Halloween is coming so people are either preparing to head for the hills or digging out their costumes and ordering the pumpkin. Sweet manufacturers and shops are rubbing their hands with glee at the prospect of increased sales, which means that the dentists are maybe looking at car and boat catalogues just in case. As the season of mellow fruitfullness descends, all are preparing to celebrate the pagan Celtic festival of Samhain ( end of summer), which became the Christian celebration of All Hallows Eve and is now known as Halloween.

There are any number of different types of celebrations, know by local names on this particular day that have been going on quietly for many hundreds of years. In the UK it was generally a time for more of an adult party which encompassed games such as bobbing for apples and other such harmless pursuits.

It was in the USA that Halloween became a big deal with the attention switching from adults to children in the 1950s. It is thought that the Halloween tradition was brought there by the Irish and Scottish immigrants in the late 1800s, but did not attract commercial attention until the beginning of the 20th century when the first Halloween cards were produced.

Although there had been a tradition in both Ireland and parts of Scotland of children visiting houses for sweets and cakes it has been the ‘trick or treat’ aspect that has really become the focus of the celebration which America has exported to the rest of the world.

However, today it has gained a somewhat sinister aspect on both sides of the contract. Once there was a tradition of home baking and sweet making that gave the festival a wholesome flavour, reminisant of Harvest Suppers, but a couple of isolated cases of poisoned sweets and toffee apples laced with pins and broken razor blades have taken the shine off that, much to commercial producers enjoyment as parents now insist their offspring only take store bought items.

For the other side, harmless tricks have now turned into brutal hooliganism as houses or cars are pelted with eggs and flour and a trick or treater is demanding money or else. In some parts of the UK surly teenagers are starting their trick or treating one or two days before Halloween to maximise their profits. I asked one why he was here three days before Halloween and he told me that he was going away and so he wouldn’t be here. The cheek !

No more is the neighbourhood peppered with strangely dressed children enjoying innocent pleasure, they are now taken around by an adult like a tourist party at a historical town.

The once home made outfits are now inevitably store bought and it has lost its origins to the blatant commercial interests of the big stores.

If you want ideas on Halloween party planning go to http://www.yourpower2be.com/halloween.html

Tags: Easy Life Articles, Education, Games, Halloween, Life Style, Mens Corner, Uncategorized, leisure

Posted on October 7