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I know there's a load of old miserys on here who hate Christmas, but my pet hate is Halloween. Kids going round begging because they've put a bin liner and pointy hat on. Don't get me started on all these fancy pumpkins my apparent friends have made. Piss off and roll on bonfire night 🙂
And don't be knocking on my door!
can we have a 'meh' option?
Yes.
Kids going round begging because they've put a bin liner and pointy hat on.
But it depends whether you remember kids going round begging because they had something that resembled a Guy...
Loathe.
Ever since one of the cheeky scamps trick or treating in woodhouse thrust a breadknife through our security grille to try to slash my housemate's arm when we said we had no sweets.
Somewhere between meh and loathe.
I guess mostly because I just don't get it, as far as i can remember it didn't exist when we were kids so from my perspective it looks like an occasion constructed by retailers to sell cheap tat and sticky sweets.
We used to have Guy Fawkes night which involved making a Guy, sticking it in a pram and hanging around outside the local shops hoping someone would chuck 2p in an old ice cream tub. I guess that was all too independently creative for retailers as you didn't really have to buy anything for that.
like!
on the whole the kids round are way are pretty good with their costumes etc, also know most of their parents so any shenanigans and theyll be in trouble!
Then again, in the same house we had a young lass shit on our doorstep when we didn't give her and her friends money for remembering half the words to jingle bells so I'm not sure which I dislike more.
Nice area 😯
Somewhere between meh & loathe, I think.
I think it's OK for the younger kids to be out with their parents doing a bit of [s]trick or treating[/s] begging for sweets, but when you get older teenagers coming to the door with no fancy dress who gormlessly utter 'trick or treat' it does take the mick somewhat.
I think the fun when out of it when my OH told me it wasn't allowed to sneak round the back of the house wearing my very scary 'shotgun blasted face' mask while she distracted the kiddy winks who'd just knocked on the door, allowing me to stand quietly behind them waiting for them to turn around with a hanful of Chupa Chups....
Nice area
It had character.
Why have we imported an American tradition?
What's wrong with guy Fawkes night? It's slowly being eclipsed by children demanding goods with threats.
confuse the little kids when they come begging by saying 'errmm Trick please' and then confuse them even more by handing out fruit instead of sweets, don't see why we should promote tooth decay as well worship of demons and witches. Satsumas or Apples go down well with the Mums.
As a child in Scotland we used to go Guysing (spelling?! Guising?) Where instead of just begging for sweets you had to do a little turn, say a spooky poem for example or tell a joke. And we had turnips instead of pumpkins. Then suddenly I'm all grown and they're all doing Trick or Treat and it's pumpkins.
I guess mostly because I just don't get it, as far as i can remember it didn't exist when we were kids
It was certainly a tradion when I was growing up in the late 70s early 80s, although as jekkyl says it did involve doing a turn and receiving fruit and nuts rather than sweets.
Why have we imported an American tradition?
Have we?
What's wrong with guy Fawkes night?
That's next week.
Bloody 'trick or treat' never existed when I were a lad. Well, not in 1970s Huddersfield it didn't anyway. We just hollowed out a turnip, cut a basic face shape in it and then stuck a candle inside. Probably one left over from the power cuts. After we got bored in half an hour or so, we'd just go to the bonfire and make a camp fire to cook some jacket spuds in.
Mischief Night (that's the official Mischief Night on Nov 4th, by the way) was much more betterer. It was still only harmless pranks though, not an excuse for wanton vandalism and extorting money with menaces.
Turnip lanterns here as well but we did trick or treat but then I was a 70s kid, oh wait because some didn't do it that means it's new and American?
I'm in the Love It camp me...
Think it's great fun.
The snotty kids the rest of the time can't even manage a good morning or an excuse me as they try to walk through you on the pavement.
So that's a no hate it from me.
As a child in Scotland we used to go Guysing (spelling?! Guising?) Where instead of just begging for sweets you had to do a little turn, say a spooky poem for example or tell a joke. And we had turnips instead of pumpkins. Then suddenly I'm all grown and they're all doing Trick or Treat and it's pumpkins.
This^^
I liked/like Guising (in disguise) ,I don't like the OTT American nonsense .
We will be adopting their Thanksgiving next 🙄
It makes the old goth in me happy..its the only time of year I look normal and celebrating the spirits of our ancestors is far more groovey than some jumped up ambush of mithras' s birthday by that jeesus geezer.
And trick or treat is fab..we should encourage our kids to get creative with costume and be part of the neighbourhood...besides which how else do the funny old men in dirty macs selected their victims...it's like dual a pizza for pervies
It's no biggie..
Our house always looks the spookiest in the street
I'd happily do thanksgiving if it meant another bank holiday 😉
I'll be decorating the house and garage tonight ready for the onslaught, its a big tradition round here and im expecting at least 100 people round (including parents), everyone dresses up and has a good time. No nastyness and not scary for the younger ones. hopefully the weather will hold up but we normally have a couple of fire bowls going to keep warm!. Oh and i did trick or treating in the late 70's so im not sure how new it is....
Pumpkins carved with the kids early much easier then a freaking Turnip, youngest has popped up to her friends for an early party and then tomorrow it's Halloween but more importantly my youngest will turn 7 so we will always celebrate Halloween.
Oh and i did trick or treating in the late 70's so im not sure how new it is....
It's not just the grumps who always had a white xmas and long hot summers where kids were never naughty think it's new.
Was turnips when I was a lad, back in the 70's. Agree pumpkins are much easier. Carving day with daughter yesterday. She wanted a Minnie Mouse pumpkin, not really very halloween but who am I to disappoint a 6 yr old...
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I guess Jack Skellington is more halloween...
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LOVE IT!
We put a pumpkin outside and everything. It's really sweet when the little kids dress up I think.
At our last house our neighbors hated it, and being a terrace, they'd see us, then automatically knock on the next door 10 feet away! That used to make me chuckle....
We had some kids once who looked so happy to get a few sweets: Mum explained that they'd knocked on so many doors and been ignored they were getting quite upset, and thanked us for being so nice.
God, there's some miserable grouches about.... 🙂
We carved mangle wurzels that we scrumped ourselves when I was kid, never mind yer posh swedes and turnips
Child of the 70s here, was guising for us, hadn't heard of trick or treat to be honest. Yes, probably a miserable sod right enough, I just happen to think it's just a bit more fun when there's an attempt made at a costume, doing a turn, apples, scones, and so on..
Smell of neeps in the fields is always a bit nostalgic 🙂
Scary stories
Sweets
Saying 'BwwwwAAAAIIIIINSSS' or 'One [insert halloweeny word here] Ah Ah AHHH, two [insert halloweeny word here] Ah Ah AAHH' repeatedly
You can make a pumpkin like the death star! what's not to like?
If any of you grumpy bastids would care to swap and sit in a corporate hotel on your tod and attend my meetings the following day so I can stay at home and scare toddlers then I'm happy to swap.
and mischief night is more tonight as far as I think of it, usually just a bit of doorbell ringing.
Bloody American nonsense. I'll be actively ignoring anyone ringing my doorbell...
...while I sup my Sierra Nevada, eat hotdogs and watch Hollywood blockbusters 🙂
Love it, an excuse for a party innit. Loads of food with the kids, then cocktails with the mrs when they've gone to bed 🙂
Hate it, only for the fact that my wife can't get to the door so I've taken the battery out of the doorbell
We never had Halloween in the 70s round our way in London.
Maybe more of a northern thing at the time....?
Meh from me. Don't mind it too much.
Liverpool today , fancy dress shop a big queue down the road all students wanting to rent costumes, buy tat etc, then Poundland full of hallowen tat.
Just what is the point of fully grown adults dressing up like zombies, one stret collector even has a knife through his head.It was only a pretend one 😯
And tonight the police are on a raised risk due to it being called mischief night,round here.
Just what is the point of fully grown adults dressing up like zombies
Some people like to enjoy themselves and have fun.
Turnips? Jeezus! Surely, a holesaw-drillbit would be easier with those 😆
We did it every year as kids growing up in Ireland. Being a Celtic festival, the end of October, beginning of November (appropriated by the church into All-souls-day (Halloween - all hallows' eve), then All Saints Day (1st November, and used to be a holy day of obligation) - it was always an "important" time. We dressed up as soon as we were old enough to be let loose on your own - that would be around 4 years of age. You'd never dream of not dressing up 😯 Nearly every house would have treats. A lot of the families would make us go in and bob for apples, sing a song, etc. It was great fun, mainly because the whole neighbourhood joined. We'd come home with carrier bags so full of goodies, we'd be kept going till Christmas.
Happy memories for me. I don't ever see my son enjoying Halloween the way we did.
Love it—it's fun
Not bothered as people can celebrate whatever they like.
Miss the old style stuff, it's all too American now.
Love the smell of burnt turnip from the "old school" Halloween lanterns. None of those posh pumpkin things when I was a lad.
Like it in general: nice looking lasses dressed up in costumes that are basically "sexy something something". Like "sexy undertaker", "sexy plumber" and so on. Clearly enjoying themselves, having fun.
Dislike this year because some * stole a 15kg pumpkin I'd left on my doorstep. Hadn't carved it yet, it's a nice neighbourhood, but some * came up the path, up the steps and nicked it, then stumbled down the road carrying it. Boooooo
Just what is the point of fully grown adults dressing up like zombies
Some people like to enjoy themselves and have fun.
Weird way to enjoy yourself, says the zombie
For those saying its an American tradition, its actually an old British/Irish tradition that we exported to the colonies. It fell out of favour when we found out it was much more fun playing with gunpowder and burning Catholics! (effigies of!)
I like it, love seeing the kids dressed up and am always surprises how few sweets they actually take when faced with a bowlful!
Meh. Demanding money with menaces; there ought to be a law against it!
3 Reasons to like Halloween -
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Loathe.
I do remember going round as a kid and having to do a wee turn in neighbours houses. My kids love it, their mother might like it more though. Not that I see the benefit of that anymore.
I do it but actully hope they'll grow out of it soon, I'm always a bit embarassed taking them roudn the houses.
Love the smell of burnt turnip from the "old school" Halloween lanterns
This!
loathe with a passion. doorbell will be off and if i had some the hounds of hell would be lying in wait
Like the pre-commercial version that i remember as a kid.
agree with Deadly - it was certainly a tradition in Ireland but more about telling stories (ghostly) and peeling apples in front of a mirror than trick or treat.
It's become yet another American blight - the only chance of seeing any of those lovelies is in a nightclub at the weekend.
It should be for the kids to have honest fun - not commercialised beyond belief as it and every other festival has
I hate that almost everyone calls it Halloween.
It's Hallowe'en.
I can't say I am a big fan, however my fiancée has always done something for it and so far our daughter is enjoying her first Halloween.
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I hate that almost everyone calls it Halloween.It's Hallowe'en.
Not being pedantic or anything are you?
I hate everyone who doesn't call it by the correct name of "All Hallows' Evening". The lazy abbreviation gets my goat.
There is that.
Surely as a celtic tradition the correct name would be sabhain. 🙂 I like it so Sabhain mhath dhuibh a huile duine... Have a good Halloween/hallowe'en everyone
Load of bollocks
I hope it rains and very heavy at that 🙂
It was never a big deal round our way, Bonfire night was always good though and doing "penny for the guy". No problem with the kids enjoying it, but adults getting into it is odd to me, but as I said it was never a big deal when I was a kid.
Not today, thank you. 🙄
My lad was standing outside the bathroom in full devil mask and jack-o-lantern regalia this morning waiting for me to stagger out half asleep. The little git is getting his comeuppance later (swaps copy of The Exorcist into his favourite DVD case).
Turnips? Jeezus! Surely, a holesaw-drillbit would be easier with those
Coming from the US I'd never heard of using anything but pumpkins, called my wife to ask what to do after not being able to find any to buy on Halloween eve, she said get a turnip, I bought a parsnip instead 😳
Was a bit surprised about how much of a faff was to carve, given that everything online suggested it was the traditional thing to do...
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wrightyson - Member
Piss off and roll on bonfire night
Oh can barely contain my excitement of getting fireworks, stones, bottles and last years new missile jaffa cakes 😕 thrown at me.
When did the tradition of burning wheelie bins creep in to celebrate a failed terrorist?
I love it, but then it's my (and my brother's) birthday so I have good reason to enjoy it 🙂
I have some large bags of goodies waiting for the trick or treaters, though they largely don't bother as we have a good few steps to get up to the house. More for me then 🙂
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Count me in
Love or Loathe
Ignore
Unfortunately the whole thing has been hijacked by U.S style trick or treating plus our Supermarkets over commercialisation of everything associated with it (Pumpkins, costumes etc)
I have fond memories of it as a kid - cost the family nothing more than the price of a Turnip and a candle. All the costumes were home made at zero cost and I cant even remember any of the houses giving us money, it was tangerines, monkey nuts, sweets and toffee apples (home made.) Also, there was none of this pitching up with a sh1t joke and trousering ££ - we had to sing, or tell a story or play an instrument. Dooking for apples that's gone too. Sighs...
If I knew it was going to be under-tens with their parents/guardians coming round for sweets then no problem. I'd get a tub of sweets and say hello.
Unfortunately it tends to be the 14-15 year olds that just want money.
theblackmount - there'll be apple bobbing and other games at our house this weekend, along with home made toffee & cakes etc, so it's not gone altogether 🙂
Good man 😉
Wysiwyg that's a great costume a nice tribute to one of the greatest films of the 80's too.
When we were kids you got money and the occasional sweet, now all kids get is sweets. We never had to do any singing or tell jokes the idea was they give you a treat or get a trick.
Pumpkins we're carved last night before I went to work in preparation for tonight and their costumes are ready. I'm off to work so kids can knock as much as they want they'll only get a terrier trying to make them look like Wysiwyg (no not really).
Loathe. I have a 3am start tomorrow but no doubt the doorbell will be ringing up until 11pm like it was last year. Wouldn't be so bad if it was just young kids with their parents, but round my neck of the woods it's basically teenage gangs out to stock up on junk food.
round my neck of the woods it's basically teenage gangs out to stock up on junk food.
Tough 'hood.
Drac> thanks. All made from scratch, modeled, cast moulds and then slip cast with latex. Took about 3 evenings
has anyone seen that pic that's doing the rounds on Facebook, of the mature lady getting into the spirit of Hallowe'en..?
I'd quite like to post it to give this thread some balance but I fear that I will be spirited away by the mods..
[url= http://singletrackmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/so-its-halloween-mini-movies-special/ ]Halloween Mini Movies Special :o)[/url]
Ha,
What a bunch of moaners 🙂
All the kids we have had at the door have been remarkably polite.
Calcot in Readings not the best of places. Our boy is nearly 3 and he is an ace time
Guisin , turnip lanterns and dookin for Apples. Great memories from my youth in East Lothian.
Although we did used to always go to an auld bloke who lived on his own every year. He used to have a big tub full of water and apples and tons of sweets.
He would probably have has his house torched now a days. He was a big fan of sport as he was always watching us playing football and swimming in the river.
Well, the wife and kids are out trick or treating, leaving me to man the fort and deal with the group of inappropriately dressed zombie schoolgirls that turned up just after they left......