This was actually written last year, November 1st. This year, I am keeping the lights turned off and I am staying at the back of the house.
Let's talk about Halloween.
Halloween.
We don't have Halloween in Australia. We know it's there. We know the date. We just don't do Halloween.
For those Pagans amongst us, it's a lovely time (Samhaine or Beltaine, one of the two, I think it's Beltaine in the Southern Hemisphere, correct me if I'm wrong however) and is celebrated accordingly. There's nothing like lighting fires and dancing nude and getting a good root out in a quiet paddock.
But the Americanised Trick or Treat Halloween just is not done in Australia, and if it is, it's done by a handful of begrudging people who have come to realise that the neighbourhood kids are too stupid and haven't realised the facts about Halloween yet.
Australian Halloween consists of the old Simpson Halloween specials being run for about four hours and then a delightful replay of Disney's "Headless Horseman" on television. A couple shops might even do "Halloween Red-Spot Specials" or something.
But... last night we had not one, not two, not three, but four groups of kids... err... well it was three groups of kids, I'm getting to the fourth in a minute...
The first group was woeful. Three kids, two of those were "in costume" and by "in costume" I mean that they had monster masks on. That's it. One was the Frankenstein monster and the other was just an ugly ghouly dude. Sadly, I had to turn them away. They seemed to understand the predicament and wandered off to the next house.
The second group was marginally better and a little older. One was dressed up as a fairy princess, and looked quite pretty with her little wings and tinsel halo and blonde, bouncey curls and glittery face. The other, obviously her older brother was Superman - red undies included. Again, I had to apologise and tell them that I didn't have any lollies or presents.
Article comments
1 - Eric Olsen
Classic! I would have liked to see their faces, or perhaps balls on a platter. That would have been very Halloweeny. thanks Ren!
2 - Jim Carruthers
Halloween outside of NorthAm, and in Oceania sounds like Spinal Tap doing a tribute to the Druids.
Y'know, like "Stonehedge". Let me sketch it on a napkin for you.
3 - Eric Olsen
it takes practice
4 - Dawn
Oh man, I am so glad that story was resurrected - that was how I discovered Ren's blog - ahh good times, good times.
5 - Jason
your lame. if ur gonna scare people on halloween you need to at least give out candy. your a dick for saying what you did to those little kids. halloween is one of the best holidays, and it is sad that australian kids do not get to experience it.
6 - Dave Nalle
If the kids want it, then inevitably the Australian commercial culture will adopt it because it will sell candy. Ren may protest, but every year there will be more people at her door and there's not a damned thing she can do about it, except develop a reputation as the 'crazy lady' of the neighborhood and then they'll all just start ringing her bell and running away. Might as well embrace the holiday because it IS fun for the kids.
Dave
7 - Jen
My neighbourhood is full of kids on Halloween and residents dress up their houses and most are prepared with treats. Those who dont want to play, just turn off the porch light and put up a sign. I usually walk around with a large group supervising so I dress up too. I know its not an old tradition in Australia, but who cares! We are already so heavily influenced by America, and a lot of it is negative, so why not allow our kids to play and share in one of the cooler of American traditions.
8 - sonyah
Geez Louise what a cow you are ren...thousands of people in Australia don't celebrate Christmas but they don't treat the kids that do celebrate it, the way you treated those kids. The first year they came to my door I too had no lollies and I wasnt going to give any out. I too was of the opinion that as it is not OUR holiday we (meaning everyone) shouldnt celebrate it. Well I actually felt really bad so I gave the kids apples and bananas and bubble bars - just anything I could think of so they got something. Yeh some stared in amazement because they didnt expect an apple but hey they took the time to dress up and politely came to my door. I figured you know what - who is it hurting...No one so what the hell.
Get a life Ren move past your inability to share or open your narrow mind and enjoy all aspects of life....you may like it!!!