The internationalisation of Halloween.

[Fraught]

Wow, man, I had no idea the Grinch had so many cousins who decided to hate Halloween. It's the best holiday aside from Christmas, as far as I'm concerned. But then I'm an American.

Come on, it's the Escapist. Too much positivity would kill us.

That aside, I think the idea is great, yet I've never, ever celebrated it, because we don't celebrate it here, like, at all. I would love to celebrate Halloween one day though [small](considering I plan to move and all that..)[/small], and since I'm not an American, I kind of feel like I'd want to be mean about it to make myself feel better, but I keep it bottled inside.

So yes. I'm just envious. I don't want it to be internationalized, though. It's more special this way. And hopefully one day I can join in.

EDIT: Oh, oh, and we do have Halloween-themed cakes and other random products sold here, but yeah, that's about it. I think there are some parties in nightclubs and whatnot. Y'know, places more catered towards an international crowd and the like.

 

[Zack Alklazaris]

Halloween in the US has sucked ass since the late 90's, early 00's. Mainly because of the same bullshit overprotective mindset instilled by social services and our current public education system in which walking a mile to a friend's house has magically become too fucking dangerous for a 10 year old.

Yeah the whole child molestation awareness really ruined Halloween for us 90s kids.

Then again when you have kids like me who were very very gullible. Its a miracle I'm still alive.

My Dad told me when I was 6 that kids need to dress up for Halloween. That there are spirits that come down and look for children. All the children they see they turn into monsters. So parents dress up their kids as monsters to confuse the evil spirits.

I believed that for almost 3 years...

 

[Owyn_Merrilin]

Wow, man, I had no idea the Grinch had so many cousins who decided to hate Halloween. It's the best holiday aside from Christmas, as far as I'm concerned. But then I'm an American.

Come on, it's the Escapist. Too much positivity would kill us.

That aside, I think the idea is great, yet I've never, ever celebrated it, because we don't celebrate it here, like, at all. I would love to celebrate Halloween one day though [small](considering I plan to move and all that..)[/small], and since I'm not an American, I kind of feel like I'd want to be mean about it to make myself feel better, but I keep it bottled inside.

So yes. I'm just envious. I don't want it to be internationalized, though. It's more special this way. And hopefully one day I can join in.

EDIT: Oh, oh, and we do have Halloween-themed cakes and other random products sold here, but yeah, that's about it. I think there are some parties in nightclubs and whatnot. Y'know, places more catered towards an international crowd and the like.

Fair enough, it just seems kind of weird. I mean, it's a holiday based on horror movies, candy, and partying. Seems like it'd be big anywhere with a large nerd, child, and/or drinking culture -- so, basically, everywhere.

Halloween in the US has sucked ass since the late 90's, early 00's. Mainly because of the same bullshit overprotective mindset instilled by social services and our current public education system in which walking a mile to a friend's house has magically become too fucking dangerous for a 10 year old.

Yeah the whole child molestation awareness really ruined Halloween for us 90s kids.

Then again when you have kids like me who were very very gullible. Its a miracle I'm still alive.

My Dad told me when I was 6 that kids need to dress up for Halloween. That there are spirits that come down and look for children. All the children they see they turn into monsters. So parents dress up their kids as monsters to confuse the evil spirits.

I believed that for almost 3 years...

Your dad actually told you something pretty close to the original idea behind the holiday. The reason people dress up on Halloween today is because centuries ago, people believed that the spirits rose on that night, and people wore masks to scare them away. The jack-o-lantern is similar, the light was supposed to keep the spirits away.

Edit: as for the child molestation thing, no kidding. Parents got /really/ overprotective in the last few decades, mainly because they believed a bunch of urban myths. By and large, wherever you go, you'll find decent people. Even in pretty bad neighborhoods, there's usually a lot of good people who just happen to be in bad circumstances.

 

[Palademon]

I'be never really been able to get into it here, since some people think of it as a purely American thing, and I grew up around a lot of old people, so it'd be a few children going round houses that refuse to answer the door.

 

[AgentLampshade]

Speaking from Scotland, nobody cares that much about it here. It seemed so much bigger when I was younger, but that's probably the nostalgia talking.

Plus I'm afraid of my neighbors.

Captcha: screw driver. Yeah, screw Driver! I hated that game!

 

[drzoidbergmd]

Some people are dead against it where I live.
Even going as far as to put up a "No Halloween" sign to stop trick or treaters from coming round.

That happens here too (America)... Though they (the ultra conservatives) have learned to stop putting signs out and just turn off all the lights because... reasons

Spoiler

Don't forget the Jesus freaks who think partaking in Halloween festivities will put the yunguns on the path to Satan.

 

[SadakoMoose]

Trick and or treating can just piss off as far as I'm concerned. Damn kids get off my lawn.

I don't mind the various parties and events that come with it, just gives an easy theme to work with.

Melbourne Cup Day is better though. The sluts are a bit classier, and since it's a public holiday (unlike Halloween) you have all day to get smashed, and its all because of a silly 3 minute horse race. It's practically a public holiday celebrating our two national pastimes, gambling and drinking.

We have something very similar to that, called the Kentucky Derby.

 

[CrimsonBlaze]

Some people are dead against it where I live.
Even going as far as to put up a "No Halloween" sign to stop trick or treaters from coming round.

Dude, that's too much work. Everyone knows that if the residents turn the lights out in the front of the house/porch, it clearly means that they are not giving out candy. That, or they are setting you up for an elaborate scare (believe me, I've been there).

 

[algalon]

I celebrate Halloween simply because it's one of those odd holidays where you're not exactly obligated to spend time with family or be otherwise engaged. You can go out to a costume party, trick or treat, or just sit at home watching movies and nobody will hold it against you. It's a holiday for holiday's sake, no strings attached. I don't care about the whole religious angle, though I would be inclined to TP a person's house that did simply because they are too full of themselves to enjoy the day and eat some candy. Why bring religion into a day that gives millions of children joy every year?

 

[Plinglebob]

When I was growing up (18-20 years ago now) Guy Fawkes Day/Bonfire Night was a way bigger deal and there was very little in regards to Halloween done by most kids. Personally in a choice between teaching kids the basics of how to run a protection racket so shops can sell more crap and celebrating someone failing at a violent revolution by blowing shit up, I'm for the latter.

 

[purf]

I am fully aware that Halloween is a Scottish thing, however these days, it's been 'Americanized'.

Which is fine, have whatever damn holidays you want, however, is it really that relevant overseas?

I live in Australia, and I'm never quite sure whether people genuinely like the idea, or it's yet another success story for the world of marketing and advertising.

I think its just an American thing. I asked a German guy about it once and he said they don't celebrate that.

I am in Germany right now and not more than 15 minutes ago I handed out sweets to a witch, a Dracula and an unspecified.. thing. Also, it must have been ~14 years since my first Halloween party (With a pretty nice shotwound in my forehead).

 

[Helmholtz Watson]

I am fully aware that Halloween is a Scottish thing, however these days, it's been 'Americanized'.

Which is fine, have whatever damn holidays you want, however, is it really that relevant overseas?

I live in Australia, and I'm never quite sure whether people genuinely like the idea, or it's yet another success story for the world of marketing and advertising.

I think its just an American thing. I asked a German guy about it once and he said they don't celebrate that.

I am in Germany right now and not more than 15 minutes ago I handed out sweets to a witch, a Dracula and an unspecified.. thing. Also, it must have been ~14 years since my first Halloween party (With a pretty nice shotwound in my forehead).

I guess I was lied to when I asked the question before.

 

[Soviet Heavy]

America was colonized by the English, Scottish and Irish. Obviously they'd bring their traditions along with them. Same goes for Canada. Though I do love this video.

 

[kasperbbs]

We don't celebrate it here in Lithuania, instead we go to visit our relatives graves with family. But we do have another holiday thats very similar to this one, kids go out with masks and collect candy/money or whatever people are willing to give them, it's called 'jews', kinda disrespectful now that i think about it.