all hallows eve

[deird1]

Had my first ever trick-or-treaters last night.

The tiny patriotic Mez in my head wanted to lecture them about imported American holidays. But the tiny internet-reading Mez has heard too many stories about people being rude to trick-or-treating kids. So I gave them TimTams, told them to share, and silently berated myself for not having a year-round supply of small lollies just in case kids come to my door and ask for some.

Comments

[velvetwhip]

Cultural imperialism takes many forms... *sigh* I apologize for the incursion of my country's holidays.


Gabrielle

[klme.livejournal.com]

How old were they? I think that makes the difference to whether you have to give them things or risk having their dreams squashed. Or have them egg your house.

[megpie71]

I wouldn't mind the tradition of trick-or-treating being imported, if we'd imported the other traditions which surround it - such as the ones regarding how you'd know whether or not a household is participating this year. From what I understand, the indicator for that one used to be pumpkins - if there were carved pumpkins on the doorstep or verandah, then that was a household it was okay to visit for trick-or-treat. If there weren't pumpkins near the front door, the house either wasn't occupied, or they weren't participating in the trick-or-treating thing this year, and it was a clear indication not to bother.

In Australia, we haven't yet got to the point where those of us who wish to participate in this particular bit of seasonally inappropriate cultural imperialism are able to clearly mark it. While I quite frankly can't stand Halloween (as a pagan pantheist, I get irritated enough at the big Christian seasonal festivals like Christmas and Easter being held six months out of synch with the southern seasonal patterns. Don't get me started on the whole "snowy winter festival" aspect of Christmas, or we'll be here all week) I'd be willing enough to put up with it if there were an aspect of "opt-in" about it - and the pumpkin carving tradition sounds like a good enough marker.

Mind you, the other thing which annoys me about it is that Halloween has basically been adopted by the retail industry here as part of the ongoing Festival of Consumerism - that endless twelve-month religious pageant to the gods of money.

[a2zmom]

I gre up in NYC and I have never heard of the pumpkin thing, possibly because I grew up in an apartment building.

And yeah, the holiday is very, very different from when I was a kid. We would take huge shoping bags and visit every apartment in the building (about 70 families). Everyone knew eveyone else and people would bake for us and give us all kinds of tasty treats for Halloween.

And after all the kids were done, three of the women in the buidling would dress up, knock on every door and get a shoot of booze at each stop! Those were the days.

[lliira]

I've never heard of the pumpkin thing either. You can tell whether or not a household is participating by their porch light. If it's on, they're in; if it's off, they're not.

[botias.livejournal.com]

That's poignant for me, as the practice seems to be dying out in the U.S. Public Safety types have spent the last couple of decades redirecting kids to festivals and events instead so they aren't wandering about in the dark and possibly getting struck by cars.

[lliira]

I've never seen anyone be afraid of kids being hit by cars. What I've seen are lots of people flipping out about kids possibly being poisoned by the evil evil neighbors, which is of course 100% bs.

[botias.livejournal.com]

Well, there's a huge helicopter parent/urban legend scare aspect, of course. But I got the idea that the impetus behind the alternative events was safety concerns with some basis in reality. I think it's because I vaguely remember getting public service messages as a kid about adding reflective material to dark costumes, not wearing costumes that blocked our own vision, carrying a flashlight, OR doing something else on Halloween.

[immer_am_lesen]

Yeah, it annoys me a little, that people will feel pressured to go along with something commercial.
I think if people intend on taking their kiddies out, they should first do a letterbox-drop in the area, informing neighbours. That way if someone wants to participate, not only do they have warning to have some lollies on hand, they can hang the included balloon or streamers on the mailbox/ doorhandle/ whatever and so indicate 'yes, please ring my bell and pester me for treats'. If they don't want to take part, then a blank house will mean 'don't come asking for treats, you little pests'.
Now all we need is a national broadcasting of this idea....

My sis-in-law took her two littlies out last night after they begged to on the spur of the moment, and the flummoxed neighbours were giving them Home Brand muesli bars and other assorted random 'treats', as they had nothing prepared. Embarrassing, but they kids thought it was the best thing ever, to be given *anything* just because they were in costume.

[vass]

Were their costumes any good?

from Ray in Scotland

[(Anonymous)]

Going to be some time before I have anything but extremely limited net access, but I wanted to wish you well with what will be your first holiday season as a married woman.

Make sure he doesn'ty just sit there digesting the emu, or whatever it is you'll be eating :-)

Best of wishes,
Ray.