What does Halloween mean/mean to you?

[FlouncerInDenial]

Interested in what others may say.

So, for me. I'm not a Christian, but went to a CofE school in the 70s.
I'm sure we were told that Halloween was a biblical thing. The day (night, probably) before All Saints Day.
This was before trick or treating was a "thing". Although we had begun to hear about that as being a thing in America.

So, what is it to you?

[Mokusspokus]

Change.

Change in the seasons.

End of summer. The dark winter to come.
A night to remember the dead.

Atmosphere...

[Bikingbear]

@Ifailed

I grew up in the 60s in England, Halloween was a thing, but no trick or treating. We'd cut ourselves carving a swede with a blunt penknife (never a turnip, they're far too small), there would be ghost stories, knock down ginger etc.

When Scottish folk talk about carving Turnips, the really mean what English folk call Swedes, yellowish inside

[Ifailed]

When Scottish folk talk about carving Turnips, the really mean what English folk call Swedes, yellowish inside

I know!
What do you call, what we would call, Turnips?

[LaVitaPuoEsserePiuBella]

I also grew up in the 70s and 80s and it was never "a thing".
I loathe the plastic shit heading straight to landfill on November 1st.

[Bikingbear]

@Ifailed

When Scottish folk talk about carving Turnips, the really mean what English folk call Swedes, yellowish inside

I know!
What do you call, what we would call, Turnips?

That's a really good question because I clarify them as "Turnips like Aunties" as the first place I recall seeing and eating them is in my Great Aunties garden!

[Ilovelife321]

Absolutely nothing.

[Deadringer]

Growing up in Ireland in the 70s Halloween was an exciting event for my family. Shop bought masks and home made costumes (a black sack), calling to all our neighbours singing ' any apples or nuts' (we never got sweets) then going home and apple bobbing, cracking open and feasting on nuts and grapes, and enjoying the novelty of a coconut, very exotic! We always had bangers and mash, my mum would hide 5p pieces in the mash for us to find. Barm brack was a big favourite, and the excitement of who would get the ring. We would have sparklers and bangers too if we were lucky, and a visit to a local bonfire. There would always be a scary movie on tv, usually a hammer house of horror. It had no religious signifigence for us whatsoever. I still love Halloween and so do my dc and we carry on some of the traditions, with a few new ones like pumkins thrown in.

[MrsAvocet]

I don't like it and don't mark the occasion.
I grew up in a fairly strict religious household and we never celebrated Halloween. I remember doing a bit of Halloween related art at primary school, and I have a vague memory of carving a swede and bobbing for apples with my Mum and sister one year. I can only assume my Dad was away for some reason because he would have gone absolutely ballistic if he had known.
My ILs are really into it and decorate the house extensively. I have got used to it now, or at least better at hiding my feelings, but it still makes me uncomfortable. I know its harmless fun really but its hard to shake off ingrained attitudes from childhood.
In more normal times I do buy a a few packets of sweets just in case any kids come trick or treating but its very rare as we live a bit off the beaten track and there are no young children living on our lane any more. If any do come I would give them something but I don't really like it and never did it with my own children.

[AliceAforethought]

What do you call, what we would call, Turnips?

That's a good question. I don't even remember seeing those smaller white/purple turnips until I'd left Scotland for England! I think - think - they're just not so common in Scotland. Whereas as neeps are a national delicacy!

[TwoLeftSocksWithHoles]

An evening of lying silently on the floor with all the lights off, ignoring the anyone knocking at the door.

A warm up for the Carol singing season.

[Hiccupiscal]

...for those of you sneaking around the house with your lights off...

Do you actually get your door knocked? I thought the sign to knock a door TOT was displaying halloween items/pumpkin?

Ive never been TOT, and my house is always decorated for Halloween, so I dont know, just thought it was a unwritten rule?

Do you get TOT even if your house displays no interest in taking part?

[FourTeaFallOut]

@TwoLeftSocksWithHoles

An evening of lying silently on the floor with all the lights off, ignoring the anyone knocking at the door.

A warm up for the Carol singing season.

[Craftycorvid]

It’s Samhain for me and very important. I’m a Pagan. As pp have said, it’s the ancient Celtic new year, the time when we can contact those in the next world in whatever way is meaningful. I lost my DM this year so it will be quite poignant.