h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Enjoying a meal and in my local last night at about 9, in came two young boys (by height they looked about 10 and 6) with masks demanding trick or treat from everyone. They obviously knew people wouldn't have a supply of sweets or treats in the pub over a week before hallowe'en so were after money. Apart from the cheek of this and being eight days early, I wonder if their parents knew what they were doing. Maybe they even sent them out themselves for a bit of extra cash ?
Anyone else been accosted yet ?

No, not yet. But I have got the bucket of newly severed chicken heads next to the door just in case.

When I was a student in Sunderland, it was regular occurence to be accosted by small minors who would demand money '0r we'll give you a f***ing kicking' and other such charming imprecations.

used to make us laugh. A lot.

Not yet, however, come the night I will as ever be sat waiting with a large bucket of water, ready to scream 'trick' and drown the little sods.

Interestingly, a few years ago our local paper ran a campaign to stop kids going trick or treating, for fear of the the little darlings getting attacked by unpleasant house holders. This year it's running a campaign to stop them going, for fear of them frightening little old ladies . How times change....

Nah...confuse them and ask for a trick...then bore them to tears explaining where the term 'trick or treat' came from. then make the little darlings sing 'twinkle twinkle little star' that usually stop's em!

So where does 'Trick or treat' come from?

Dunno but I wish it would go away. Last year there was no-one in my house for the night (staying at parents) Came back the next night and front door was covered in spray snow ! How can we treat them if not even there ? Unless they thought we were hiding with all the lights out.

I tell the little kids they shouldn't knock on strangers doors in case someone like me lives there...

There's certainly a lesson to be learnt there

Do you pick on the old lady with the Avon catalogues as well?

B

No, but the Kleeneze man doesn't come anymore...

*opens mouth - considers silence to be a wiser option*

B

I invite the older kids in for a beer and a ham sandwich. Not knowing what to do they usually end up mumbling to themselves and going away.

Trick or treat is an American thing, and I won't have anything to do with it on principle. Nobody went 'trick or treat'ing when I was a kid, and I don't see why they should get away with it now. I don't keep treats in the house for kids at any other time of year, so I don't see why I should have to do it in late October. Mind you, I won't open the door to carol-singers, either. If it's an organised group with an adult in attendance, then maybe. But certainly not for a couple of kids singing 'We Three Kings', badly off key.

What we did have, which I haven't seen for years, is kids (usually boys) with 'Guy Fawkes' dummies calling 'Penny for the guy' on street corners round the shops. What has happened to them?

They were donwsized, and didn't want to beg for anything less than a penny.

HALLOWEEN is cool!!! It used to be my most favorite holiday!!!

I'm sorry that some kids have been rude and have not taken well to the idea that some of you don't like the holiday. Sounds like some adults have a big problem.

I think they were all brought out by the Coca Cola Corporation.

Or something.

Probably. Damn Capitalist Yankees!!!!

Only on hootoo could we accuse the Yanks of ruining hallowe'en...

Is it just me, or didn't our hallowe'en traditions originate there (via German immigrants) anyway?

B

Probably. Darn German-Yanks!!!

Halloween originated with the Celtic traditions of Ireland and Scotland. It was probably celebrated in England too, I'm not sure about this, but when Guy Fawkes attempted his coup, the bonfire and fireworks part of the tradition was moved from 31 Oct to 5 Nov, while the rest of it died out. The Halloween tradition, including dressing up in weird costumes and the turnip jack-o-lantern, was brought to the States by Irish and Scottish immigrants. Meanwhile the tradition continued in Ireland and Scotland under various different names, such as Halloweve, Pooky Night and so on. The pumpkin jack-o-lantern was an American invention as was the phrase "Trick-or-Treat" which has only arrived in Ireland in the last 25 years or so. England seems to have got its Halloween tradition directly from America.

As a child, I knew that Halloween was the night the witches and warlocks were allowed to run riot. I was also aware of pumpkin lanterns as an American thing, and sort of wished we could have them over here (although we don't have porches and huge front gardens to stand them on, the way they do in the US). And, yes, in bygone centuries Halloween was celebrated with bonfires - the Celtic festival was called Samhain and it was probably Christianised in some way, like a lot of other festivals. Then, as Gnomon said, Guy Fawkes 'celebrations' took over, but it's still the same festival.

Having said all that, I'm not sure that *English* Halloween celebrations ever included dressing up in weird costumes. I think it was always just the bonfires and parties for us. And I definitely don't see the need to import 'traditions' when we still have the original celebration, although admittedly 5 days later.