Off topic: Happy Halloween! Thread poster: Peter Motte
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Peter Motte 
Belgium
Local time: 21:24
Member (2009)
English to Dutch
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| Tom in London
United Kingdom
Local time: 20:24
Member (2008)
Italian to English
| | Happy Halloween - light a candle of hope in your lantern | Oct 31, 2016 |
I have mixed feelings about Halloween.
I have nothing against making a pumpkin lantern with the kids, or parading it round the neighbourhood to see if anyone is willing to provide sweeties and cocoa.
If the local bakers want to colour their cakes orange with chocolate spider's webs on them, fine - it is spider season and the trees are a riot of colour now.
But all the commercialism irks me - it is so empty.
I was brought up in the Christian tr... See more I have mixed feelings about Halloween.
I have nothing against making a pumpkin lantern with the kids, or parading it round the neighbourhood to see if anyone is willing to provide sweeties and cocoa.
If the local bakers want to colour their cakes orange with chocolate spider's webs on them, fine - it is spider season and the trees are a riot of colour now.
But all the commercialism irks me - it is so empty.
I was brought up in the Christian tradition and we celebrated All Saints and All Souls. We especially remembered the humbler 'grass roots' and foot-soldiers who did not have separate saints' days, but served faithfully nevertheless. Family and friends, teachers and colleagues who never became famous, but who were a source of inspiration to those around them. We remember dear ones who have passed on.
This need not be an exclusively Christian tradition, and I would like to see it linked to Halloween. Call them humble heroes instead of saints, remember all those quiet, hard working people who keep the world going, and thank any you meet on your way.
I make a good pumpkin soup and celebrate every year.
Although it comes a bit later, I also associate the pumpkins with Thanksgiving, and remember celebrating with American neighbours when I was a child in India. (The seasons were a bit blurred there anyway.)
I still think of the Pilgrim Fathers, looking for a new life and religious freedom. We from the Old World and the New gathered with students from the Third World as it was called then, at the College where my father taught. It was a very special celebration of being together in peace, united in spite of our differences.
We prayed for those who were persecuted for their beliefs, religious or political, and gave thanks for our own freedom.
Definitely a good reason for a party and celebrations, but have a cosy chat with your children about why we do it.
Happy Halloween! ▲ Collapse
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I am curious on whether Halloween, as an US type of festivity, has been imported into your country too. Italy has it as a festivity nowadays.
Please let me know, thank you.
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Peter Motte
Belgium
Local time: 21:24
Member (2009)
English to Dutch
+ ...
TOPIC STARTER | Not a religious thing | Nov 1, 2016 |
Halloween is more or less introduced in Belgium too, but it hasn't any religious connotations.
It's not really a US thing either. Originally it was Irish, and Irish immigrants brought it to the US.
The US being a big country, it eventually got introduced in other countries too.
That happened rather late, and was - I think - primarily the result of the use of it in some movies, like ET.
Some US things get introduces somewhere else, others don't.
E.g.: clapping in th... See more Halloween is more or less introduced in Belgium too, but it hasn't any religious connotations.
It's not really a US thing either. Originally it was Irish, and Irish immigrants brought it to the US.
The US being a big country, it eventually got introduced in other countries too.
That happened rather late, and was - I think - primarily the result of the use of it in some movies, like ET.
Some US things get introduces somewhere else, others don't.
E.g.: clapping in the movie theatres at the end of a movie, never caught on here. It's too silly.
Halloween does more or less, but it's primarily a childrens' thing. They dress up, but children do not go around for trick-or-treat.
[Edited at 2016-11-01 09:50 GMT] ▲ Collapse
| | | | Kay Denney
France
Local time: 21:24
French to English
I don't like being a wet blanket but I don't like kids coming to my door for sweets. Most kids eat far too many sweets and you shouldn't encourage kids to knock on strangers' doors. So I didn't open to those who rang (only once actually, luckily it hasn't caught on too much here).
I was in Canada for Halloween once and really enjoyed it, that doesn't mean I want to import it here.
| | | | freezone (X)
United Arab Emirates
Our halloween party this year is a simple one only. We made it private. We just invited a few family friends and close relatives and held it at home. It was tho.
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