patsylabrador Posted October 28, 2010 Share Posted October 28, 2010 I enjoy Halloween, I like the Pagan history and the modern fun. Even though the kids are grown up, we decorate the house, always have a childish meal of hot dogs, tomato soup, dorritos and a creepy film. We struggle to do it on 31st because of shifts or going out, but fit it in during days before. My son and I made loads of fudge and rocky road yesterday and my back room is full of costumes being made. Witches, broken bones, spilled guts and the like. Hard to find the space to do my exercises. The only thing I'm grumpy about is trick or treat, which I object to. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ali-s Posted October 28, 2010 Share Posted October 28, 2010 When DS and DD were younger we always decorated the house, lit Pumpkin lanterns and they would go out trick or treating. We had lots of children trick or treating us. Living then in a small village we knew all the children and every year we had to laugh at the joke a child had told us the year before or praise their poetry or singing and pretend we did not recognise them in their costumes. Living now in the middle of no where we do not get knocks on the door. I will be putting a pumpkin lantern on the post box at the bottom of the drive to welcome OH and DD home as they are away this weekend. DS (19) going out with friends in fancy dress on Saturday night. Trick or treating will be on Saturday as the 31st falls on Sunday this year. I will be on my own on Saturday so I will buy in some goodies just in case some one knocks on the door Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted October 28, 2010 Share Posted October 28, 2010 We have long been the youngest people in our village up until a couple of years ago,so we discouraged the children from trick or treating,as we feel its unfair of the older villagers,& rather like begging in a way. Now they are both old enough to make thier own plans. The eldest is going to a party with her friends & bought herself a very slinky purple witches outfit yesterday The little daughter is going into town 'all dressed up' on Sunday (personally I don't think they will look much different to normal,as her crown are very Emo!) I am off to M&S in a moment to get some of their Halloween nibbles for both girls events. I will light a few candles & have a carved pumpkin in the porch,& await the kiddies from next door for their chocolate fix Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sageandonion Posted October 28, 2010 Share Posted October 28, 2010 We will decorate the house, need to get a pumpkin later. Some friends are coming round on Sunday for a halloween tea then we will go and trick or treat. Well just the "treat" bit, we live on a large housing estate with a primary school attached. Most families trick or treat and everyone goes to only the houses that are decorated and are obviously inviting trick or treaters. My kids usually do very well out of it. OH stays at home with choccy etc for any trick or treaters but we don't get many as we're not on the main drag as it were of the estate. So my kids end up with a full treat bag from trick or treating then come home to loads of "leftovers" . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keyhole kate Posted October 28, 2010 Share Posted October 28, 2010 It is my YD's Birthday so we always made a big effort when she was little, lots of our halloween decs came from the usa and she always had a party as she got older we have scaled down however this halloween is her 18th so all the decs are being brought out of retirement apparently she considers it cool again Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valkyrie Posted October 28, 2010 Share Posted October 28, 2010 Turn all the lights off and hide behind the sofa if anyone knocks on the door. Otherwise it's just a normal night. Before I was married I used to attempt some of the "husband to be" spells - but they were too scary. Like sitting in front of a mirror with a candle, peel an orange and eat it. While you do that the spectre of your intended will stand behind you. Another one was throw a spool into the garden as far as you could while holding the end of the string/cotton. Then you had to wind it in and your future husband was supposed to be holding the spool and would hand it back to you. Both times you must never speak. Er, I think I'd be going "ARGHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" A nicer one was before you went to bed you had to say: I leave my shoes in the form of a T So let my true love come to me. Then you should dream about him. Now I only ever dreamed of a bloke once and he was a dancer in one of the Saturday night specials (can't remember his name now - blonde fella and I was all excited at the time). I hasten to add that was a complete load of rubbish! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted October 28, 2010 Share Posted October 28, 2010 Nope. I don't do Halloween! It was never celebrated when I was a child. I don't know many children round here, and I really object to strangers knocking on the door expecting sweets to be handed out; trick or treat is not a British tradition, and I think it's totally hyped up by various supermarkets, greetings-card shops etc. Afraid I'll be indoors with the lights turned out! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted October 28, 2010 Share Posted October 28, 2010 Ditto to Olly's post. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted October 28, 2010 Share Posted October 28, 2010 Spooky, Egluntyne! You and I really were separated at birth, weren't we! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted October 28, 2010 Share Posted October 28, 2010 Looks like it! . Love the choice of the word 'Spooky', given the topic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craftyhunnypie Posted October 28, 2010 Share Posted October 28, 2010 It'll be lights out at normal time & out for the count ( get it?) Emma.x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluekarin Posted October 28, 2010 Share Posted October 28, 2010 I really don't like Halloween, but the kids love the sweets they get. We only go to houses with something Halloween in the front garden. I have a bowl of sweets for those who come to our door. Its normally over by 9pm, and if its not, we don't answer the door after 9pm anyway. I carve a pumpkin and pop it outside the front door with a tea light in. The kids dress up, and then fail to answer the door Luckily this year YD is going to a party on the Saturday night, and DS is *fingerscrossed* going out with his friend, so I won't have to go out trick or treating Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Space Chick Posted October 28, 2010 Share Posted October 28, 2010 I always have sweets for the trick or treaters. And always have a pumpkin lit in the window. However, this year, following a successful fancy dress party we are both planning to dress up as vampires, complete with red contact lenses. So we'll probably scare the living daylights out of some of the kids Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lewis Posted October 29, 2010 Share Posted October 29, 2010 However, this year, following a successful fancy dress party we are both planning to dress up as vampires, complete with red contact lenses. So we'll probably scare the living daylights out of some of the kids Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DebC Posted October 29, 2010 Share Posted October 29, 2010 I'm normally with the others - lights off and ignoring all callers! This year our next door neighbour has asked if she can bring her young children around trick or treating. Basically she didn't want to go knocking on doors of strangers with the kids and they are just going to a few houses of neighbours who are also friends, and she has asked us all in advance . So as soon as they have been it will be lights off! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valkyrie Posted October 29, 2010 Share Posted October 29, 2010 Yep, I don't mind being asked beforehand - a neighbour of mine rang to ask, so I got all prepared. The knock came and I opened the door really quickly and shouted "who's knocking on my door?" - the two diddy witches were not bothered at all, but my friend standing further back in the driveway screamed! Then she laughed herself silly all the way back to her house. That was the only exception. Other neighbours where we used to live had paint sprayed on their cars and flour and water in the letter boxes. Here the preferred method is chucking eggs at the houses - the local shops now do not sell eggs to the under whatevers. I hasten to add that in the past they have thrown eggs throughout the year but this time of year just gave them an excuse - luckily we haven't had that here (yet). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daphne Posted October 29, 2010 Share Posted October 29, 2010 We're going to a party, I love the chance to look very vaguely Morticia like with black lipstick and fake blood all over me at our friends house which will be decorated with pumpkins and lights and all sorts of autumnal goodies from the garden. OH makes a mean Dracula (or that snooker player Ray Reardon, depending on the light) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sam Palmer Posted October 29, 2010 Share Posted October 29, 2010 I'm with the 'turn the lights off and pretend you're not in' brigade. In saying that, we had a halloween party at the nursery I work at this afternoon and most of the children came dressed up and parents were invited. I did lots of messy play/icky things for them to do after the food which they enjoyed - jelly, gloop, sweets in flour etc - but I regretted it when we had to clear up. It looked like a bomb had hit the room! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sari Posted October 29, 2010 Share Posted October 29, 2010 I', a Pagan, so will be honouring my ancestors at what we call Samhain....I do this by getting out all my old photo albums and wearing my Momma in Law's jewellery she left me, and reading my nan's copy of Jane Eyre that she gave me...well, I borrowed it and never gave it back....we just spend time thinking about our families, and about how this is the time to start to let go of the year, and be quiet, in time for the cold of winter...a season of rest before the winter solstice.....my girls are helping out at the church lightfest ( Mom is devout but lovely Christian) so my girls will help her with the little ones...and they will indulge in a bit of secular halloweeny nonsense later...all bases covered!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patsylabrador Posted October 29, 2010 Author Share Posted October 29, 2010 Sari, that sounds wonderful. A rich and deep celebration of an important time of year. Your post made me feel content. I love history and our celebrations are an important part. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CallyChook Posted October 30, 2010 Share Posted October 30, 2010 It's my birthday and normally a good time for the family to get together as both my parents, myself and my sister are pagans. But with baby being here I've not made any plans. My aunt - who was obsessed with the occult and strange - used to always be our ringleader but sadly passed away a month ago so we're not doing our usual midnight walk tonight either - we all used to wrap up (including my son!) and go walking the village looking for spooks! I also normally hold a ritual on every sabbat, but this year I have ground to a bit of a halt - so have said that next Imbolc I will make more of an effort for the new year. Last year I made samhain soaps, a special mulled wine which I used as our libation at my samhain ritual, spell candles and all kinds of witchety home-baked goods. In the past I've had some fantastic birthday parties with all my friends getting dressed up, aparently my corpse bride and "the Grudge" costumes have been some of the best. And last year's pumpkins were pretty cool too! At very best, we're going to toddle down to the all-you-can-eat buffet at the chinese restaurant in the village and then maybe I will get time for some quiet prayers later in the evening. last year's pumpkin getting ready for witchery last year me as Sadako from the Grudge wish I was dressing up now!! the lil miss has a black grow with a pink tutu... next year, I'll do more for Halloween with my son. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chucky Mama Posted October 30, 2010 Share Posted October 30, 2010 I really hate halloween I ban my children from doing so many things that I do, despite my disapproval allow them to go out trick or treating. When younger I went with them if only to insist the children that they went with behaved themselves and said thank you. One was so rude and at one house said 'is that all you've got ' I gave her a real dressing down - how rude Needless to say mine never went out with her again. Now they are older they go out with friends but I still don't like the concept of 'begging' sweets and treats. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alis girls Posted October 30, 2010 Share Posted October 30, 2010 ES has a scream mask which I loathe. he tried it out on both cats who were not bothered and Hon also rubbed noses with it - obviosuly knew it was "dad" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LuckyChickenLover- Posted October 30, 2010 Share Posted October 30, 2010 I'm too busy celebrating my birthday... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patsylabrador Posted October 30, 2010 Author Share Posted October 30, 2010 I visited Packwood House today, a National Trust property mear Birmingham, it has the most incredible Yew garden. Today it had a trail for Halloween, with little witches hats hanging off things. There were lots of young families there and the children were dressed up as witches and skeletons, it was lovely because the info sheets told them history facts alongside creepy fun. Callychook, I love the pics and now I understand your new baby's names. Happy Halloween. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
