Hallowe’en decorations now?

I hate Hallowe'en as I think it is an Americanism we really don't need but if others love it, they can festoon everything with untidy decorations, I'll just ignore them!

I love Halloween and get really disappointed if no one knocks on my door ! My two young DGD's always dress up and come around and this year they are helping me make the cupcakes I always bake with the usual 'spooky' decorations! Yes and I do hang the odd bunting up and put a pumpkin outside but only on the day itself.

The first time we went to Florida many years ago we went to a bowling alley and were amazed at all the Halloween decorations and costumes - we'd never seen anything like it. When I was a child back in the 50's my dad used to hollow out a turnip for me with string for a handle which we stood a candle in. I did go and knock on doors with friends but were only given pennies no sweets. It's now become a good excuse to sell more tat and make money but the kids enjoy it all and so we buy sweets and answer the door to the little kids all dressed up in their scary outfits A few years ago when my mum was in care they had a little party at the home - imagine our joy when my two granddaughters (then aged 6 & 10) arrived dressed in the outfits having travelled for 2 hours to get to us - my mum's face was a picture!

Vaguely remember apple bobbing at parties when I was young. However in North and East ridings of Yorkshire, (lived in both as a child,) 4th of November was "mischief night" and quite a lot of damage was done with paint being thrown a fireworks being posted into houses.

The supermarkets are over-loaded with pumpkins today!
Will they all be sold or shall we be buying them in the sale to make pumpkin soup?

We called it bob apple. Apples stretched across the room on string, hands behind your back you had to try and take a bite. Then the apples in a bowl full of water and try and get one, if they had a stalk on you had a better chance. Kids don't know what they are missing.

Only two houses here with Halloween decorations.

Does anyone remember rip rap fireworks, my they were dangerous, no health and safety then. Lads used to set them off and we would have to keep jumping out of the way.

Are they the ones we called 'jumping jacks?'

Dooking for apples - we had an old zinc tub full of water with apples floating on the surface. A dining chair was placed with its back to the tub. A child would kneel on the chair and lean over the water with a fork in his/her mouth and attempt to spear an apple without the use of hands.
Scones, generously smeared with black treacle, were threaded on strings and hung from a rope across the room. Then you had to try to eat one without the use of hands.

We got away with all sorts on Mischief Night that wouldn’t be allowed now. And turnip lanterns, yuck! They were a devil to carve out (it was actually quite dangerous), took forever, and stank to high heaven.

Your way of dooming for apples sounds a bit perilous, anno.

We just used to go for them with our teeth, and duck our faces under the water.

Hasn't anyone seen this - it's not Halloween any more, it's HalloWEEK!

I rather like the little ones doing their magic costumes and trick or treating. Not so keen on grown men doing it!

I love seeing the kids dressed up and having fun, enjoying Halloween. I think it's here to stay so we'd better get used to it.

The most we had was a hollowed out swede! Realise I sound like the Monty Python sketch "We were evicted from our hole in the ground"
I will put out a lit ceramic pumpkin until 7 pm as I usually get dressed up children I have taught with accompanying parents. Also DGS is with us this year as parents away on belated honeymoon !! However after 7pm it is bedtime for him and all will be dark and still, (I hope!) Have never seen the shops so full of tat, it is in competition with the Christmas tat!Wish there was a similar emphasis on the next day, All Saints. But I suspect saints will never be as exciting or marketable as the wicked ones.

I went into the city centre last week to be greeted by notices telling me that Christmas has arrived! Really? I always thought it was in December. . .

annodomini....that's just the way we used to dook for apples! It's such an ancient rite, dates back to the Romans, its amazing its lasted so long.

I LOVE Halloween, what's not to like about happy , fancydressed children ? My 2yr old GS and I will be answering the door dressed to the max , and doling out sweets- brilliant fun!

It's a US thing and I don't want it.

Halloween is based on the old pagan festival of Samhain and was appropriated by the church as All Hallows Eve. I think it nice to acknowledge it and celebrate ut,though I can't bear all the plastic tack.

I can't stand it myself, but play along because I like to see the little ones have fun. Lots of young families live nearby and are usually accompanied by parents. I have eaten a lot of the chocolate treats I bought a while back but will pipe skeletons onto some mini gingerbread men and make some brains with Rice Krispies and marshmallows dribbled with red writing icing 'blood'. I wrap them individually to avoid multiple handling! I have enjoyed carving a pumpkin the last few years but can't be bothered this year and DD has given me a ceramic one to hold a battery tea light.
A happy Hallowe'en to you all .

[thlsmile ]
Where are the witch smileys GNHQ?

We ( fortunately!) have all the village children / grandchildren at once. I insist on a song or poem ( no jokes!)
I think it’s a shame to see so many “ bought” costumes, as I remember how our children enjoyed making theirs.

Apostrophe or no apostrophe? That is the question. It looks weird to me without the apostrophe, but I don’t think Americans ever use it, so Hallowe’en will probably be overtaken by Halloween.

I don’t like it. I’m one who turns the lights off and pretends to be out. I never answer the door after dark unless I know who it is.

lemongrove I skipped over Christmas because all the stuff for that is already available in the shops .

Visited Essex today - more Halloween tat in evidence around the shops there than in my neck of the woods in Kent .

Hallowe’en, Mothers Day, Father’s Day, Teachers’ gifts, all inventions to make money. Shops full of tat, advertisements shouting”Spend! Spend! Spend!”
Just ignore them all.