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Archiver > ESSEX-UK > 2004-11 > 1099300796


From: "patricia salter" <>
Subject: Re: Halloween..happy?!
Date: Mon, 1 Nov 2004 09:20:09 -0000
References: <200410312028.i9VKSPJD006994@mail.rootsweb.com>


Hi Jo
I totally agree with you. Halloween is something we can do without these
days, the same with Guy Fawkes Day and Dipali, for the latter fireworks are
an absolute menace and they start setting them off weeks before and after
the event, and they dont even sound like fireworks any more, but more like
bloody great bombs.
Patti




----- Original Message -----
From: "Jo" <>
To: <>
Sent: Sunday, October 31, 2004 8:28 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
>> >
>>
>>
>
>
>


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