Hallowe’en decorations now?

At Hallowe'en the GRUMP in Grumppa comes into its own.

We were led to believe that cash was prefered to sweeties and we went along with that, giving small parcels of coins. I always used to take photos of the kids dressed up in their Halloween clobber.. Last year one of the groups I wanted to photograph, brought about a nasty response from one of the fathers who I thought was going to get physical. That was it, this year our gates will be locked and no more money parcels. I am 81 years old. I will be forming the MOFS for anyone who would like to join. That stands for, Miserable Old Farts Society'.' Any MOFs out there?
Brian.

W11Girl, CraftyCat and ICanhandthemback. You’ll get someone from Gransnet telling you off for criticising the yanks like I did!!

Christmas lights in the window of the house opposite yesterday!!

I wouldn't give them money.

One year I forgot to buy sweeties and gave them apples instead - they were older youths and they looked a bit glum when I presented them with the apples.
They didn't trick me though

watermeadow I think Mothering Sunday is still a good idea (a bunch of daffodils would be sufficient for me) but I heard that all the others (Granparents' Day too!) were invented by Hallmark Cards.

Whether that's true or not I don't know.

Saw a lit up pumpkin outside a neighbour's house tonight - don't recall seeing such things pre Hallowe'en before, and they don't even have any young children!
Ours goes in the window only on the night, and is made into soup next day.
Hallowe'en has only got to be such a huge thing in the UK because of all the tat the shops can sell. Bonfire Night was the big one when I was young, but there aren't the same tat-opportunities with Guy Fawkes - though I did hear recently of Juncker masks to put on the guy - must confess I rather liked that idea!

My GC love dressing up for Hallowe'en and I know the children have a lot of fun with carving pumpkins & trick or treating etc but I really hate some of the costumes, especially the ones I've seen adults wearing recently. I especially hate the fake blood dribbled from the mouth or on clothing etc. It's really horrid. There - I've got that off my chest, anonymously , I hope! Wouldn't like to upset the GC!

Growing up in Australia in the 1950s no one acknowledged or celebrated Halloween. The only references would have been on American sitcoms of the era. It was definitely seen as a very American thing. It's only now that I know that Halloween has very ancient origins both pagan and Christian. I am interested in why the traditions were carried across to the USA but apparently not to Australia- until now! Like many others my own ancestors all left the UK between 1840 and 1860 so well within the era of ancient traditions to be carried across the oceans.

Now we have what I can only describe as a proliferation of commercial nonsense about Halloween here in Oz. I have had these conversations with my own family members. Most seem to see it as a bit of fun and an opportunity for "dress ups" for the kids. For me the idea of "gangs" of sugar hyped up small children knocking on front doors sounds like hell. And this is from a loving and very devoted gran of 7 littlies aged between 5 and 12.

Despite my rather curmudgeonly view I do applaud a local initiative that puts a note in everyone's letter box with a balloon attached advising that children (with parents in tow) would be dressing up and "trick or treating" in the area between 6pm and 7.30pm on 31 Oct but will only approach houses with the attached blown up balloons marking their entrance. The note was courteously written and respectful.

Our village has an unwritten law that dressed up children will only visit houses with Halloween bits and bibs on show.
Other houses are left alone, and it works well and is very good humoured because of it.DGC loves the visitors to his house and then going out to get his share.??

Bits and bobs?

I'm a misery guts and a scaredy cat when it comes to Hallowe'en nowadays. It was fun when the children were small but not any more. DH used to dress as a wizard and cast spells in our living room!!! We used to ask our neighbours if they'd mind us trick or treating but these days you get all sorts ringing the doorbell - often unaccompanied and of all ages. I shall be hibernating [grumpyface emoticon]

The same thing here lemongrove, if someone puts a pumpkin or whatever outside, the younger children (en masse and accompanied by parents) know it is OK to call there.

Jalima I love Mothering Sunday and my kids have to find cards which say that, not Mother’s Day.

Not easy to find watermeadow - and non-existent in some countries where the American Mother's Day in May is the norm!

Even the french dress up for Halloween here, but only in the towns.
The biggest thing though is All Souls Day tomorrow - it's a Bank Holiday here. People buy big pots of chrysanthemums (on sale for the last week) and visit the cemetery where their family is buried.

La Toussaint ( All Saints’ Day) is tomorrow , and is a French public holiday. All Souls’ is 2nd November.

You're right, Daddima.

Old Kafflicks never forget, Fennel!

Quite a mixture of feelings here. Do we really want to deny the children a night of fun? Also, all the cracks about Americans, is this bordering on 'racism'?
Brian.

Oh, I’m full of moans now!
Our guisers have just left, every one in a “ bought” costume. What really doesn’t sit well with me ( and I’ve seen loads of pictures on social media also) is how gruesome the costumes and makeup are. Wee tots with “ throat slit” or “plague victim” outfits just don’t seem right to me.

Although I don't really approve of 'trick or treat', I loved seeing the little ones in their costumes. I had visits from 55 children over a couple of hours and thoroughly enjoyed meeting them! Even the teenagers were respectful and told me that they were greeting residents with 'Happy Hallowe'en' instead of threats. My home-made treats went down well but the satsumas and apples were untouched! The unhealthy left overs have been consigned to the food bin this morning before I could eat any. I was surprised to note when I went for my walk that the village was not littered with sweet wrappers this morning, I only picked up a few items, no more than on a normal morning.