ESSEX-UK-L Archives

Archiver > ESSEX-UK > 2004-10 > 1099256957


From: <>
Subject: Re: Halloween..happy?!
Date: Sun, 31 Oct 2004 22:09:17 +0100
References: <200410312028.i9VKSPJD006994@mail.rootsweb.com>


Not so Happy then ...

Sorry to hear about that - We actually had a few groups of kids come round
tonight - I still had some sweets from my daughters birthday yesterday,
but´one group was so cheeky about it - I said wait a minute, went to the
fridge and got the whipped cream out we had left from todays visit - I then
asked them if they REALLY wanted 'Süßes' (treat) and when they said yes, I
flicked the whipped cream at them, which I had hiddenbehind the door!
(evil!!!) - Okay I had to wipe some toothpaste off my doorknob half an hour
later but it was fun!!!

Next year my daughter wants to go to, an we will, but I will go with her and
ner friend, just to make sure things do't get out of hand!

Diane Lord


----- Original Message -----
From: Jo <>
To: <>
Sent: Sunday, October 31, 2004 9:28 PM
Subject: Halloween..happy?!


> I empathise with these posts...I've had two horrible halloween's in the UK
> and am one of the millions who dread it and perceive it as a total
non-event
> in the calendar.
>
> A few years ago I was alone (we were relocating and my husband had gone a
> month ahead of me while the house was being packed up)..I opened the door
on
> 31st Oct to two guys wearing halloween masks who tried to force their way
> in..I spent the rest of that night giving a police statement and too
utterly
> terrified to go back home for three nights.
>
> 3 years later, in a area, we had so much damage done to external light
> fittings by "children" throwing things at the front of the house (we had
> refused to open the door)that we had to spend over £180 repairing the
> damage. What a quaint tradition and what fun.
>
> My brother is a police sergeant and he won't won't let his kids do
this..he
> spends halloween sorting out terrified old folk, frightened people living
> alone having their doors pelted, and complaints of criminal damage.
>
> It's sad but anyone sensible these days wouldn't open the door to
strangers
> shouting things at them on any night of the year, and surely not when they
> are threatening damage to your property. No parent with sense would let a
> young child out in the dark these days so those wandering the streets are
> certainly not "children" and are usually looking for trouble and a soft
> victim daft enough to open the door to them to either be insulted,
assaulted
> or be expected to hand over money or gifts. Whatever magic the night had a
> century or so ago, it's certainly lost it's sparkle in my neck o' the
woods!
>
>
> Jo
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Diane Wynne [mailto:]
> Sent: 31 October 2004 19:35
> To:
> Subject: Re: Happy Halloween!!!
>
> > I think that is what all about. Maybe hyjacked by our colonial
> > cousins? I was in California this time last year and it was huge. Now
> > we go in fear
> and
> > trembling (in deepest Essex) of having flour or eggs thrown at the
house.
> I
> > am armed this year......I have loads of sweets and we will treat....
> because
> > that is the way it is going.
>
> You're lucky you live in deepest Essex. Before I came to Spain I lived in
a
> less rural area and elderly people were afraid on Halloween because the
> 'children' could be so threatening.
>
> > Got to keep up haven't we?
>
> So, no, I don't think we should copy and keep up with a typically North
> American custom (I've also lived in Canada), which is now getting out of
> hand.
>
> Regards,
> Diane
>
>
> > > Halloween is not a custom here in Spain.
> > >
> > > 31st October is the day families go to the cemetary to arrange
> > > flowers
> on
> > > each grave, with a great deal of chatter while the children race
around.
> > If
> > > you visit the cemetary on 1st November it's a beautiful sight - the
> whole
> > > place is full of flowers. This day is a national holiday when the
> > > people visit the cemetary to honour their dead.
> > >
> > > Regards,
> > > Diane
> > >
> >
> >
>
>

This thread: