Halloween Plans?

[ZermattGT]

In the US we tend to celebrate Halloween.
While it's lost nearly all of the glory it enjoyed when I was a kid 1975-82, I still have a soft spot for All Hallows Eve. The aging Goth in me I guess.

We used to make our own costumes.
Worked on them for 2-3 weeks leading up.
We'd haul XL pillow cases full of candy home.
For a couple sugar addled days mom left us alone.
No one was ever "harmed", by treats or tricks.
It was a magical night of monsters, faeries, pirates and heros.

We hated wearing a "coat".
We hated bringing our younger brother.
We hated having to come home.
It was perfect.
Pumpkins were mostly real Jack o' Lanterns.

We never had as time set by the town.
We went out after dark, not before.
We respected the people who gave us candy.
We said, "trick or treat"
We said thank you.

Why is this so hard now.
Why has this tradition been allowed to die a slow death.
Kids come to my door without a costume.
A little more of my spirit dies each year.
They'll hate the ZOMBIE I become.

Anybody have any plans? Party?

[Isimmo]

In the UK we see Halloween as a good excuse for Teenage lawless scotes to firebomb their elders...

It carries little sentimentality here, even if we do send our littl'ns' out to local friends for a trick-or-treat door knock... (just to keep them happy)...

[4v6]

As Simmo above says.

Over here its an excuse for a pack of little ratbastards to try and intimidate people into gettting something for acting badly...a shovel across the head usually works well.

No love lost for this particular "event".

[ZermattGT]

When did it change in the UK?
70's ? 80's ?

[Emjay]

lol when two cultures collide

[ZermattGT]

What do you mean Emjay?
Was the "holiday" in the UK always lawless?

[Isimmo]

Originally Posted by ZermattGT

When did it change in the UK?
70's ? 80's ?

When we were kids, Halloween was nothing more than a date on the calendar like 'St Georges Day' or 'St Patrick’s' day or whatever... It was just another day...

It's something that, from the 1990's, has become the all new UK 'American' way...

Rather like the nasty rash of 'School Proms' that now vomit onto the front lawn of Suburbia...

[Emjay]

Originally Posted by ZermattGT

What do you mean Emjay?
Was the "holiday" in the UK always lawless?

It did make me giggle to read the American sentimental view followed by the Brits interpretation of the same event that we seem to have created.

[Emjay]

Originally Posted by Isimmo

When we were kids, Halloween was nothing more than a date on the calendar like 'St Georges Day' or 'St Patrick’s' day or whatever... It was just another day...

It's something that, from the 1990's, has become the all new UK 'American' way...

Rather like the nasty rash of 'School Proms' that now vomit onto the front lawn of Suburbia...

what is it about school proms??. All my daughters have been to them, collected with their mates in horrendous stretched limousines and whisked of to some exoctic location like the Stockport Locano to celebrate what exactly? And end up getting pissed on Vodka and snogging the local chav's

In my day it was a school disco, where we all stood around in the school sports hall watching the girls dance and the teachers trying to show how down they were with the kids. I hated my school days with a passion

[ZermattGT]

I'm ok with sentimental.
Halloween was huge between 1930-1990.
I used to come home with a hundred pieces of "fun" size candy.
Sometimes even full size bars.
Costumes were an artistic challenge every year.
Had to do better than your buddies.

Now kids are allowed to go out between 4-7pm.
Mostly escorted or driven around.

Halloween's just a thing. Pick something else.
How has it gotten better?