Halloween - is it really a good thing or potentially sinister?

[UKRay]

In the US, Halloween seems to be a big thing. Kids look forward to it and parents seem to be involved in all kinds of pleasant activities with their children.

In the UK, Halloween is seen mainly as a time when gangs of noisy kids you have never seen before call at your door and make a nuisance of themselves by begging. Some threaten to throw eggs and flour at your windows if you don't give them some sort of treat. Tolerable at a push, but not enjoyable.

Many people here now regard the whole 'trick or treat' experience as an annoyance. Few see it as something they would encourage 'nice' kids to do but over the past few days I've become aware of a much nastier side to it.

Some inner-city areas have now banned 'trick or treating' because of the threats that go along with it. Some frail elderly and disabled people have been badly frightened by gangs of kids - some as young as six and seven years old - throwing rocks and smashing windows if they are not given money. Does this only happen here?

I'm concerned that as a parent I spent time warning my son about talking to strangers but, these days, come Halloween, I would be expected to let him go off to bang on the doors of people neither he nor I know... how weird is that?

How is Halloween managed where you live? Does it worry you that kids do this sort of thing? What does Halloween mean to you and your family?

Ray

[wildrose]

I was raised by a conservative Christian family, and have been a church goer all my life. I have a strong, personal belief in Jesus as my savior. That said....

I have dressed up almost every Halloween for as long as I can remember. I went trick or treating 'til I was "too old". Now I get the treat of seeing kids coming to my door, while Tim takes Ethan out (or he stays here and I take him around). We are glad to be in a nice neighborhood, and it's safe and well lit. I enjoy seeing the costumes kids (and parents!) come up with. The only thing I get annoyed over is teens who walk around with little or no creativity to their costumes, carrying a pillowcase or plastic shopping bag. Those are the "moochers" - they're only out for some candy. I guess that's how the littler kids view it too, but at least they and their parents are putting some effort into the experience! Some of the older kids don't even give the standard "Trick or Treat!" phrase, just shoving out the bag. Tim won't give candy to anyone who doesn't say it.

I have had friends over the years who only see the negatives and the history of Halloween, but I see a chance to dress up and have fun.

[UKRay]

I can see the fun in dressing up and partying but how come it works so well in the US and fails over here. Okay, maybe that was a bit harsh as there are a lot of great Halloweeen parties here too but Haloween certainly isn't held in the same regard here in the UK- I wonder why?

[tonyc1]

As far as I know, we do not celebrate Halloween here in Australia.

Tony.

[Vikti]

(Disclaimer: I took 2 semesters of religious and occult studies while in college and this is what I've learned, with this being said I am no where near an authority on this, even I take this info with a grain of salt as it's not my specialty, as my studies are actually more focused on a specific religious group. This info is simply what I was taught)

Halloween is really an American celebration that goes back to the Puritan times. Though sources state that it has Celtic roots, the *way* it's celebrated today is pretty much a new world thing. The rest of the Catholic influenced world celebrates the Feast of All Saints (Oct 31) and Day of the Dead, El Día de los Muertos (Nov 1) (mostly in the new world among the Latin American people). The Puritans, while not Catholic, did have their superstitions, while I'm not too sure when the term "trick or treat" came into being but the idea was that when a spirit came to your house you would either trick them into leaving you alone or give them an offering (treat) if it was a spirit of a friend or family, to honor them. The costumes are *mostly* from the Day of the Dead reference where people want to scare away spirits who have lingered too long in this world with the hopes that they go off to the next world. In the Americas, it's customary for the common person to dress up and scare the spirits away while in ancient Europe it was restricted to mostly the priestly(shamanic) people.

And since 2000 it has been my anniversary. And yes, me and my wife went trick or treating that year with a bag that said "just married". Hey, at least I won't forget about it.

Damon

[TwinOaks]

Well, for me and mine, we don't celebrate Halloween aka "all hallow's eve". For the kids, it's okay to go to one of the "harvest festivals" usually hosted by a church. To me too much of the 'fun' of halloween has been replaced by annoying little punks committing foolishness or outright criminal activities.Ray, I know that there in England you don't have all the option we have here in the States, but here's a little something to make you smile...One of the really nice things about having a reloading press for shotshells is the ability to load ROCK SALT. I haven't had any problems for a long while

[CitizenKate]

My mom used to tell me that, when she was growing up in Illinois, Halloween was a time when pranksters roamed about, much like the ones you mention, Ray. Some of those trick-or-treat pranks were pretty vicious. Then American communities tried to turn it into more of a safe/fun kind of thing by organizing activities for neighborhoods to participate in. For the most part, I think they succeeded. I grew up never really knowing about the "trick" part of trick-or-treat. It was all just treats, as in, sugar over-dose. LOL Worked for me!

Lately, around here, sadly, because of worries about people handing out boobie-trapped treats, the activities are becoming more centralized to one location. We don't have the kids roaming the neighborhoods any more. So I really don't observe this holiday much any more.

Kate

[UKRay]

So the problems are not confined to the UK then.. I suppose that makes me feel a little better.

Mike: The rock salt solution certainly would deter all but the most enthusiastic tricksters but I can't see me remaining at large long enough for it to be a viable option!

The 'All Hallows Eve' side of the story is interesting as controlling misrule was, pretty much, what the whole festival was about. Sadly most of the demons we need to deal with these days wear hoodies and carry stones and knives...

I rather think that Halloween, like many other lovely things I remember from my childhood, is being spoilt but the lack of respect for others that is endemic in modern society. Isn't is sad that parents are frightened to let town kids play out of sight and even country kids aren't entirely safe from marauding weirdos. How did this happen?

Who thought up booby trapped treats? What a wicked thing to do to a child. Maybe kids aren't the only problem?

Australia and New Zealand do seem to have a better level of parental control than many other places - would you agree Tony?

Ray

[Jordan]

Used to be fun when the kids were young now it is a real PITA trying to control the puppies who even bark when they hear a doorbell on the television. Also in this state the powers that be change the holidays based on whether they fall on a Sunday. Heck, they changed the 4th of July a couple of times here too! I am waiting for the day they change Christmas, that will really tick me off!

[cem]

As far as I know, we do not celebrate Halloween here in Australia.

Tony.

Doesn't stop them from coming around though we didn't have any where I lived previously but when we moved last year we had quite a few at the new place I politely told them that we don't celebrate it and the majority were quite polite about it saying sorry for bothering you. What worried me though is there were little ones who were about 5 or 6 and the parents were no where to be seen. I think I will lock my front gate or go out this year though so I don't have to deal with it all.

Clair

[rawhide1]

I personally like Halloween I get a real kick out of taking my kids around. The one and only thing I miss about living in town is not getting trick or treaters. It's neat to see the kids dressed up and they get such a smile on their faces. Sadly I'm on duty for Halloween this year so the wife will have to take the kids by herself. Although she will bring them by the station so I can see them. And yes their are some kids out causing trouble and using Halloween as an excuse to raise hell. But a lot of that could be stopped by their parents taking a belt to their butts. And their are some grown weirdos out there and that could be stopped by a short piece of rope and a tall tree. I don't know how it is other places but around here some towns will block off a certain amount of main street and the business plus the cops and us(fire dept.) will hand out candy so kids don't have to go to houses. Which in my opinion ruins it them kids and their parents are packed in there tighter than bark on a tree. So we still take our kids house to house. And there are a lot of people especially older folks who look forward to seeing the kids. Wether ya like it or not have a SAFE and HAPPY HALLOWEEN and be on the look out for little ones crossing the street.

Mike

[DJ1935]

Hi Ray

Halloween wasnt celebrated here in New Zealand when we were kids. It has only been "reinvented" in the last twenty years or so, mainly by the Warehouse (NZ's Wallmart) so they can sell more junk. The idea of family fun was a good one I guess, but as always, it has been ruined by a few idiots that should be old enough to know better. The same has happened to Guy Fawkes night which we used to look forward to as kids but now it has become a nightmare. Animals are subject to horrific injuries with fireworks and property damaged by lunatics with nothing between their ears. As for more parental control in NZ - yeah right! Parents here are no longer able to give their children a smack, tap on the hand or clip on the ear without fear of being taken to court.

Mercifully we dont get kids turning up on the doorstep begging on Halloween, we're too far out of town. Several years ago I was riding our Quarter horse home after a visit to my friend in town. It was evening and I clicked as soon as I saw a Witch, an Ogre and a Ghost walking towards us that it was Halloween. My usually laid back mount however wasnt impressed with the Ghost in the white sheet and stopped and stared - his eyes boggling from his head. The Witch and Ogre passed by with no problems but the Ghost was getting a bit nervous and when my horse high blowed at it the Ghost screamed and ran off in the opposite direction crying out for it's mummy! I very nearly fell out of the saddle laughing. Trick or treat - Equine style!

DJ

[Go2Tex]

We live out from town a ways in a subdivision of small acreage plots, 3-20 acres mostly with some large ranches all around, so the homes are spread out too far for kids to walk around like they would in a suburb. The association of homeowners organizes a hay ride for the kiddies and the residents, who choose to participate, sit out at the road and pass out candy to the kids on the wagon as it goes by.

Now, as you might expect, this turns into the inevitable tail-gate party that us Texans are so well equiped for, which probably lends largely to the continued success of this unique handling of an otherwise thoroughly distasteful event.

Edited October 31, 2009 by Go2Tex

[jbird]

I dont like the thing at all i mean whats great about get scared out of your wits or roaming around like a other wise criminal type image its just stupid to me.

my family way back when started a tradition on Halloween the kids dress up like a figure that was respected as a good person the do this and go door to door only to friends and family and give something as well as get candy.

its a great time and no one goes around as some crazy mass murderer or walking zombie.

so thats my view on it

Josh