AIBU to think that the whole HALLOWEEN thing is Americanised Shite.

[ModreB]

I never did trick or treat. And neither did DH. I am not old - mid 40's.

AIBU to think that its a money making excuse by the Supermarkets to extract more money from us?

YANBU but since it is now a a huge money maker for shops, ranking 3rd after Christmas and Easter, it is not going to go away.
I don't mind a party, dressing up, traditional games like bobbing for apples, but I loathe the begging and bothering the neighbourhood. We try and be out for the entire evening.

OP YABU. I don't do it, but it was definitely around in my childhood (same age as you). I don't think your sample of 2 is wide enough to be representative

Genuinely curious - do you also hate all the commercialised aspects of the other holiday events?

Also, the same bingo stuff as preciously mentioned

We need more things to suck all the joy out of.
Halloween. Check
Fireworks. Check
Christmas. Check

Do we have Easter threads complaining about chocolate and the Easter bunny and the commercialism? I can't remember.

Surely, people must have the common sense to think that although they do not appreciate a paticular thing, there are just as many people who do? Otherwise there would be no bloody need to complain because no one would be doing it

I quite like Halloween. I let my DCs dress up and decorate the house and go begging to our neighbours.

If you don't like it, don't do it. Eleventy million threads on mumsnet is not actually going to stop thousands of people doing something they like. And it is boring
It's the same arguments.

Can we have a thread about the horror of Wednesdays instead? I personally think Wednesdays should be abolished. It's a stupid day. There are still 2 more days until the weekend.

Normalising the occult?

Wtaf? I laughed so much at that I farted in bed and woke DH!

What a bunch of moaning Minnies. When I was a child my Grandmother told me: 'never ne a party pooper (unless it's something dangerous)'. I don't have a Christmas hamper or do Elf on a Shelf, but I don't bang on about it.

If you don't enjoy it, close your curtains or bog off abroad, let the rest of us enjoy ourselves.

As an American I'd just like to point out what a miserable bunch some of you British are.

It's candy! For children! With the leftovers for you!

How can that be bad?!?!

Also...what MaryZ said.

It's not American. Duh.

If you don't want to spend money on it then don't...I don't like valentines day so I don't buy sickly teddy bears and tack. It's quite easy to not celebrate something but letting others enjoy it.

I bet you hate fireworks too. ...

There's nothing wrong with Americans. Why do some people persist in insulting a whole nation in that sneering, superior fashion.

I really like a bit of americanisation, personally. A lot of the newly adopted things we have taken from American culture (proms, baby showers) are all about celebration, family and positivity, something this dreary country could do with having instead of being so dour and traditionalist about everything.

elQuinto I just spat out my water laughing reading your post

I too laughed at the idea that Halloween is somehow normalising the occult ... maybe if everyone actually celebrated Samhain, like my (pagan) mum does, that would be true, but they don't, do they? Halloween as a modern holiday is a very different beast.

We looooove Halloween in my family. Usually have parties instead of going out, but am looking forward to taking DS and his little friends t&ting next year when he's big enough!
I love seeing all the little ones at my door in adorable costumes, but to be fair could do without the chavvy teenage boys in Scream masks asking for money

I also love fireworks. I am one of those twats who goes OOOOOOOH and claps hands wildly.

There are some states in America where fireworks are banned aren't there?

I buy a load of sweets every year, but hardly anyone comes. You would think that living next to a graveyard with bats flying around would encourage them on Halloween.

Only for private sale, Orf. I don't know of any that don't have public displays.

I love the fact that some people believe 'American' is the worst insult you can throw at anything - even if Hallowe'en were Americanised, what's wrong with that?

YABU - it's a lot of fun!!!

Nope not American. And there's nothing wrong with that if it. It's a nice thing! It's fun! Why do people get so uptight about Halloween?

Haha at glam rock. Yes - and just consider that that lot were the sex symbols of their day. Including that man with the extraordinary fringe who was in Slade.

shekshy

I love the way our street comes together on Hallloween. People only knock on those who have decorations out and some people even leave stuff on their doorstep if they're going out. The kids are sooo excited over a few sweets.

I did it in the 1970s in the North East...I had a bought witches hat and a turnip (swede to the rest of the country)lantern, my small friend had a potato one!
We never did the trick thing, but there was always rumours that older siblings were going to.

It may not originate from America but they do it best and know how to party. I'd love to go to the USA for Halloween one day

Yabu, I love halloween. So much so that I swapped my shift when I realised I was on a late. Am in a panic as its on a school night this year and I'm worried we won't get as many visitors.

I've got a fog machine for the drive this year!

Totally agree that it's spiraled out of control although the pressure from the DCs is enormous...and one feels such a spoil-sport. We do have a mini Halloween celebration but I'm not at all in favour of out-and-about-trick-or-treating....

my parents and grandparents and great grandparents celebrated it in Ireland as did we. It involved special foods (barmbrack, colcannon with coins hidden in it) and special games as well as going to different houses in fancy dress and receiving nuts, fruit and sweets. We spent a few years in England in the 70s and Halloween wasn't celebrated there, but Bonfire night certainly was. Halloween was seen as very Catholic, and Bonfire night as Protestant.

Ooh Viva, i want a fog machine now. If this rain doesnt stop wont be able to put it outside though.

I love halloween and spend hours decorating and making up lucky bags for the children. Also do glow sticks and finger lights [thismile] Some years we have a spooky party too which DS loves. He prefers to stay in and hand out candy so we dont trick or treat ourselves.

Adore fireworks too so obviously need to hide now in the shadows of MN the supermarket magazines showing this years stock I love as much as a child with the new Argos book.

Btw everyone, there's a non-miserable Hallowe'en thread here.