The Dreaded Annual Halloween Kilt Thread - 2009

[dfmacliam]

you realize that some day, Thanksgiving make its way eastward, too. So, you have another holiday to look foreward to...

[Jack Daw]

Although I grew up in Canada, I can't remember any adults getting involved in Halloween, except for a few parents with their children in tow. So when did all this adults getting costumed happen?

Regards

Chas

My parents were born in 1925 and they 'guised' and went door to door as kids, but tricks (e.g. soaping windows) were more prevalent. Watch "Meet Me in St. Louis." Before urban fire laws, Halloween bonfires were quite popular, too.

[Jock Scot]

I had not a clue about all this until some one on this website explained it to me a couple of years ago. I can't say that I am struck on the idea myself and can only hope that I am pushing up daisies well before this "export" arrives here.

[Zardoz]

For our friends in Britain that seem to have never heard of it, here's a news article about Halloween in Britain, and the state's "interesting" approch to it;

http://www.spiked-online.com/index.p.../article/4022/

And an info page about it;

http://www.surfin-britain.de/dyn/150...3fYsXLrGPVqTnX

[Jock Scot]

For our friends in Britain that seem to have never heard of it, here's a news article about Halloween in Britain, and the state's "interesting" approch to it;

http://www.spiked-online.com/index.p.../article/4022/

And an info page about it;

http://www.surfin-britain.de/dyn/150...3fYsXLrGPVqTnX

Well having read the article and from what little else I know about it all, I cannot help but think that the whole thing is absurd, from which ever way I look at it.

[HarborSpringsPiper]

http://www.spiked-online.com/index.p.../article/4022/

Bishop of Bolton, the Right Reverent David Gillett, has called on retail outlets to think twice about stocking paganistic costumes because, he says, they ‘trivialise the reality of evil’: ‘[O]ccult practices should not be condoned, however light-heartedly.’ (5) The UK Evangelical Alliance, which represents evangelical Christians, warns that ‘while Halloween [appears] to bring people together in fun, in reality it is a celebration of the dead and of evil’ (6). Echoing earlier concerns about Harry Potter books turning kids into occult-worshipping wizard-wannabes, the evangelists believes there is a ‘real darkness to Halloween’ which is ‘potentially dangerous’ for children (7).

Somehow comforting to know that people are the same the world over. Sheesh!

I don't mean to be disrespectful of anyone's religous beliefs, but we've been hearing the same thing from fundamentalists on this side of the pond for ages. Sounds over the top to me, nevertheless. Halloween is a totally secular holiday, long divorced from All Hallow's Eve and its original intent. It's dress-up, it's make believe, it's a chance for kids to get some candy and the adults to get drunk or whatever. Perhaps many are convinced those of us in the States are doomed to Hell anyway, but I doubt Halloween has anything to do with it. Well, at least they can't blame that "evil" Potter boy on us.

[Zardoz]

Well having read the article and from what little else I know about it all, I cannot help but think that the whole thing is absurd, from which ever way I look at it.

Sure it is absurd sir, it's supposed to be! It's just a bit of fun.

[HarborSpringsPiper]

Sorry, but you guys have totally lost me! I know little of Halloween other than that is the evening when small, unsupervised children are encouraged to go knocking at the doors of strangers to beg for sweets (candies).

Don't feel badly! That's how I felt decades ago when I was living in the Caribbean and my British neighbor brought up Guy Fawkes Day. Unsupervised children begging for money (Penny for the Guy!), burning effigies and lighting up the sky with fireworks. Must be some inherent human need being met, one way or another . . .

[NewGuise]

There is of course the Hallowe'en poem by Robert Burns, for which he even supplied footnotes: http://www.robertburns.org/works/74.shtml

[Andy]

Being in the nightclub biz, Halloween is a HUGE night for us...especially this year with it being on a Saturday.

So, as a result, me and my staff will be wearing costumes all week long - 3 nights basically. Let's just say that I will be wearing my kilt on the first day and it will be the most clothing I'll be wearing for the rest of the week!

I've laid low on wearing my kilt to work lately so that my "costume" will have a better impact this year. For starters, I'll be wearing a Jacobite shirt and some other accessories that I don't normally wear when out and about kilted. But please, my kilted bretheren, rest assured that I will do the kilt complete justice and bring no shame to my heritage or the great heritage of the garment itself.

As for the other days, if you are familiar with Jim Dangle or Borat, then you might well imagine how the rest of my Halloween week will go....