[News] Happy Halloween!!!

[MattBackHome]

Any excuse to roast a load of pumpkin seeds in marmite is alright by me.

 

[Shropshire Seagull]

Most people, including non-Christians, all over the world, are aware of the purpose of Christmas
Most people all over the world are aware of the purpose of Easter
Most UK citizens are aware of the purpose of Nov 5th
Some understand the purpose of Lent
Some understand the purpose of Diwali
Some understand the purpose of Eid
Some [in UK and most in Ireland] celebrate St Patrick's day
Most of Scotland [but few in England] celebrate Burns night
The Yanks celebrate Thanksgiving [UK doesn't]

But does anyone really know what Halloween's all about?
Do they teach it in UK schools now and that's why its become such an important event in the UK festivity calendar?
For those who need to know

It's a big Meh from me ....

 

[DavidinSouthampton]

It's been very much celebrated by ancient religions in this country since pre-history. The dead and passed souls being honoured in song, dance, libation and feasting. Admittedly the arrival of Christianity subdued these celebrations, eventually making it pretty much blasphemy. While I certainly give deference to my elders, 64 years on this earth doesn't make you an expert on thousands of years of history.
If you're saying you think the Americanisation of the celebrations is not to your taste, fair do's, I'm not a plastic tat lover myself. However to suggest it has not been celebrated before recent years is simply wrong and rather ignorant of any British religious history pre- Christianity.

I also remember celebrating Halloween and trick or treating as a nipper in the 70's so it's not as recent as you assume. Perhaps you just notice it more because your are an old git

Old Git, am I? Pistols at dawn......

But you're right. It is the americanisation, cheap (flammable?) costumes in ASDA type stuff which gets me.

But the Dead and Passed Souls being honoured/remembered would also be a part of the Christian tradition..... perhaps not with the feasting and libation, but its All Hallow's Eve, and many Churches would have special services at this time of year to remember those who have died - I was going to say "passed over", but I don't mormally go for such euphemisms. But such services would be mainly to comfort the usually recently bereaved.

 

[The Clamp]

Old Git, am I? Pistols at dawn......

But you're right. It is the americanisation, cheap (flammable?) costumes in ASDA type stuff which gets me.

But the Dead and Passed Souls being honoured/remembered would also be a part of the Christian tradition..... perhaps not with the feasting and libation, but its All Hallow's Eve, and many Churches would have special services at this time of year to remember those who have died - I was going to say "passed over", but I don't mormally go for such euphemisms. But such services would be mainly to comfort the usually recently bereaved.

Can one attend these breavement services wearing a £2.99 Harry Potter costume from Wilco? If so please put me down.

 

[Badger]

My company is having a Halloween costume competition this afternoon. I'm going as an English software developer. I reckon the prize is in the bag.

 

[Simster]

Agree with everyone else. I can't stand the fact that this OTT American Halloween shite is now usurping Bonfire Night as the festival of the season. It's a fcking OUTRAGE.

 

[looney]

Mexican Pole vaulter should be a prize winning costume imo, dont really care beyond that.

 

[LlcoolJ]

The other year some friends of ours had a big Halloween party so me and the sprog turned up with our evil clown masks and plastic daggers, dripping blood etc. Nobody had told me that the hostess had a morbid fear of clowns, so that was interesting when she opened the door.

 

[soistes]

Agree with all the anti-posters on here. It's a commercialised, American import with no real basis (in its current form) in British tradition.

The very thread title "Happy Halloween!!!" confirms that, insofar as there is anything in it as a tradition (All Hallows' Eve and all that...), the point seems to have been missed by the OP and all of those "celebrating" it tonight, i.e. the original tradition is about remembering and honouring the dead, including saints and martyrs etc. It makes about as much sense as posting "Happy Remembrance Day!!!" on 11 November.

 

[Lyndhurst 14]

The New York Halloween Parade has its compensations

 

[DavidinSouthampton]

Can one attend these breavement services wearing a £2.99 Harry Potter costume from Wilco? If so please put me down.

Wear what you like! They might think you're not taking it too seriously, though.....

 

[Notters]

We should probably just ditch Nov 5 and join the rest of the world with this Halloween stuff. It's successfully invaded Japan they bloody love it here. Nov 5 isn't even a national holiday or even celebrated in parts of the country with a deep catholic history. And the commercially available fireworks are shit these days (but that still doesn't seem to stop large numbers of kids giving themselves third degree burns every year). On the whole Halloween is a far safer holiday that involves a bit of fancy dress and giving out some sweets to kids.

What's not to like?

All of it IMHO.

 

[el punal]

One of the great days on the calendar, hope everyone has a fantastic day!

How can it be Happy Hallowe'en? It should be exactly the opposite. Have a Horrifying Hallowe'en or Haunting one. The whole idea I thought was to scare the living shit out of everyone dead or alive, or even undead. Surely you're not supposed to wish happiness on anyone? Whoooo! Whoooo!

 

[BensGrandad]

My wife couldnt believe that I have never in my life celebrated Halloween. As a youngster in the1950s my parents didnt agree with it and said it was an American idea that they were not interested in so we didnt celebrate it as a family so I didnt.

 

[Meade's Ball]

Mubi have done ok with their Halloween offerings this year. A Dario Argento film, Experiment in Terror, and The Driller Killer. If I'm awoken for a nighttime post-feed burp-off, I might stick one of those on, dead quiet like, to keep me going.

 

[bluenitsuj]

Don't see the point

 

[Wrong-Direction]

What's the effing problem with it?

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[SeagullinExile]

One of the great days on the calendar, hope everyone has a fantastic day!

Halloween can lick my gooch.

Stupid American shite.

 

[Triggaaar]

Quite agree
Any brats come round here begging (and that's what it is - let's not dress it up with any manufactured American crap) will get very short shrift from me.

I'll put you down for trick.

 

[LlcoolJ]

What's the effing problem with it?

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I agree. Some right miserable feckers on here: