Halloween

[Netix]

We didn't do anything for Halloween, although DD did want to dress up. I don't think she undeerstands more than that. The last time we had any trick or treaters was a few years ago in Melbourne's fringe, but nothing since. Hey, I'm not phased, because it means I don't hhave to explain to my kids why they're not out doing the same. I think I am just the Grinch of all Seasons...

[Rouge]

We have designated houses And for me its more about the parties. The kids go to at least one every year.

But then I do have a love of the spooky

[LimeSlice]

I don't do the huge Trick or Treat thing, but I do celebrate Halloween - just actually ON Halloween.

I am not a fan of the whole door knocking for lollies, so wouldn't do it, or let my kids do it at strangers houses, but everything else I think is pretty cool - would just be way cooler if we actually celebrated it here when we are supposed to. I honestly think (aside from being more appropriate for what it is) that is would be so much more fun! When the things are in season as they should be, when it is actually colder and you can really feel and get a sense of the 'spooky'.

It is however, Beltane today, so Blessed Beltane everyone

[Cass72]

Where we were living last year the door knocking was organised by the community and the houses were clearly marked with a "please knock here" sign and well supervised by adults. The children came in groups - with the littlies first - and it was fun for everyone.

Halloween has its roots in ancient paganism and Christianity, sure. But the modern day lolly grab/schlock horror fest has
become far removed from its origins.

We didn't celebrate it here 20-30 years ago. It's genesis here is both retail-driven and a result of the all pervasiveness of American culture in Australian society.

I agree with you N2L - it is way too commercial and nothing like the festival originally was. But then again so are a lot of our other "holidays". I don't like that I can buy hot cross buns in the supermarket in January or, that Christmas seems to be a competition over who got the most expensive gift.

[OceanPrincess]

My mum told me that apparently if you want to participate in trick or treating you put a pumpkin or two outside your house where it can be easily seen so that kids (adults?) are aware if you have treats or not.

But I have to agree with N2L and Onyx's points about its adoption over here. And as to the Christmas/Easter thing comparison, I guess that's why we are trying to focus on the religious aspects of those.

[Rouge]

I'm not religious so it doesn't bother me. I just see it as a bit of fun. But then I love all Hallmark holidays :P I'm the one ya'll love to hate

[PumpkinZulu]

I'm not anti-Halloween, but I don't celebrate it. Maybe because I don't get it, or having any personal meaning behind it. Christmas, I get, but celebrate it because it's a time to be with family. But then, I don't have any reason to buy chocolate at Easter, aside from the fact that I like chocolate...

It might be something we get into a bit as the girls get older...I'm sure by the time they're teens there will be some 'awesome' parties

As an aside, is it an option to trick, not treat? Like, does that actually happen? What do you do, just shut the door? Give them a toffee apple that's actually a raw onion? What?

[*LittleMissSummer*]

Nope we don't do it and won't be doing it with my kids. To me its an american tradition not an australian.

The kids can ask me about it and i will say the same as my mother said, we don't celebrate it. Who knows over time and depending on the area our kids grow up in i may change my mind but for now no.

But while on the topic of halloween. I was cooking dinner last night and someone knocked on the door, i answered and was greeted by 2 boys dressed up, one had a ghost mask on and instead of being "aww you look great" i jumped a mile and said "oh my goodness!" I then had to tell them i didnt have anything which they looked so disappointed but hey they got a laugh at my expense.

[LimeSlice]

It isn't just pagans, to be specific.
There are Day of the Dead traditions in most societies in the world, and most have developed independently of each other over centuries.

The Japanese Bon Festival is Buddhist in origin, Slavic traditions of visiting with the dead in Spring were adopted by the Russian Orthodox Church and now celebrated as part of Easter, the Mexican Day of the Dead traditions are rooted in Aztec festivals...

So whilst there are many aspects of the commerical 'American' celebration which are not very traditional, and lose sight of the real point of the day, it doesn't mean there aren't those of us that don't use those aspects in our personal culture, I imagine my feeling about what and how many people do to and for Halloween is similar to many Christians who despise the commericalisation of Christmas. Doesn't mean we don't celebrate Christmas, just means we take what we want from it and leave the rest.

In real time, modern North America was actually one of the LAST places to adopt Halloween.

[sahbear]

I'm not religious so it doesn't bother me. I just see it as a bit of fun. But then I love all Hallmark holidays :P I'm the one ya'll love to hate

This is me! I love anything that can inject a little bit of fun into our lives.
DS went to daycare as a bat yesterday, and he looked pretty cute

[Lisa]

We celebrate it and have as long as I can remember. Halloween has definitely been celebrated here in Australia in the last 20-30 yrs. I am 37 in a few weeks and I have been trick or treating since I was little. I clearly remember my whole neighborhood doing it.
My kids love it too.

[Rouge]

Yeah same. I can remember in the 80's dressing up as Elvira and the milk man would give us chocolate milk every year and funnily we never had people yell at us or slam the door. We did have lots of oooo's and ahhhh's.

[Tinks]

We always celebrated Halloween at primary school. Our art teacher used to make a spooky maze every year and we'd do apple bobbing and make jelly with snakes in it, but we didn't ever trick or treat. Maybe it just wasn't done in the area I lived in.

[nothing2lose]

Well My friends and i must have lived in a bubble because none of us celebrated Halloween as kids. There was certainly nothing specific for Halloween in the shops.

[Tinks]

I don't remember there being anything Halloween related in the shops when I was a kid either N2L and we only did Halloween type things at school, never at home.

[HotI]

i'm not into it, but got caught out one year with kids at the door and nothing to hand out, and didn't want to look like a tight ass so bought a couple packs of wrapped choc frogs and i had some glow in the dark bracelety things. if i ran out my plan was to go out for awhile until i wouldn't get any more door knockers

we live rural ish, so wasn't expecting too many. got 2 groups of 3 kids. first kids were lovely, but 2nd group were horrid. walked into my house without even knocking, and then kept asking for more stuff. i didn't even see the parents of the 2nd lot, maybe they were at the gate but if i couldn't see them, they couldn't see their kids.

next year dd will be in kinder and other activities, and i am kinda dreading feeling like i have to participate in activities (like halloween) i'm not really into.

[Rouge]

Well My friends and i must have lived in a bubble because none of us celebrated Halloween as kids. There was certainly nothing specific for Halloween in the shops.

I make my own decorations. Christmas and Easter as well. I think that commercialisation of all things is bigger than when I was a kid. There is probably 10 times or more of Christmas decorations out these days in comparison to when I was a kid.

[Phteven]

I must have been sharing your bubble N2L because I remember when we read a book at school with Halloween our teacher had to explain what Halloween was to our class.
LS I couldn't agree more about the seasonal inappropriateness of a harvest festival in Spring. It's just weird.

And it's the ugliest of the festivals. Spooky is fine but halloween as envisioned by commerce is just kitch in a really ugly plastic way. Except Trav's pumpkin. That was cute.