The ghoulishness of Hallowe’en?

We are having our annual controversy about Halloween. More than half a century ago, our Halloween in Scotland was a pretty harmless affair. We had parties at which we 'dooked' for apples or tried to bite scones, dripping with black treacle, and suspended from a line across the room, with our hands behind our backs! We went 'guising'. dressed up in masks and old bed sheets to ask neighbours, 'please for our Halloween' and received sweets or nuts in exchange for reciting a poem or singing a song. All totally innocent of blood and gore. I deplore the transatlantic corruption and commercialisation of our tradition and wish they had kept it over there.
Gabriella, thanks for revealing your superior qualifications. Now we know just what gives you the right to patronise us lesser mortals, some of whom also have degrees and professional expertise.

Better to be a bit dim and funny I think

When we are recently bereaved we are very sensitive to anything that reminds us of our bereavement and the person we have lost.

Having said that, I think it is unreasonable for us to expect the world as a whole to alter what it is doing because of our personal grief. People die every day and families grieve, but except at a personal level we must accept that life goes on.

Having said that, yes I think Hallowe'en is overdone. Almost entirely by people who have absolutely no idea what the background to the day is, which is mourning and sadness for those we have lost!!! As a result we are losing Bonfire Night.

As another thread on culture and tradition discusses. Culture and tradition is always evolving. Old traditions die out, new ones come in. Most cultures do have a festival given to the dead and undead, the Germans have Walpurgis Night, and we have been alone in not having such a festival and Halloween is filling that gap.

GabriellaG, whatever your academic achievements, good manners and empathy do not appear to feature on your list of accomplishments. How sad that a person can reach the stage in life where they join a forum for grandparents and yet still not have acquired that essential skill of diplomacy. Most interesting, I would have thought that in a career in law, that would have been an essential skill.

Just as an aside, what exactly was your role in law? Solicitor, barrister? And where did you work? In London in a top set, or as a high street solicitor? Just asking?

M0nica this is QI in reading about Halloween n UK.

www.historic-uk.com/CultureUK/Halloween/

Maw, I was happy to read that your walk to the cemetery is actually very pleasant and quiet. I’m sure your grandchildren will remember both their loving grandfather, and the peaceful cemetery where you go to remember him.

A country churchyard Maddyone there are worse places to spend Eternity!

It looks absolutely beautiful Maw, a truly peaceful place.

Oh , how I wish I were GabriellaG , instead of just a mere mortal! Lord that woman’s given me a laugh tonight???

Nanna58, she’s not the only one on Gransnet who has claimed to have superior intelligence to the rest of us mere Gransnet mortals. However, I won’t name the other one, and it’s unlikely that she’ll be on this thread. At least, I’ve only ever come across two who have made the claim that they are more intelligent than the rest of us.

Perhaps finally a word to the wise (and the highly intelligent)

Maw

annodomini, you forgot the toffee apples or was it just my mum that did that bit?!

Maw

If it is not too intellectually taxing I respectfully suggest you read my OP and for once try to show some emotional intelligence instead of arrogance
Oh, Maw, you must have known that's not too kind either ... and was likely to get a brusque response . You also took some others to task who didn't agree with your post, but life would be dull if we all agreed. From my experience, I don't think that your DGC would associate halloween (supposedly fun) ghoulishness at all with their beloved DGF or their wonderful memories of him. Also, in the UK, halloween now has little to do with remembering loved ones who have died. I love apple bobbing, cute homemade costumes, pumpkin carving and 'spooky' food but, yes, intensely dislike the cheap tat!

Jalima1108

1) Actually, you incorrectly corrected yourself. The correct word is 'we'.
2) I was indeed, a nurse at the Women's Hospital, Catherine Street, Liverpool but stopped working a week before I married.
3) I gained my degree (LL.B) studying through the OU whilst at home and bringing up our 5 children. My Masters came later and also a 1yr diploma in Forensic Graphology certified by J.M. Uni in Liverpool.
OK?
My achievements are not on show but neither do I deny something I worked hard for, especially when someone (not you) questions my intelligence.

I said THE MAJORITY, not ALL.
Try being accurate, not ascribing to me, words that I did not write.

The above is to maddyone

Please ladies, can we not play degree poker? It always ends with feathers ruffled on all sides.

Maw you are perfectly entitled to your feelings, and I hope your heart is not too troubled with sad thoughts rather than happy memories at this time of year.

Oh GabriellaG shakes head slowly

maddyone
I have no intention of answering your enquiry but I will tell you that my blood group is O pos and my shoe size is 6.5/7.
BTW, diplomacy and truth are not comfortable bedfellows.

...and you may be quite certain that I could, would and will never be accused of brown-nosing, unlike some I could name.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=sRVX9F4fuYU



However to end on a more cheerful note....

I can understand this. Halloween is just another commercialised and overdone festival now - dare I say like Easter and Christmas - a chance for the shops to make more profit.
As for the skulls - I've never understood the attraction of these and I speak as a 'rock chick' (hate that phrase).

I'm a real Victor Meldrew when it comes to Hallowe'en I'm afraid. The gory aspect is taken too far, it can be disturbing for young children, and let's not forget the elderly who get plagued by children, or in many cases teens with no sense of respect, banging on their door. All good fun for children to dress up - often in cheap costumes from certain supermarket chains which could possibly catch fire easily - and to see decorated pumpkins is fun too, but that's where the line should be drawn. But as long as businesses are making money out of the ghoulish side of this event, it will continue. As a side note, Sainsburys are offering black carrots, called.... Witch's Noses!!! Whatever next.