...because it can be changed so easily by anybody, but click here for just about everything you could ever want to know about Halloween.
It may take you from now until next Halloween to read it all, but I will guarantee you this:
You will learn a few things you didn't know.
This post was prompted by Tasker Dunham, who left this comment on the previous post: "Don't know why we imported this custom from you anyway."
You didn't. We imported it from you.
What! Despite the title, I read it that you were really posting about Trick or Treat, something we never had until relatively recently. We had 'Mischief Night' (Nov 4th) when we did things like knocking on adjacent doors after tieing the handles together, but not T-or-T - we didn't expect gifts. Yes, Halloween is an ancient custom. "a rarely-observed remnant of pagan, pre-Christian myths and legends" as I wrote in a story on my blog: Mists: a tale for Halloween. https://www.taskerdunham.com/2018/10/mists-tale-for-halloween.html
ReplyDeleteTasker, I read your Mists post and also several others. Great blog you have there. We have something in common -- a friend who moved to Tamale, Ghana. My friend Andy and his wife Kate had 3 children when they arrived and 10 when they left. They were there for several years. Their eldest contracted dengue fever and died there. You and I are among the few who know that Tamale is not pronounced like the Mexican food.
DeleteMany of our holidays have been borrowed from other places. Then we put our own touches and have a good time.
ReplyDeleteEmma, it's the American way.
DeleteThe great thing about Blogger is that you can hold conversations and arguments with people you'll never meet, and be discussed over meals by people all over the world you'll never know. Mrs D. who is infinitely more wise than I informs me about the practice of 'souling' where people went from village to village begging for 'soul cakes' in return for prayers to speed the journey of dead relatives from limbo to heaven. Dressing up relates to a slightly different folklore that demonic spirits roamed the countryside and but that gifts of food would placate them. I suppose what I'm really complaining about, along with you, is the outrageous commercialization of the whole thing.
ReplyDeleteTasker, (Sir Tasker, M.B.E., if our friend Yorkshire Pudding is to be believed), every last holiday, over here at least, seems to have been overtaken by outrageous commercialization.
DeleteI missed your last post and, having read it and the article, I can only say that I couldn't really care. I have lived on Lewis for nearly half a century and cannot recall anyone trick or treating in Scotland. Here there is guising. As there are no children in this village now I can't see it being something I'm likely to have to concern myself with in the near future either. However, I thought, from conversations and perceived ideas, that guising was pretty common in Scotland. My understanding (and I haven't availed myself of your offer to visit Wikipedia because I'm in my coffee break) is that guising was short for 'disguising' and one disguised oneself and was to do with witches and evil spirits.
ReplyDeleteGraham, thank you for your interesting comment. I had not heard of guising until I read that Wikipedia article.
DeleteI can confirm what the distinguished Yorkshire academic, Sir Tasker Dunham M.B.E. had to say about Mischief Night as I did some very mischievous things on November 4th's past. But when I was a boy we paid no heed to Halloween. I think that the Halloween we witness these days has been fired up by Hollywood and companies looking to make bucks...or pounds...or even euros!
ReplyDeleteYorkshire Pudding (Neil), not many Americans are familiar with Guy Fawkes, whom I noticed you didn't mention by name. I agree with you about the bucks and pounds and euros (oh, my).
DeleteGuy Fawkes Night - also called Bonfire Night - happened the day after Mischief Night. Guy Fawkes was a Yorkshireman. There - I have mentioned his name!
Delete