Here's my gorgeous boyfriend, carving his first halloween pumpkin. He always gets shy when I call him gorgeous---rolls his eyes and calls me blind, silly man...
We went to a Halloween party Saturday night (my costume above). It was a bit lame--bunch of peeps making some attempt at costumes which ended up being none too creative, but I guess you can't blame them. Little did I know before coming over here that Halloween is essentially an American holiday, as far as being celebrated. The Australians, much like the Brits, don't do trick or treating or carve pumpkins much (at least Steve never has; the younger generation here are beginning to), therefore the peeps at this Halloween party didn't quite have the spirit of Halloween that we do. I don't think it is as 'magical' for them as they don't have the childhood memories to fall back on. It was more like a big drunk-fest, where, like everywhere else in Britain, the floor was covered in beer and everyone was staggering around by 11pm:(
8 comments:
I'm English and can remember carving pumpkins and turnips, and bobbing for apples as a child over 40 years ago. We didn't trick or treat though, that is from the US. It is a pagan festival and has a history in this country that predates the USA, so I think the difference is only the commercialism we have inherited through what children see on US tv programmes. Not forgetting that the 5th of November is not far away and that is seen as a much more family oriented occasion by many people.
Yes, it is a pagan festival and the roots of trick or treating actually comes from the middle ages (so not commercialization of halloween in the states). Poor people would go door to door in the British Isles, exchanging prayer for food....which evolved into 'guising'; developing around the same time in the US and the UK/ROI.
Hiya Suzer, just checking out your blog. Cute costume, and cute bf, lol. You mentioned Aussie sweets in your intro, have you tried musk lifesavors or musk sticks yet? My Aussie friend in Canberra gobbles them down by the bagful, but they taste like PERFUME!
hiya sharon! thanks:) nope haven't tried musk flavor, but i have heard that about them---sounds awful. kinda like pimm's which tastes like potpourri...yuck!
Hi Suze, just checked back and saw your response. Indeed it goes back, but beyond the middle ages. The leaving of food on doorsteps to prevent spirits entering the house, and the offering of soul bread, and guising, is much later and more corrupted, than than the true origins of the celtic Samhain, and the saxon 'blod monath', which are celebrations of the dead, and the time of year to free yourself of the rigid constraints of society for a few days (Yay!)
Many informed scholars associate the true time of Samhain with the fourth and fifth of november (Guy Fawkes surprise surprise). Seen quite demonstrably on the 4th november nowadays in the form of mischievious night, or mischief night (another pagan origin of trick or treat) in Yorkshire, (being celts who had been pushed to the north of England many moons ago).
Without doubt, the festivals of Samhain and Guy Fawkes have been rolled into one, thanks to the influence of Christianity.
I'm sorry to say that I still feel that the influence of US Tv (along with the ignorance of some parents) has brought about modern trick or treating.
Hopefully, when you get to Aus you'll feel better and send us a jovial post.
feel better?
thanks for following up. what do you mean by ignorance of parents? and what is your objection to modern day trick or treating? i remember it as a fun, exciting occasion. it seems to only be in the UK where they have more problems with the 'tricks', so to speak...perhaps due to the rising 'yob' culture here.
Quite right to question that Suze, poor choice of words. I meant that parental ignorance of the history of halloween in the UK has led to the current adoption of US style celebrations. I have no problems with that, really, I think its great. My comments were only made to give some background as to why its only a recent change and probably why most US expats find it different, and perhaps amateurish in comparison. Certainly nothing to do with over publicized and minority 'yob' culture. The 'feel better' comment was made because your last few posts gave me the impression that you're not too happy here and couldn't wait to go to Aus. I may have misunderstood. Such are the problems of net communication. No offence intended I assure you. Have a great weekend.
i see. i would agree as far as the amateurish factor goes...that can't be helped. in regard to the 'yob' problems, it was in the news recently that there was expectation of more problems around halloween, and from my memory, we didn't have that problem in the states.
nope, not dying to get out of england. i've enjoyed my time here and wish we could stay a bit longer, to be honest. excited to move to australia, but nervous all the same.
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