Ah, this was the sort of thing Hallowe'en celebrations involved when I were a lad - apple bobbing, perhaps a carved pumpkin with a candle in it (although I don't remember us ever having one at home) and a few ghost stories told at Cub Scouts (I had to run through a churchyard to get there too).
I cannot help but feel that this was a more authentic commemoration of an ancient pagan festival than all this orange plastic and legitimised intimidation of elderly neighbours, but I seem to be alone in this, so I'll just grump in a corner if that's alright with you and no, I will not be posting the bloody 'Monster Mash' (if you are so inclined may I say that others do this sort of thing much better than I ever could - and sometimes by taking the most beautiful pictures: I commend them to you).
I will welcome the excuse to (re) post this lovely, lovely song from this lovely, lovely album though.
Tanya Donelly - 'My Life As A Ghost' (2004)
Ye Friday night mallarkey later.
I hate all this Americanised Halloween stuff; dayglo plastic pumpkins and gangs of kids knocking on the door dressed up as devils. Yuk. I'll be taping up the letterbox - to stop them squirting tomato ketchup through! - and ignoring the doorbell tonight.
ReplyDeleteI may indulge in a little scrumpy in place of bobbing for apples though...
Simon dear boy, you are a man after my own heart (NOT THE SCRUMPY!!!!).
ReplyDeleteWe never celebrated Halloween at all when I were a lad, it had no significance at all, Guy Fawkes was the thing. I get very cheesed off when I see Brits copying American traditions like this. Next thing you know we'll be celebrating Thanksgiving.
ReplyDeleteNobody celebrated Halloween like this when we were younger. It was the odd bobbing for apples or spooky stories with hot chocolate but that was about it.
ReplyDeleteNow bonfire night, that was a big deal round my way!
I've always had a soft spot for 'Halloween 3: The Season of the witch' despite most critics panning it. Your favourite Halloween movie?
ReplyDeleteIt has got all out proportion (says he of the three part halloween posting, and a second one on the other side - thanks for the linky BTW ) - although I do enjoy the Hammer Horror mood of the moment, but not the teeny chav's knocking for Haribo's...
ReplyDeleteI heard Shane Macgowan's and Sinéad O'Connor's 'Haunted' for the first time last night - what a peach (or should that be pumpkin).
And why not treat yourself to an Amicus classic tonight - Tales From The Crypt with Joan Collins and psycho santa or Vault of Evil - where Terry Thomas ends up pickled (in jars that is)- trailers for both are on youtube
I'm with the rest of you, what is all this trick or treat pish, when i was a boy it was called guising, at least up here in Scotland it was, a few monkey nuts and if you were lucky a bit of chocolate. Your costume was something your mother made out of old clothes not bought out a shop for 20 - 30 quid.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately my son was born on 31st October five years ago, so I have to make an effort.
Tomorrow I have to do it all over again with 20 odd 4/5 year olds and a children's entertainer called Pirate Pete, who should really be called "robbing bastard Pete".
Drew
ps did anybody else do the scone covered in treacle dangling from the string thing or was that just peculular to Lanarkshire
PM, see if you can track down the original version of Haunted by The Pogues back when Cait was their bass player. She sings it. I think it was on the Sid And Nancy soundtrack...
ReplyDeleteNicely deleted there Mr D.
ReplyDeleteTwenty 4 and 5 year olds and robbing bastard Pete? Drew, you know how to enjoy yourself. Comment du jour btw.
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry, but something about that Sinead/Shane video reminds me of this...
Bloody computers.
ReplyDeleteWe spend our lives telling children NOT to take sweets from strangers and then encourage them to knock on the very same strangers doors on 31 October.
ReplyDeleteNot only that but we are encourging children to engage in blackmail too.
Close the curtains and turn of the lights and pretend you're not in. That's what I'll be doing.
Bah Humbug and all that.
Mondo knows where you live!
ReplyDeleteI'm a bit 'Bah humbug' about the whole thig but due to pressure from my little monsters I've just got in from Trick or Treating. Time for a nice cold beer now!
ReplyDeleteAh, you're a good man Albert Brown. I delegate such tasks to Mrs H, who accomplishes them with style, humour and grace, where I would just be shy, shuffly and morose.
ReplyDeleteCheers though Michael, you have shurely earned it.
Re Drews comment:
ReplyDeleteMrs Mick just said something about 'guising'. She says they would go to peoples houses and sing or dance and she'd get money! OOH, she just told me she used to sing 'Que Sera, Sera' with her sister. This is all news to me.
Re: Mick, was Mrs mick from the west coast of scotland? if she was then they were a sucker for que sera sera, as it was a Lena Martell staple and could get a tear out of a glass eye.
ReplyDeleteAs for pete the robbing bastard, worth every penny, kept the kids amused for over two hours, no bloodshed or tantrums, lunch with the family was more stressful but will not burden you with the details, came home listened to Easter Parade and everything was ok wioth the world again.
Drew
Drew,
ReplyDeleteMrs Mick is from the other coast - Dundee to be precise - but I think the same thing applies.
I am always, consistently, embarrassingly late to respond on the few occasions someone says something nice about me.
ReplyDeleteThank you so very kindly, Mr. Davy, for the lovely compliment.
I was uh, late, because I was out Halloweening about. *cough* Of course, I'm an American, so there you go. :)
Ah, we'll forgive you Greer x
ReplyDelete(Greer?)
ReplyDeleteDane! I'm so sorry! Senior moment!! x
ReplyDelete