Kathy C

I was born in Glasgow 1947 .Hallowen was one of the most important nights of the year for boys and girls of my age throughout Scotland

.On the night of Halloween , from around the the age of ten,we would dress up just like fancy dress ,with no regard to any particular theme. We didn't call it trick or treat( that is an expression which came much later from the USA) We called it "Guisin " (  A SCOTTISH WORD DERIVED FROM THE WORD DISGUISING)

 When we went round the doors,we asked whoever opened the door, Do you have anything for my Halloween.We would start our round at around 5 pm and continue until about 10pm, coming home with,money,sweets,apples oranges and of course nuts.

Leo

[KathyC]

Leo

That's really interesting.  It's obviously one of those things like New Year's Eve/Hogmanay that's completely different in Scotland. Sorry I generalised by talking about the UK when I should have said southern England. This sounds like a proper traditional practice, like Bonfire Night in England.

[TWINKLE]

Same for me in Wales!  Circa early 70's - mid 80's.

We'd dress up and my mum would hang apples from the ceiling on string for us to tuck - it was one of the most exciting nights of the year for me and my sisters.  We didn't do much door to door begging, but when we did we'd get fruit and biscuits and chocolate - not just sweets.  Our favourite was pomegranates and we'd spear the red 'jewels' with a needle and eat them!  We never said "Trick or Treat".

Then a week later we'd make a 'guy' sling him in a wheel-barrow and go around the neighbour-hood calling out "Penny for the Guy".  People would give us a few pence and also a few old broken wooden items to burn on our bonfire.  For Guy Fawkes night - assisted by a few parents we'd burn the lot with the guy on top.  We'd have jacket potatoes and hot soup.  There'd be sparklers and squibs and if we were really lucky a catherine wheel and a rocket.

Then some buisness minded people decided to make a packet and turn Halloween AND Guy Fawkes night into a money spinning adventure and lots of people fell for it adding more fuel to the greedy fire. 

The real fun disappeared in a puff of smoke. 

[KathyC]

Absolutely!

[Weedon]

Those were the days my friend
We thought they'd never end
We'd sing and dance forever and a day
We'd live the life we choose
We'd fight and never lose
For we were young and sure to have our way.
La la la la...
Those were the days, oh yes, those were the days
.................................................................................

You echo my thoughts Twinks, but I can remember MOH being mortified when my 8yr old jumped at my suggestion to do penny for the guy when we moved to a stockbroker village in Sussex back in the seventies.  Upon reflection maybe I shouldn't have dressed him up and pushed him to the village store in that old pram.

[TWINKLE]

[:-))]

[SaligoBay]

[quote user="KathyC"]

As somebody said, the US first, then the UK, then France. I hoped I'd be losing this daft American import by moving to France, but it seems not.

[/quote]

Mais pas du tout!  The Americans did NOT invent Hallowe'en!  It was originally a Celtic celebration, centuries before the US and A existed, yet another in a long list taken over by the Church.  The Irish and Scottish emigrants took it to the US with them. 

 

 

[KathyC]

[quote user="SaligoBay"][quote user="KathyC"]

As somebody said, the US first, then the UK, then France. I hoped I'd be losing this daft American import by moving to France, but it seems not.

[/quote]

Mais pas du tout!  The Americans did NOT invent Hallowe'en!  It was originally a Celtic celebration, centuries before the US and A existed, yet another in a long list taken over by the Church.  The Irish and Scottish emigrants took it to the US with them. 

 

 

[/quote]

I quite understand that the origins of All Hallows Eve are not American (obviously!), but the modern manifestation and commercialisation definitely are.