Question for people from England.

[FanofG00fy]

Howdy,

My family and I are sitting around and talking, and we were wondering something about Halloween. Do you celebrate Halloween in England? Do y'all trick-or-treat? We were just wondering, not trying to be disrespectful, but just wondering about different cultures. Any help would be helpful.

See we were wondering because we were discussing MNSSHP, and wondered if this was just an American Holiday, or is it kinda a world wide thing.

Thanks again!!!

Chris

 

[lajones81]

I would post this in the UK message boards.

 

[KayleeUK]

Moving you over to UK Community Board

 

[Mrs Dazzle]

Halloween is getting to be a lot more "popular" over here than it used to be. Sorry to say it was always seen as an "American" thing, but happy to say we're slowly getting into the swing of things over here.

From my personal observations, we still favour the more what we would call "traditional" characters for halloween - ghosts, witches, goblins, skeletons, that type of thing, rather than the more liberal fancy dress we have experienced over in the USA.

My very first trip to Florida back in the early 80s was over Halloween and a delightful lady invited us to her house for the evenings - it was the most amazing experience. Halloween was virtually unheard of to us back then and it was great.

We had a halloween party at home last year - we had more than 100 people come, to also coincide with Bonfire Night - and so many people said they wanted us to arrange another one this year because they never do anything.

Trick or treating is getting better over here too, well it is around my quiet village. You still get one or two of the older children who might intimidate some of our older residents, but the unwritten rule for our local children is if you see a lit pumpkin or other halloween sign, then knock on the door - that means people are participating.

It's also become obvious that halloween is getting more popular by the quantity (and sometimes quality ) of store bought outfits and accessories.

Wow, enough waffle for this early in the morning

 

[jen_uk]

Hi,
I was taught at college that Halloween was originally an English tradition, something to do with witchcraft a long time ago, but that it became really popular in the USA. Dont know if that is true or not?

Jen


Just looked on the net and I was wrong! Its an Irish Catholic tradition that spread to the states in the 1840s.

 

[magicmouse2]

Kids dont go trick or treating in our area. They do dress up though and some places hold parties for kids on Halloween. I think most kids prefer Guy Fawkes night Nov 5th . They love the bonfires and fireworks.

 

[diberry]

DLP do a fantastic Halloween celebration right through October. Must say that although I loved all that, I don't really like the idea of trick or treating. Some kids round here did some damage in our garden last year as we didn't open the door as we get tons of kids that we don't even know and decided enough was enough! I don't think you should let kids think it's ok to play a trick on somebody if they don't get what they want - but I'm no doubt just old-fashioned!!

 

[Queenie]

We always go out on Halloween to avoid the kids trick or treating. They're a bit rough near where we live and we've had them come round and sneer at us for giving them sweets and then demand cash instead. Cheeky or what? Our local Pizza Hut tends to do a party for charity that night with raffles and competitions and all the staff dress up which is great. It's definately getting popular but still nowhere near as big as it is in America.

 

[Joanne UK]

There's been a problem where I live as well with kids throwing eggs and flour at people in the street although it didn't seem to happen last year. My 2 dressed up and went trick or treating during the day but only to people they know - and I went with them. We also put some decorations up indoors.

Joanne

 

[DisneySurfGirl]

We get a few trick-or-treaters around our area which is cool - wish it had been more of a tradition when I was young! Mind you students at my uni tend to go tricking - more of a stuff the sweets, I'm gonna cause as much havoc dressed up as Dracula as possible attitude!

However when I've been over to visit my family in N.Ireland they seem to go mad for Halloween and Guy Fawkes, far more than over here in London/Kent area. When I asked my cousins why that was they said it was because of the fireworks ban being lifted no long ago and any excuse to go out at night dressed up and let off fireworks is not to be missed out there!

Hope this helps - it's always good to learn about other cultures! x

 

[Dimplenose]

A lot of the churches in my area officially discourage Halloween activities and instead hold an interdenominational "Hallelua Party" for the local children where fancy dress isn't allowed.

As a child (I'm 43 now" we often had Halloween Parties (usually in a church hall!!) where we dressed as witches or ghosts and played traditional games such as bobbing for apples, eating buns off strings, flour pudding etc.
I've held similar parties for my children with just a small group of friends.

Now a days trick or treating is becoming more popular but only to prearranged homes. I'm afraid I'm one of the killjoys who will not participate as I don't feel it's part of our traditions. I beleive certain areas of Britain have "Mischeif Night" which I think is the night before Bonfire Night - perhaps someone can tell you about this.

(A very popular Autumn tradition is Bonfire (or Guy Fawkes) night where we celebrate the failure of Guy Fawkes to blow up the Houses of Parliament on November 5th 1605. We have fireworks on this night and usually bonfires where some people burn a model of Guy Fawkes.)

Libby

 

[FanofG00fy]

Thank y'all for your answers!!! I really appreciate it. It's so interesting to hear about other countries do. The Bonfire night sounds really interesting and fun. I'd say us American's should try it, but one of my co-workers here at work pointed out, we would probably get to carried away and burn half the country down. Again, thank you all for your answers. I really do appreciate it.

Have a great day!!

Chris
Knoxville, Tennessee.

 

[Claire L]

I would also add that Halloween is celebrated in parts of Spain, whilst in Lanzarote in 2003 alot of kids were dressed up on Oct 31st and they were locals as well. We are going back this year and will be there on Oct 31st again!
Claire

 

[paulh]

when we visited one xmas noone there understud boxing da the day after xmas day they did`nt celabrate it in the states
Paulh

 

[BONZO]

Here'sa nice simple guide to Halloween in the UK

 

[Cyrano]

Still fairly popular here in Scotland. I suppose like most places parents are not too keen on kids straying too far.
Some "pennies" and sweets are the order of the day

Reid

 

[natalielongstaff]

we love trick or treat in our house, i decorate the house so everyone knows to knock on our door and then i take out two out on pre-arranged knocks ( stopping wherever we see others taking part)