Kilts and costumes

[Archangel]

Not New England:

Halloween , Oct. 31, the eve of All Saints' Day , observed with traditional games and customs. The word comes from medieval England's All Hallows' eve (Old Eng. hallow = "saint" ). However, many of these customs predate Christianity, going back to Celtic practices associated with Nov. 1, which was Samhain , the beginning of winter and the Celtic new year. Witches and other evil spirits were believed to roam the earth on this evening, playing tricks on human beings to mark the season of diminishing sunlight. Bonfires were lit, offerings were made of dainty foods and sweets, and people would disguise themselves as one of the roaming spirits, to avoid demonic persecution. Survivals of these early practices can be found in countries of Celtic influence today, such as the United States where children go from door to door in costumes demanding "trick or treat."

I'm leaving your first subject alone.

Your next subject is the long version of what I said. The modern American Halloween grew out of....

BTW, I remember in Scotland, there was an expectation to have a trick prepared. It would be college age people doing the rounds not kids.

[Larry124]

I’m attending a camp-out three-day house party that is a combination Bluegrass Music Jam and Halloween Party.
My planned compromise is to wear a tartan kilt on Friday -- the non-Halloween party day.
Likely the Black Watch. Bill Monroe was the “Father of Bluegrass”. The Clan Munro Hunting tartan is “Black Watch” yes?

Then on the Halloween Party night I’ll wear an AK with otherwise ordinary clothing. I don’t think that anyone will mistake that for a costume.

Although as plan B I’m tempted to wear a Hawaiian type kilt with a Tiki pin and call myself “Clan Tiki Bar”.

Or might the “Tiki” idea be offensive to Pacific Islanders? Sheese, what a world we live in…

[Makeitstop]

There are far too few opportunities to dress as Robin hood, Zorro, The Phantom of the Opera, a Highwayman, Sinbad, Hamlet, The Crow, and other delightful swashbuckling characters...

Who's stopping you the rest of the year? I know I don't always wait for October 31st or December 5th to break out the old ninja mask. Granted it's not that out of place in the middle of winter, or at midnight in the woods, but still...

Actually, something the Scots might not be aware of is the practice of Halloween in North America. It is a bigger event than Christmas in some areas. More often than not, it at least matches Christmas. Halloween is promoted strongly starting around September 1.
It has become as much an adult event, again, sometimes more so, than the children's event.

Overall I believe it is second only to Christmas. Halloween supplies are being sold earlier and earlier and from a retail perspective it is by far the most important holiday other than Christmas.

Christmas still remains number one though. The Christmas season officially starts in September now (I remember a time when it hadn't even fully conquered thanksgiving) and is still growing. It's also celebrated by roughly 96% of America (sorry, I have no international figures) and the Christmas sales make up a disturbingly large part of the economy. About the only negative indicator when it comes to Christmas is the trend of replacing references to Christmas with generic "holiday" and "seasonal" terms. But that's another topic entirely.

BTW, I remember in Scotland, there was an expectation to have a trick prepared. It would be college age people doing the rounds not kids.

Same here, only it's more like junior high and high school kids. The basic idea is that you give them candy or they egg and/or tp your house (or worse if they're creative). And then later they do it anyway. Then again, that was never a problem when I was a kid, as my family knew how to make sure they were too afraid of us to ever try anything.

[beloitpiper]

The basic idea is that you give them candy or they egg and/or tp your house (or worse if they're creative). And then later they do it anyway. Then again, that was never a problem when I was a kid, as my family knew how to make sure they were too afraid of us to ever try anything.

I'm usually the one handing out candy at my house (usually a good zombie flick on TV, too), and I always make sure there's no vandals, either. Flood light on outside and a bat behind the door.

[Woodsheal]

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[Monkey@Arms]

Aaaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrgh:

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The irony is they could get real usable outfit (not a cheap costume) for that amount of money.

Best regards,

Jake

[Coemgen]

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MY EYES!!!!!

[Hamish]

I have only just stumbled across this thread and I have just one thing to say: I am SO VERY glad that we really do not 'celebrate' Halloween here. I cannot think of anything worse than traipsing around the neighbourhood dolled up in some fancy costume - I'd likely be arrested for being a public nuisance if I tried it, as I'd be the only one out there!!

Agreeing with Pleater, the supermarkets have pumpkins piled high at the moment alongside cheap and nasty witches outfits in children's sizes, but I have never seen anyone buying any of those things let alone wearing them! Years ago, I heard of Tricking or Treating, but I have never done it or had it done to me. I have lived here for 16 years and in my previous home for 27 years but I have never had any child beating on my door, doing whatever it is that children do when Tricking or Treating. I probably would not open the door anyway, especially if it is after dark, unless I was expecting particular visitors.

The retailers (mainly the supermarkets) seem to have been trying to make capital from the event in the past few years, but I cannot see it catching on - at least, there is no sign around here that it is.

[James MacMillan]

I have only just stumbled across this thread and I have just one thing to say: I am SO VERY glad that we really do not 'celebrate' Halloween here. I cannot think of anything worse than traipsing around the neighbourhood dolled up in some fancy costume - I'd likely be arrested for being a public nuisance if I tried it, as I'd be the only one out there!!

Agreeing with Pleater, the supermarkets have pumpkins piled high at the moment alongside cheap and nasty witches outfits in children's sizes, but I have never seen anyone buying any of those things let alone wearing them! Years ago, I heard of Tricking or Treating, but I have never done it or had it done to me. I have lived here for 16 years and in my previous home for 27 years but I have never had any child beating on my door, doing whatever it is that children do when Tricking or Treating. I probably would not open the door anyway, especially if it is after dark, unless I was expecting particular visitors.

The retailers (mainly the supermarkets) seem to have been trying to make capital from the event in the past few years, but I cannot see it catching on - at least, there is no sign around here that it is.

Don't you guys go off the deep-end for Guy Fawks day?

[Alan H]

I have only just stumbled across this thread and I have just one thing to say: I am SO VERY glad that we really do not 'celebrate' Halloween here. I cannot think of anything worse than traipsing around the neighbourhood dolled up in some fancy costume - I'd likely be arrested for being a public nuisance if I tried it, as I'd be the only one out there!!

Agreeing with Pleater, the supermarkets have pumpkins piled high at the moment alongside cheap and nasty witches outfits in children's sizes, but I have never seen anyone buying any of those things let alone wearing them! Years ago, I heard of Tricking or Treating, but I have never done it or had it done to me. I have lived here for 16 years and in my previous home for 27 years but I have never had any child beating on my door, doing whatever it is that children do when Tricking or Treating. I probably would not open the door anyway, especially if it is after dark, unless I was expecting particular visitors.

The retailers (mainly the supermarkets) seem to have been trying to make capital from the event in the past few years, but I cannot see it catching on - at least, there is no sign around here that it is.

Hamish, all things considered, halloween, despite it's pagan origins, is a pretty harmless event. At most you might, maybe...POSSIBLY wake up in the morning to find your fence covered with wet toilet paper. Maybe. Around here, and for as long as I remember, it's been a night when kids get to dress up in costume, go out with their friends and usually, these days with their parents, and visit the neighbors houses, scamming for free candy.

Personally, Joan and I love it. The kids are mostly adorable.

These days it's also somewhat an event where some adults take the opportunity to dress up in a costume and go to a fun party. That usually happens on a night, NOT the 31st of October, since the 31st is reserved for the kids. Since when is a costume party an evil thing?