Halloween

[Xenophon PCDGS]

When did this first become a full-blown commercial celebration of the rather darker parts of humanistic spirit beliefs ? I notice all the large supermarket chains have seen an opportunity over the last few years to supply costumes and every possible other matters to extract even more money from their customers for something that is over in a matter of a few hours in a single night.

 

[starrymarkb]

It's been growing for the last few years...

I usually spend Halloween in Whitby for Goth Weekend but I've gotten rather fed up with the drama!

 

[Smudger105e]

Quite a cynical view of the reasons, but realistic! When I was growing up (early 1970s) there was no celebration of Halloween, but this has been imported for the USA. We used to prat about with fireworks at that time of year...

 

[D841 Roebuck]

The commercialisation is probably down to American influence (trick or treat sounds better than demanding money with menaces).

Not sure about the "dark side". Star Wars is 4th May, not 31st Oct. And the Wiccans of my acquaintance seem remarkably sober, gentle and sensible folk - certain Christians and Mohammedans might do well to emulate them...

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

I was referring to the sprits of the dead being around on that night, when I referred to the "Dark Side". I believe that in Mexico, there is a similar festival that commemmorates the Night of the Dead at this time.

 

[D2022]

What's all this with trick or treat then? Where did that come from? I am (don't know why I am admitting this on the internet lol) a Wiccan and wouldn't dare do it in my younger days, not that the 31st isn't special to me, it's my birthday spooky I know

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

The main character of Michael Myers in the 1978 film Halloween was a portrayal of "evil personified" that seemed to fit into the developing American trend at the time of taking this existing custom into somewhat darker genres.

 

[Butts]

I was referring to the sprits of the dead being around on that night, when I referred to the "Dark Side". I believe that in Mexico, there is a similar festival that commemmorates the Night of the Dead at this time.

That would certainly be appropriate in Mexico where they decorate motorway flyovers with headless corpses resulting from the drug related gang wars

 

[Oswyntail]

What's all this with trick or treat then? Where did that come from? ...

When I was a nipper, we had "Mischief night" around this time of year, when we went round causing anonymous minor trouble by doing things like taking gates off their hinges. There is a long tradition in most western cultures of a night of misrule such as this. I do, however, find the aspect of demanding sweets with menaces less than pleasant.

 

[bb21]

I do, however, find the aspect of demanding sweets with menaces less than pleasant.

Only if you are an adult I guess.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

The modern kid does not go knocking on doors on Halloween; they use social media instead. It's called trick or tweeting.

 

[Yew]

The modern kid does not go knocking on doors on Halloween; they use social media instead. It's called trick or tweeting.

As long as they dont come near my-space thats alright

(Although I miss myspace, you could have fun with basic webpage coding on it )

 

[deltic1989]

What's all this with trick or treat then? Where did that come from? ...

When I was a nipper, we had "Mischief night" around this time of year, when we went round causing anonymous minor trouble by doing things like taking gates off their hinges. There is a long tradition in most western cultures of a night of misrule such as this. I do, however, find the aspect of demanding sweets with menaces less than pleasant.

When I was younger mischeif night was observed on the 30th Oct then we trick or treated on the 31st. It was fun to dress up and I still look forward to Halloween as I join in with my children, Mrs Deltic is of the impression that at 23 I still havent grown up.

 

[Temple Meads]

That's exactly why I'm currently sitting in darkness

To be fair though, at the moment they seem to be mostly little kids (with parents), and it's pouring with rain too, so that keeps a lot of the rascals inside.

With regards to the commercialism of it all, just look at Christmas and Easter if you want to see other examples of overblown religious festivals...

 

[YorkshireBear]

Students see it as a must go out night. Must go out dressed in costume! I don't im stuck here doing work but most do.

 

[Donny Dave]

Anyway, I've just upset a group of kids and their parents. They knock on the door and say trick or treat, which is fair enough, but as I lower the bowl the go to snatch the contents so I take it away again. Cue the whining ....

"We've said trick or treat so give us some sweets." No please, just a demand, so I respond with "can you say please?"

The parents at this point turn round and say "Just give them some f*****g sweets." To which I respond with "With that attitude and language, no chance." And slam the door in their faces, and lock it. They then spend 2 minutes banging on the door and shouting through the letter box to which I respond with "Go away or I call the police". They went away ....

Oh, the youngest child with them was about 2, with the eldest being about 8. Nice example the parents were setting ....

 

[Butts]

Anyway, I've just upset a group of kids and their parents. They knock on the door and say trick or treat, which is fair enough, but as I lower the bowl the go to snatch the contents so I take it away again. Cue the whining ....

"We've said trick or treat so give us some sweets." No please, just a demand, so I respond with "can you say please?"

The parents at this point turn round and say "Just give them some f*****g sweets." To which I respond with "With that attitude and language, no chance." And slam the door in their faces, and lock it. They then spend 2 minutes banging on the door and shouting through the letter box to which I respond with "Go away or I call the police". They went away ....

Oh, the youngest child with them was about 2, with the eldest being about 8. Nice example the parents were setting ....

I hope your windows are "brick proof"

 

[MidnightFlyer]

...
The parents at this point turn round and say "Just give them some f*****g sweets." To which I respond with "With that attitude and language, no chance." And slam the door in their faces, and lock it. They then spend 2 minutes banging on the door and shouting through the letter box to which I respond with "Go away or I call the police". They went away ....

Oh, the youngest child with them was about 2, with the eldest being about 8. Nice example the parents were setting ....

That's Scunny for ya :P

The downstairs of my house is in complete darkness with all the curtains drawn ATM, something tells me we don't want trick or treaters.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

When I was a nipper, we had "Mischief night" around this time of year, when we went round causing anonymous minor trouble by doing things like taking gates off their hinges. There is a long tradition in most western cultures of a night of misrule such as this.

It seemed to have reached a new level last night when someone smashed the window of a police car (which fortunately was empty at the time), poured inflammable liquid inside, then set it alight. Another police budget now decreased by "x" number of pounds to obtain a replacement vehicle.

 

[michael769]

Even with the lights off I have had 5 knocks on door!

 

[Donny Dave]

I could do with this to put outside my house now. Warning - Not suitable for minors and potentially NSFW!

 

[Butts]

I thought the Scots were supposed to be tight - are you all as welcoming to Carol Singers ?

 

[anthony263]

Been lucky enough not to have anyone knock my door tonight.

Thanks heavens for heavy rain keeping the brats at home although my pc seems to be acting of it own accord tonight

 

[ATW Alex 101]

Anyway, I've just upset a group of kids and their parents. They knock on the door and say trick or treat, which is fair enough, but as I lower the bowl the go to snatch the contents so I take it away again. Cue the whining ....

"We've said trick or treat so give us some sweets." No please, just a demand, so I respond with "can you say please?"

The parents at this point turn round and say "Just give them some f*****g sweets." To which I respond with "With that attitude and language, no chance." And slam the door in their faces, and lock it. They then spend 2 minutes banging on the door and shouting through the letter box to which I respond with "Go away or I call the police". They went away ....

Oh, the youngest child with them was about 2, with the eldest being about 8. Nice example the parents were setting ....

Thats just bang out of order and sets a really good example to the kids :roll:

just on a side note, who is running out of sweets, I have had a Very surprising turnout today. My mum has left me to do the sweets and ive run out of Chupa chups and halfway down some haribo starmix. (have had a few myself )

 

[richw]

Just had a couple of 8-9 year olds unaccompanied to my door, surely shouldn't be out this late alone, especially as we have just moved to the area last week so they don't know who's door they're knocking on, could be any dodgy character moved into the property.

Sent from my HTC Sensation Z710e using Tapatalk 2

 

[michael769]

I thought the Scots were supposed to be tight - are you all as welcoming to Carol Singers ?

Is Carol pretty?

 

[Butts]

Is Carol pretty?

According to Jimmy Savile yes

 

[MattRobinson]

they don't know who's door they're knocking on, could be any dodgy character moved into the property.

With the whole Jimmy Savile thing going on, you'd think being wary of dodgy characters would be at the forefront of many parents' minds?

 

[Tomonthetrain]

Anyway, I've just upset a group of kids and their parents. They knock on the door and say trick or treat, which is fair enough, but as I lower the bowl the go to snatch the contents so I take it away again. Cue the whining ....

"We've said trick or treat so give us some sweets." No please, just a demand, so I respond with "can you say please?"

The parents at this point turn round and say "Just give them some f*****g sweets." To which I respond with "With that attitude and language, no chance." And slam the door in their faces, and lock it. They then spend 2 minutes banging on the door and shouting through the letter box to which I respond with "Go away or I call the police". They went away ....

Oh, the youngest child with them was about 2, with the eldest being about 8. Nice example the parents were setting ....

I was scaring kids today trick or treating - by dressing as MaggIe Thatcher!

 

[richw]

With the whole Jimmy Savile thing going on, you'd think being wary of dodgy characters would be at the forefront of many parents' minds?

Exactly, and that girl in wales recently.as well where they've charged the neighbour with murder.

Sent from my HTC Sensation Z710e using Tapatalk 2