I hope you are doing something suitably scary today. We are economising on costumes and pumpkins and instead we're going to stay in a remote cottage in Cornwall, deep in woods, a mile from the nearest help, in a haunted, dripping creek, with no mobile phone signal, arriving in the pitch black, and the key arrangements are....."the key's in the door".
No halloween plans for me this year, my husband has just left to fly to Cardiff as he works away during the week and I'm on my own
I must have a minor halloween rant though...! We used to make turnip lanterns for halloween, we'd never seen a pumpkin until several years ago. We used to say a rhyme and and get "a penny for the lantern" - its now been replaced by "trick or treat". I just get concerned at times how our customs are being so americanised and we're losing our own culture. Lets hear it for turnip lanterns!!! yeah
...and don't get me started on Guy Fawkes - what is it with kids these days that they can't make a decent guy? Another British custom that's dying out. Some of our guys were brilliant. Our best was when we stuffed one of dad's old boiler suits with newspaper, sewed gloves and socks on then made a head from an old chefs hat. It was almost a pity to burn it!!
I don't know if any of you watched country file today - they explained how the immigrants going to America from all over Europe took different customs with them - halloween is now back here from the States as a mixture of all the old European customes - trick or treat comes from the day of mischief on 4th November...
But for me ce soir...we live right opposite a cemetery..f. the dogs are already edgy...thank goodness we have big electric gates...ghosts can't work them I do believe!! I will tell you if anything does happen!!
But tomorrow is the fete of the dead here in France...so the cemetery will be packed out with everyone placing their chysanthamums...we're going out for the day!
I have to agree with soodyer on this one. Halloween was practically unheard of here in Malta till only a few years ago. The local kids usually have their bit of fun and pranks by getting dressed up in costume during the Carnival, held in February of each year.
Nowadays we get kids (my own included) trick or treat'n on Halloween night, though many times it's just an excuse for mayhem with egg pelting, flour-bombs and what not. It's a shame because the genuine trick or treaters are being turned away in fear of some prank.
In contrast, tomorrow is "All Saints day" in Malta, dedicated to our dear departed - a roaring trade for the flower vendors. This too has become so comercialised that you will be amazed with what the vendors come up with each year!
honest it's a typo ....I've just realised there is the letter f ....please do not think I am using bad words!!
If the children come out here - there's always a mum or dad just round the corner - so we are lucky....seeing the TV the other night about what kids are doing in Manchester with these huge fireworks...phew I'm glad I'm here.
Tansy.. I didn't even notice yr "f" until you said!!!
The thing I'm quite into is Mexican Day of the Dead things. I like their philosophy of sending up death, celebrating the persons life rather than mourning their death. You see altars with packets of fags, cans of beer and the persons favourite things. I'd really love to go to Mexico during the festival.
My office is decorated with Mexican stuff. I'm an atheist but love religious kitch, that and my Mex Day of the Dead stuff must leave visitors a little uneasy!!!!!
