Hallowe'en terms I don't understand

Ah, someone has come up with an explanation. These myths just didn't feature in my upbringing at all. I wonder why there has been such a revival? Wondering if it has anything to do with greater affluence and, therefore, the ability to buy more costumes and... well... party.

I agree with this guy.

bags, YES!

Same here! Although as it's my DGS birthday............

It's a bit mixed in Geneva. Odds and ends of witchy things bowing to American commercialism but also magnificent bronze chrysanthemum arrangements to take to the cemeteries on Toussaint (tomorrow is All Saints,Day) chestnuts stall roasting in the street as well. I'm making a bright green pea soup and we are having spinach in cream sauce with chicken followed by rather evil looking tartes ,a green filling with a choc button which I am calling bloodshot eyes (with a little red jam)and I'm telling them the chicken is roasted bat.

Bags I think that Hallowe'en has taken over from Bonfire Night and commercial interests have taken the opportunity that presented itself.
I used to be so excited about Bonfire Night, but get the feeling it doesn't mean as much to modern children.
We always used to have a bonfire in our back garden, as everyone else did in the road, and let off our own fireworks. Then when your own bonfire went out, you went round to see if someone else's was still 'in', sharing baked potatoes and treacle toffee and parkin.
Going to a communal firework display at the local school isn't quite the same, somehow, but Health and Safety concerns perhaps make parents reluctant to do their own thing.
And of course, in those days, it was much colder, so going out into the frosty night wearing layer upon layer of 'woollies' (do children still have them?) was a thrill in itself

I have never been a great fan of Halloween celebrations, especially trick or treating. However, this year for the first time I told my grandchildren that each could invite a friend and I would provide snacks etc. Halloween isn't a big deal in New Zealand – I didn't see any themed paper plates, sweets or cakes in any of the shops. The shop that sells masks and fancy dress all year round made a nod at Halloween and that was where I bought some "cobwebs".

Mr absent spent a happy morning up a ladder draping cobwebs all over the rafters of the lounge ceiling, while I baked mummy's toes, peanut butter spiders, dead men's fingers and witch cakes and made ghosts on sticks, eyeball jelly and witch's brew to drink. My ex made a CD of downloaded eerie songs.

The children were amazed when they walked in and had loads of fun. Apart from the cobwebs, a couple of plastic bats and the music, pretty much everything was home made. The little party (eight schoolchildren plus the one-year-old) didn't disturb anyone else and had a whale of a time. As my grandchildren don't live local to their school, they rarely have a chance to invite a friend to play so this was a double treat.

They all took a paper cup of sweets home – the cup carefully cut with a pumpkin face by Mr absent.

It sounds as if you and Mr absent had as much fun as the children

We did newist but can barely walk this morning for all the aches and pains from decorating the room and standing up in the kitchen cooking – and doing endless washing up. Today is taking down cobwebs day – groan!

Waitrose, and other stores had slogan over their Halloween stuff saying 'Happy Halloween'

'Happy Halloween'? I thought Halloween was meant to be frightening and scary, not happy.

I've noticed something of a resurgence in the recognition of Samhain. A sort of Halloween/Samhain hybrid. I'm all for people re-discovering our Pagan rituals, even if they do dress it up in commercial Halloweenism. It's a step in the right direction!

As a child at a Quaker boarding school in the NE in the early 60s we always had a Halloween party. We played trad games: boobing for apples, nelson's eye, walked through a 'haunted house' created by the 6th form girls and then listened to ghost stories by candlelight!
Friends for Leith say they always went 'guising' as kids.

It has become totally commercialised but as long as it is harmless fun I do not mind a few kiddies calling for sweets and carving a pumpkin with the DGDs!

I can remember bobbing for apples as a child and my father did once carve a swede for me - pumpkins weren't easily come by then!
I've been making Ossa dei Morti (Bones of the Dead) for All Souls day. Yummy little almond biscuits. They take time to make because you have to chop and toast so many almonds but as it's only once a year it's worth it.

I used to encourage my children to bob for apples then straightaway try to pick up coins with their teeth from a mound of flour without drying their faces. There are some photos!

I am pleased to report that we had visits from 'guisers' tonight. First DR WHO called with Cat Woman. Dr Who, bearing some resemblance to DGS, but more to Tom Baker, proffered Jelly Babies and sang Duncan McCrae's 'Wee Cock Sparra' then Cat Woman (black leotard & tights, long tail) would not remove her cat mask, but she did sound a bit like DGD2 when she sang a song about 'My Big Brother'. Later we were treated to another song and some jokes from 'Super K' (DGD1 in ballet tutu, tights and shiney blue cape with giant K on the back). All three departed thrilled with their bags of apples, nuts and sweeties, to go to visit their elderly neighbours.

No threats, no spooks, home made costumes, all very traditional and quite delightful. We are so lucky [thismile]