The Dreaded Annual Halloween Kilt Thread - 2009

[O'Callaghan]

As someone originally from England, I have to say that costume parties for Halloween, and also the telling of ghost stories, go back a long way over there. These things were fairly common more than a decade before I emigrated to the US, and I've been over here for more than twenty years, so we're talking more than thirty years ago. We even had jack-o-lanterns back in those days, albeit made from turnips, not pumpkins. It is only trick-or-treat that is an American import.

I am sorry to have to point it out, but those Brits who say that there was never any celebration of Halloween there before trick-or-treating started must have been living under a rock. I think even the American trick-or-treat thing itself has been going on for at least a decade over there, to some extent.

Of course, it is really the pagan Samhain, which the church co-opted as All Hallow's Eve, and this most certainly did not begin in America either! I read the comment about no religion on the board, but you can't get around it being a religious holiday.

[macwilkin]

As someone originally from England, I have to say that costume parties for Halloween, and also the telling of ghost stories, go back a long way over there. These things were fairly common more than a decade before I emigrated to the US, and I've been over here for more than twenty years, so we're talking more than thirty years ago. We even had jack-o-lanterns back in those days, albeit made from turnips, not pumpkins. It is only trick-or-treat that is an American import.

I am sorry to have to point it out, but those Brits who say that there was never any celebration of Halloween there before trick-or-treating started must have been living under a rock. I think even the American trick-or-treat thing itself has been going on for at least a decade over there, to some extent.

Of course, it is really the pagan Samhain, which the church co-opted as All Hallow's Eve, and this most certainly did not begin in America either! I read the comment about no religion on the board, but you can't get around it being a religious holiday.

Spot on from a historian/folklorist POV, sir!

Regards,

Todd

[Scotus]

Of course, it is really the pagan Samhain, which the church co-opted as All Hallow's Eve...

Please, let's not go there! That kind of a comment has no place here.

I love Halloween, and feel a little sorry for the British here who didn't have it growing up. Having said that, I think one can only rarely make a kilt work with a costume without making a costume out of the kilt. Jamie's done it magnificently in the photo he posted, but I hope I don't see too many "I'm a Scotsman" costumes this year.

[sathor]

Please, let's not go there! That kind of a comment has no place here.

No reason to be mad, he was right. I minored in such things in college. However, it does get close to violating the 'no religious discussions' rule. If you want to be mad, be such only for his mistake of mentioning part of the religion behind it, not for expressing something that is true, and unpopular to certain people.

[Scotus]

If you want to be mad, be such only for his mistake of mentioning part of the religion behind it, not for expressing something that is true, and unpopular to certain people.

Actually, the mentioning of the religion part was what made me mad. The truth or falsehood of his statement is not something you should bring up, nor should we debate, as this is a topic that concerns religious traditions.

[sathor]

Actually, the mentioning of the religion part was what made me mad. The truth or falsehood of his statement is not something you should bring up, nor should we debate, as this is a topic that concerns religious traditions.

You really need to find better things to get upset by. Some here are better than others dealing with the R issues. Look at the trouble we went through on one thread to not blurt out what PPD was. But all in all, still not worth getting angry over.

[Jack Daw]

...We even had jack-o-lanterns back in those days, albeit made from turnips, not pumpkins. It is only trick-or-treat that is an American import...

We Americans also make faces out of potatoes. He's called Mr. Potato Head, et. al., and has nothing whatsoever to do with Halloween, unless some commercial company made a costume out of it.

[Hamish]

As someone originally from England, I have to say that costume parties for Halloween, and also the telling of ghost stories, go back a long way over there. These things were fairly common more than a decade before I emigrated to the US, and I've been over here for more than twenty years, so we're talking more than thirty years ago. We even had jack-o-lanterns back in those days, albeit made from turnips, not pumpkins. It is only trick-or-treat that is an American import.

I am sorry to have to point it out, but those Brits who say that there was never any celebration of Halloween there before trick-or-treating started must have been living under a rock. I think even the American trick-or-treat thing itself has been going on for at least a decade over there, to some extent.

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Fair enough! I must have been living under a rock then. As one who is now in their 74th year I can honestly state that Halloween has never featured in any stage of my life. I vaguely recall that Victorian children 'bobbed for apples' at about this time of year, although I have never done it myself nor seen it done by anyone else. Possibly only in the past three or four years have I become aware of supermarkets here making displays of black and orange fancy dress outfits for small children at this time of year. However, there being no children in my life, I pay no heed to these displays - nor do I know of anyone who does. Yes, I have also heard of tricking and treating in recent years - certainly not before - and assumed it to be something that happened in the USA and was now also being exercised in some inner-city areas in the UK in spite of it being generally discouraged. As for adults over here cavorting in fancy dress at parties no, that is something I have NEVER heard about.

Oh, there are so many advantages to living in a semi-rural area where children are few and far between, and the nearest night club has to be at least 30 miles away (possibly further - I have never enquired)!

Take care,
Ham.

[PS: Just for the record, with regard to Guy Fawkes Night, it must be fourty years or more since I saw a child asking for 'a penny for the guy' on the street - again, I think that is a practice very much discouraged by authorities and parents alike. Fortunately, fireworks can no longer be bought by children (that was what the 'pennies' were for when I was a youngster - not that I ever asked anyone for any myself!). I would also imagine that firework displays for Guy Fawkes are now pretty much restricted to the safety of civic or organised displays where funds might also be raised for charity.]