Halloween

Post by **Oscar Namechange** » Fri Oct 31, 2014 9:26 am

I loathe It.

I'm not actually directing this at our US members because for them the tradition goes way back but for British, It's my opinion that It's another Import that the British have the knack of turning Into all things vulgar.

For myself and neighbours, we see It as nothing more than organised begging. I remember a few years back, our local police put some stats out to show that petty crime was a major Issue Halloween night. It hasn't been as bad since to be fair but It did Involve local police out on the streets the following year when I'm sure they have far better things to do.

Forget the cheery Image of two little darlings who's parents have gone to the trouble of dressing up and Imagine gangs, yes, gangs skulking up the streets anything up to 19 years old carrying flour, eggs and anything else, hell bent on damaging your property should you decline their demand to part with your hard earned cash anything up to midnight. Just as you get rid of one gang, along comes another.

There's a whole road of bungalows not far from me where very elderly, vulnerable residents are housed and every year, they live In fear of this night.

What can be possibly charming about dragging your child out Into the cold air to basically learn to beg ?

Yah Boo Humbug

theia · Post by **theia** » Fri Oct 31, 2014 9:34 am

I'm tucked away in a first floor flat so I'm not worried about unwanted callers. However, when I lived in a house, I dreaded Halloween.

Though I've come around to the idea of littlies dressing up and calling around with their parents and think it's quite sweet.

ETA maybe we should give up on the idea of trick or treating. The celebration and the dressing up should be enough

Post by **LarsMac** » Fri Oct 31, 2014 9:41 am

Things are usually fairly calm in our neighborhood. A few neighbors bring their grandkids around. We dole out some goodies. By 9 o'clock all is back to normal.

FourPart · Post by **FourPart** » Fri Oct 31, 2014 10:09 am

As I understand it "Trick or Treat" actually originated in Scotland as "Trick AND Treat". The 'Trick', in question, being the local terminology for a turn - a song or dance, or the like. In return for which they would be given a treat. Nothing like what the Americans turned it into & re-exported to us.

Post by **Oscar Namechange** » Fri Oct 31, 2014 10:41 am

The best bit Is that had I not have fought the Council for the past 8 weeks to have our street lights turned back on, they'd be on our doorsteps In pitch darkness.

gmc · Post by **gmc** » Fri Oct 31, 2014 5:50 pm

FourPart;1467024 wrote: As I understand it "Trick or Treat" actually originated in Scotland as "Trick AND Treat". The 'Trick', in question, being the local terminology for a turn - a song or dance, or the like. In return for which they would be given a treat. Nothing like what the Americans turned it into & re-exported to us.

It has it's origins in old celtic traditions

Did You Know? - Hallowe'en in Scotland

guising used to be something little kids did usually visiting neighbours or relatives there was no implied threat in the activity to get the treat required a "turn" sing a song or recite a poem it was very much a thing for children to do. trick or treat is an american import.

High Threshold · Post by **High Threshold** » Sat Nov 01, 2014 10:32 am

Oscar Namechange;1467017 wrote: I loathe It.

I'm not actually directing this at our US members because for them the tradition goes way back but for British, It's my opinion that It's another Import that the British have the knack of turning Into all things vulgar.

For myself and neighbours, we see It as nothing more than organised begging. I remember a few years back, our local police put some stats out to show that petty crime was a major Issue Halloween night. It hasn't been as bad since to be fair but It did Involve local police out on the streets the following year when I'm sure they have far better things to do.

Forget the cheery Image of two little darlings who's parents have gone to the trouble of dressing up and Imagine gangs, yes, gangs skulking up the streets anything up to 19 years old carrying flour, eggs and anything else, hell bent on damaging your property should you decline their demand to part with your hard earned cash anything up to midnight. Just as you get rid of one gang, along comes another.

There's a whole road of bungalows not far from me where very elderly, vulnerable residents are housed and every year, they live In fear of this night.

What can be possibly charming about dragging your child out Into the cold air to basically learn to beg ?

Yah Boo Humbug

That goes doubly for me ¦.. and Sweden. :yh_frustr

Post by **LarsMac** » Sat Nov 01, 2014 11:23 am

This year, we only had 11 children drop by. a gaggle of young witches were the most memorable. they had on some fairly elaborate costumes. The smell of pot smoke followed them, which seemed odd, considered they all looked to be around 9-12 years old.

Post by **Oscar Namechange** » Sat Nov 01, 2014 11:51 am

Mine went off this year relatively trouble free, with the exception of one group outside my house that got rather boisterous. But then, the police were out In force last night.

It just annoys me that as one of the most under-funded and under-manned counties In the country, our police have to do this while they have so much better things to be doing at night.