Halloween (Page 1 of 3)

I am writing this with the curtains around my front door pulled tight and the car safely locked in the garage.  I hate hate hate trick or treating; it's flat out extortion, if you ask me.  Knocking on someone's door and demanding some kind of reward, otherwise you'll cause them or their home damage?  Any other night of the year that sort of behaviour would get you an ASBO, and rightly so.

What's worse is the examples like you mentioned, Felix, where someone takes advantage of "halloween hi-jinks" to cause an act of flat out vandalism and violence.  No excuse.

Plus I don't like the way that Halloween rubs up against and in some ways overshadows Bonfire Night, which is a traditional event in this country and not something that's been imported from abroad to try and flog more chocolate; I don't like being unable to shop in Tesco's without being accosted by checkout staff dressed as Bela Lugosi; and I also can't stand the way that it now seems to be spelt Halloween instead of Hallowe'en because apostrophes are now considered the tools of the mad for a large portion of the country.

Jesus I'm a miserable sod.

I work for a grocery store. Our manager tells us not to be afraid to refuse to sell eggs to minors. It usually isn't a problem. Minors don't come through with eggs.

As for the holiday. I don't like Halloween. I agree, kids shouldn't be out begging for candy. If they want to go out trick or treating they should go out with the orange UNICEF boxes and do something good for someone else.

Jeez, what a crowd of sourpusses.  You guys need to lighten up.

I just got back from trick-or-treating with my 7-year-old daughter (who was a 50's bobby sox girl).  We had a wonderful time and exchanged pleasantries with all our neighbors who were in their homes or out with their own kids.  She collected a small bagful of candy, much of which we will donate to a local youth organization.

Yes, some of the older kids engage in mild hooliganism -- usually involving eggs or shaving cream -- but no real harm is done.

Halloween is fun for the kids -- period.  And if I was a poor enough role model to allow one night of candy-gathering to somehow lessen my children's morals, then I have no business having kids in the first place.

I'll say they're sourpusses, Sir Hillary. They need to take a Valium or something.
Maybe times have changed since I went trick or treating or took my kid, but I never thought of it as extortion. And I never took revenge or even considered taking revenge on someone who didn't give me candy, and never knew or heard of anyone who did. In fact, I don't think that as a kid I really knew "Trick or Treat" was anything but a traditional phrase you said when someone answered the door.
Is hooliganism really that prevalent nowadays?
But I do understand that Halloween is really an import in Britain (although I gather the colonists brought it with them from the UK and elsewhere in Europe). Isn't Guy Fawkes Day somewhat similar to Halloween?
I think it's kind of funny that France now has Halloween. Didn't when I lived there.

Last edited by highhopes (1st Nov 2006 03:31)

I'm another Hallowe'en defender.  A lot of people love to decorate their houses with kitschy ghosts and goblins, invite the kiddies inside to grab a goodie, and try to give the little ones a fun little scare.  It's all about letting kids have some fun--and it can be fun for the grownups too!  Man, life's too short to get uptight about such a minor thing. . .

I've noticed that most, if not all of the Halloween "defenders" in this topic are American. Forgive me, if I'm wrong.

I don't support Halloween personally, I agree that in this country it's simply an excuse for chaos. Jetset hit the nail on the head. Here in the UK, some people are too frightened even to open the doors, incase they're faced with abuse from low-life youths who have nothing better to do than terrorise their neighbours.

In many cases, not answering the door will result in having eggs thrown at your house or your car vandalised; it's a no-win situation. I have had my house egged once before (though not severely). The city of Bristol gets it pretty bad I feel.

Well, there's only one solution; fitting a flamethrower to my post box! That will be one hell of a trick or treat surprise!

The only apostrophe I care about is the old Frank Zappa album. And, jeez, if you don't care for the holiday, then why comment. Let the ones who celebrate enjoy one little bitty evening out of 364. You don't see me slagging off British holidays, do you?

I never knew Halloween was the end of the world. "Excuse for chaos" Gimme a break!

I can assure you that unfortunately it is true. There are most definitely extra patrols of police and their work load is considerably increased.

It is not pleasant when you get groups costume less teenage boys knocking at the door at 9.30 - 10.00pm saying 'trick or treat' ( which I did). No wonder the elderly in particular are scared.

For all those that accuse us of being sourpusses, I think it depends which side of the pond you are on. In the States it is a long and happy tradition that families  participate in. I know that people will leave bowls of candy on the doorstep for 'trick or treaters' if they are going out. 

It is very different here. It is just an excuse for mindless yobs to cause even more mayhem than usual which is why our shops wont sell eggs to under 18's, our police are patrolling issuing dispersal orders and many sit at home on the dark waiting for it to go away.

Last edited by Lady Rose (1st Nov 2006 14:32)

Not getting stuck into that bugbear again, are you? I'm sure not every square inch of England has increased patrols, but I doubt citizens of Kent get too worried because happenings in Yorkshire are described as 'occuring in England'.

Last edited by emtiem (1st Nov 2006 14:44)

Don't dare speak to me like that.  Yes, I am getting stuck into that "old bugbear", you know why?  BECAUSE I'M NOT ENGLISH AND SCOTLAND IS NOT A PART OF ENGLAND. Is that clear enough to get it through your ignorant skull?

How absolutely rude, condascending, offensive and completely and utterly arrogant of you.

Go read up on the Hallowe'en tradition, go rake in the Scottish news over the last few nights and see what you come up with in terms of increased policing over Hallowe'en across Scotland.  And then read up on the fact that Scotland is actually a nation, with its own laws, its own parliament, its own traditions and culture, and isn't a "region" of England like Yorkshire or Kent. 

There are at times when I hear the arguments of Scottish independence sounding rather attractive when I read such patronising, offensive arrogance.  Perhaps not so surprising that the last poll had 44% of Scots in favour of breaking up the UK.

Last edited by Moonraker 5 (1st Nov 2006 19:31)

No need to sound so defensive, good Sir! But, up until this point, a much greater number of our American friends have displayed their love for the Halloween celebration thus far.

I'm now aware that I sounded as if I was generalising when I used the term "UK" instead of "England". But Scotland isn't 100% free of problems, simply because we don't read it in the news or see it on television (and I'm aware that's not what you're saying). It is indeed worse in England, and I'll add the good Lady Rose's points to those already listed.

Alex, considering some of the anti-social trolls that roam our streets at night, Halloween could be considered an "excuse for chaos" in some regions.

It is a great shame though.

Last edited by General_Ourumov (1st Nov 2006 16:49)