Friday, October 31, 2008

Halloween? Bah, humbug!

It's traditional that at this time of year I have a moan about Halloween and say how much I prefer Bonfire Night.

This time I have done it in my Calder's Comfort Farm column on the New Statesman website:

I’ve got no time for Trick or Treat. It’s just demanding money with menaces and, in the South of England at least, a recent import from America. Worse, paranoid modern parents insist on accompanying their children, trailing behind them with big soppy grins.

A Penny for the Guy was more my style: good, honest begging with a token creative effort thrown in. Children spent hours shivering on street corners before blowing themselves up with fireworks. That sort of thing builds character.

3 comments:

Nich Starling said...

I agree 100%.

Sad parents focing their beleifs on to their neighbours in a very illiberal way.

If hindu neighbours of mine starting knocking on doors damanding people join in with Divali, there would be uproar (and no doubt a campaign from the Daily Mail), but my other neighbours can go around with their kids kncoking on everyone's doors somehow demanding we ALL take part in Halloween.

Jennie Rigg said...

http://community.livejournal.com/theyorkshergob/tag/bonfire+night

I blame the marketing men, and have for years.

NB: if someone demanded I celebrate Divali, I would happily do so because Divali is awesome, and Hindu parties are amazing. But then I'm not a closet Tory... ;)

dreamingspire said...

More sensible here last night. Cheerful kids and happy parents in the street, but only calling at houses that exhibit the illuminated pumpkin. And, from one father: only in search of chocolate.