21 October 2013

Halloween & Trick or Treaters in Canberra

| MyGungahlin
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A couple of weeks back we had a very active discussion on our Facebook page about Halloween. One thing this discussion proved is Halloween in Australia is still a vexed event. Some people were for it presenting arguments such as it’s a good way to get out to meet neighbours. Some people were against it with their concerns around child safety and commercialisation.

In our original post we suggested if you were willing to be called upon for Trick or Treaters to either decorate the front of your home with Halloween items or simply place an orange balloon out the front. One person suggested even a simple picture of a pumpkin on the letterbox as another idea (search Google). Others suggested leaving your light on was an indication of willing to participate but this may not necessarily be a safe bet.

Our recommendation is if you are wanting to take your kids out Trick or Treating is to letterbox your neighbours and advise. Include with your note an orange balloon or picture of a Halloween pumpkin advising them to stick them out the front if they are willing to be visited. I would also suggest including a picture that indicates they clearly DO NOT want Trick or Treaters (search Google). This makes it a simple option for your neighbours to opt-in or clearly show they have no interest to participate.

For those that don’t want to be called upon by Trick or Treaters the recommendation above of printing out a picture showing you don’t want to be visited by Trick or Treaters is a good idea to avoid being disturbed.

If you would like to read up on the history of Halloween see this entry on Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halloween

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Would it be in poor taste to make my costume Herbert from Family Guy and offer lollies and shoulder rubs?

La_Tour_Maubourg3:46 pm 24 Oct 13

For those who complain of the children who arrive upon their Crown Lease and “demand” lollies, I’d suggest go to Woolworths/Big W etc and buy the Halloween lollies which are significantly cheaper ($5-$10 a pack) than other lollies, be a sport and give some to whoever arrives at your doorstep.

You will have instant respect by the kids and their friends, and not be known as the “tightar$e” house in which an egging/toilet-papering may be imminent.

astrojax said :

Woody Mann-Caruso said :

shouldn’t this be held in the southern hemisphere at an appropriate time of the year [say, april…], when the fields are going fallow? or not at all..?

Because you celebrate Christmas in June and Easter in September, don’t you?

well no, but these aren’t premised on seasons as is halloween, are they?

Actually they are

I’m quite looking forward to trick or treating at Johnboy’s halloween themed house this year dressed as Mr Gillespie.

astrojax said :

mmmm, pumpkin pie…

hang on, isn’t pumpkin an autumnal vegetable? shouldn’t this be held in the southern hemisphere at an appropriate time of the year [say, april…], when the fields are going fallow? or not at all..?

i think we have too much ‘celebration’ and not enough reflection; and the younger generation (hell, most of the older one, too) just don’t get the deeper reasons why we commemorate many of the festivities they enjoy.

Can we save the annual Christmas debate for December? (-:

Woody Mann-Caruso said :

shouldn’t this be held in the southern hemisphere at an appropriate time of the year [say, april…], when the fields are going fallow? or not at all..?

Because you celebrate Christmas in June and Easter in September, don’t you?

well no, but these aren’t premised on seasons as is halloween, are they?

Easter as a spring festival of renewal and Christmas as a midwinter festival celebrating the winter solstice (and the lengthening of the days thereafter) are about as seasonal as it’s possible to get.

Woody Mann-Caruso1:47 pm 24 Oct 13

shouldn’t this be held in the southern hemisphere at an appropriate time of the year [say, april…], when the fields are going fallow? or not at all..?

Because you celebrate Christmas in June and Easter in September, don’t you?

Well there’s no point having a lolly festival. If anyone wants to have a proper community evening or a celebration of the dead or any of the other things Halloween has traditionally meant, then bring it on! As a little girl the Brownies organised a trick or treat run but it was to the houses of specific volunteers who had been organised in advance.

thebrownstreak6912:30 pm 24 Oct 13

astrojax said :

mmmm, pumpkin pie…

hang on, isn’t pumpkin an autumnal vegetable? shouldn’t this be held in the southern hemisphere at an appropriate time of the year [say, april…], when the fields are going fallow? or not at all..?

i think we have too much ‘celebration’ and not enough reflection; and the younger generation (hell, most of the older one, too) just don’t get the deeper reasons why we commemorate many of the festivities they enjoy.

International Talk Like A Pirate day being a good example.

mmmm, pumpkin pie…

hang on, isn’t pumpkin an autumnal vegetable? shouldn’t this be held in the southern hemisphere at an appropriate time of the year [say, april…], when the fields are going fallow? or not at all..?

i think we have too much ‘celebration’ and not enough reflection; and the younger generation (hell, most of the older one, too) just don’t get the deeper reasons why we commemorate many of the festivities they enjoy.

thebrownstreak6911:43 am 24 Oct 13

I have my dried asparagus sticks all ready to go. Definitely treat time for the neighbourhood kiddies at our house!

Gungahlin Al said :

I intend%u2014weather permitting%u2014to set up a telescope or two in the driveway and take the opportunity to show kids the night sky (to the extent that we can see it through our new-suburb-streetlights-on-steroids).

I understand the Skull Nebula NGC 246 will be up… 🙂

Whereas I will set up a seat and some cushions in a semi circle on the ground and regale the children with the philosophical writings of Hegel, Nietzsche, Wittgenstein, and end on a light note with a bit of Kafka. The kids are in for a proper treat, none of this candy stuff.

Gungahlin Al10:20 am 24 Oct 13

I intend—weather permitting—to set up a telescope or two in the driveway and take the opportunity to show kids the night sky (to the extent that we can see it through our new-suburb-streetlights-on-steroids).

I understand the Skull Nebula NGC 246 will be up… 🙂

Queen_of_the_Bun11:29 pm 23 Oct 13

Grail said :

neanderthalsis said :

My plans for catering for trick or treaters involves sitting on my porch praticing my “git orf ma lawn” yell.

Yup.

I’m going to dress up like a zombie and wait for the little ones to knock on the door – it will be fun….

Queen_of_the_Bun11:27 pm 23 Oct 13

Woody Mann-Caruso said :

no historical relevance to Australia

sad, tired argument is tired, sad

Strange, I didn’t even know what Halloween was until I lived in the US for three years in the late 70s. Even stranger was I came back to Australia and no-one had any idea what it was either, for another 10 or so years. In fact, maybe more…

Having said that, I have no problem with it.

Really? I remember trick or treating in Brisbane in the early 80s as a teenager. Queensland must not be as backward as Johnboy would have us all believe.

I don’t like Halloween simply because I don’t appreciate other people’s children coming to my door and demanding lollies. I don’t have children, I don’t eat lollies, I have a limited budget and I don’t care to spend what little money I have spare on feeding your children sweets. And don’t get me started on the teenagers getting in on the act. Get a job and buy your own lollies.

Instead of bugging the neighbours, why not create a treasure hunt instead. Buy your own lollies and treats and hide them in various places in your own back yard for your kids to find.

Comic_and_Gamer_Nerd said :

The kids love it. Why try to take it away from them?.

If the kids love it so much, why don’t you drop off lollies at your neighbors houses?

I’m sure if lollies were replaced by steamed vegetables, the event would lose it’s touch.

Woody Mann-Caruso said :

Likewise, nobody whining about Halloween gives a fig about history – they just hate Americans .

Pfft. I hate all nationalities equally.

Of all the overly-marketed consumer holidays, Halloween is by far the worst. A decadent display of frivolous consumerism, wrapped up with the big-lie that it’s “for the kids”. The kids don’t give a flying hoot about the costumes or the display. They just want the sweets. Try a Halloween with no sweets, see how interested they are the following year.

And even worse, rather than Easter or Christmas where at least the parents pay for their children’s descent into diabetes. On Halloween they expect their *neighbours* to foot the bill. Not only for the sweets, but also for the entertainment.

Here’s an idea. This year for Christmas I’ll come banging on your door and demand “presents and dessert”. If you don’t give me a brandy custard dessert and a decent gift, I’ll toilet paper your house.

DrKoresh said :

Celtic, to be precise. But it’s definitely an American thing now, nowhere else celebrates it at anywhere near the same scale.

Try Ireland and the UK. Having lived for 4 years in the UK it surprised me how entrenched the ‘tradition’ is there. That’s when I did some research and found out where it all originated from, and yes you are right Celtic is more correct than saying Irish.

neanderthalsis said :

My plans for catering for trick or treaters involves sitting on my porch praticing my “git orf ma lawn” yell.

Works even better with a hose. Hoses are very Australian, when employed against Jehova’s Witnesses, Vacuum cleaner salesman, and greedy kids after lollies in an inappropriate way.

Or, for delayed fun, get unwrapped lollies, shake in a bag with chilli powder, and be generous. Or the old raw onions on sticks and dipped in toffee trick…

and then you can hose them.

All Hallow’s Eve, when the spirits of the dead rise from their graves and create mischief and mayhem amongst the living….

I have no problem with the spirits of the dead creating mayhem, it’s the kids committing acts of criminal damage that I object to.

I’m too busy slashing car tyres in Narrabundah to participate in ToT.

Woody Mann-Caruso said :

no historical relevance to Australia

sad, tired argument is tired, sad

But no less valid

Woody Mann-Caruso2:47 pm 22 Oct 13

But it’s definitely an American thing now, nowhere else celebrates it at anywhere near the same scale.

My sister and niece, presently in the UK, beg to disagree.

Strange, I didn’t even know what Halloween was until I lived in the US for three years in the late 70s

And nobody knew what f*cking Thai food or pesto was until the 90s, yet everybody is happy to chow down and make plans for Oktoberfest without incessant whining about historical relevance.

It’s like that sad little t*rd in the Assembly who claims gay marriage laws are a perversion of democracy. He couldn’t care less about democracy – he just doesn’t want blokes sticking their willies in poo with parliamentary imprimitur. Likewise, nobody whining about Halloween gives a fig about history – they just hate Americans (while listening to American music, watching American TV and movies, wearing American fashions, and eating American food).

I hate Halloween.

My wife and I moved into our current location 6 years ago about a week before Halloween. On the night in question we had nothing to give the kids (the word “kids” being used loosely because they were teen boys about 15 & 16 who weren’t even dressed in costume). They walked away and egged our house and car.

The next year we were more prepared. My wife handed out lollies to the littlies who made an effort to dress up and were polite while I waited patiently with a Shang-hai and a pocketful of marbles for the pricks that egged my house the previous year.

A group of uncostumed, teen boys arrived and demanded our bounty of lollies and chocolates from my wife. When she told them to go away, one threw an egg at the screen door.

Just like Legolas – I heroically appeared and unloaded a plethora of little glass spheres from my home made weapon into the drop kick who covered my door, and my wife, in egg.

Although this particular Halloween was tremendously fun and satisfying, I still don’t like it.

The elderly people in our street love it. They love seeing all the kids dressed up and knocking on their doors. Last year, one elderly couple in particular were disappointed at how few kids had come past. They came out of their house and commented to each of the kids about their costumes before spoiling them rotten with treats. I don’t know who enjoyed it more, the kids or the neighbours.

I do like the idea of doing a letter box drop ahead of time. This ensures that we don’t disturb anyone who is not interested, and can clearly identify those who want to join in the fun.

I know it’s not an “Australian’ Tradition and that it’s another example of American influences on the kids of today. But tell me, how traditional it is to decorate a christmas tree with fake snow and wait for the Coca-Cola designed Santa Claus in his hot felted suit and hat, riding a sleigh to bring presents??

I was lucky enough to spend the month leading up to Halloween over in the states last year and ended up celebrating the day in Banff, Canada. All I can say is that we are missing out. Young kids love it, houses are decorated in all sorts of skeletons, pumpkins etc and it is all for fun – not only for the kids either. One of the best nights out I had over there was on halloween. So I take it from most of these comments that you don’t like to have fun?

Australia/Canberra needs to lighten up and forget about the whole ‘oh my god, we are becoming American!!’, Americans treat each other with more respect and know how to have a good time. We could learn a lot of good things from them.

And yes – I would love to live over there.

gasman said :

Having lived in Canada (where halloween is also celebrated) for 2 seasons, I should point out that the Australian version is completely missing the point.

In Canada, Halloween is almost like a giant, country-wide street party. Its dark and often a bit cold. The houses, almost all of them, are decorated and vividly lit up. The houses that participate (most) have their porch lights on. The kids are out on the streets, dressed up in amazing and creative costumes. Adults are out too, mixing, chatting, just being out. Cars are shunned that evening as everybody knows the kids are out. Its a big social occasion, and the candy is quite secondary.

This. No halloween in our place. We just have regular street parties with beer (soft drink for the kids) and a bbq – no dress ups, no dead spirits.

neanderthalsis said :

My plans for catering for trick or treaters involves sitting on my porch praticing my “git orf ma lawn” yell.

Yup.

Howzabout all the parents in favour of trick or treat rock up to John Berry’s place and leave us Australians alone!

JC said :

voytek3 said :

Here it is: That is American. We are Australian. It has never and never will be a thing here. Anyone that encourages their snot nosed spawn to harass their needs to take off to the USA where they belong. If you do it in Gungahlin that’s your business though as that place is arguably the biggest hole in the southern hemisphere.

Actually it is Irish rather than American. The Irish took it with them when they started to settle in the US.

Celtic, to be precise. But it’s definitely an American thing now, nowhere else celebrates it at anywhere near the same scale.

voytek3 said :

Here it is: That is American. We are Australian. It has never and never will be a thing here. Anyone that encourages their snot nosed spawn to harass their needs to take off to the USA where they belong. If you do it in Gungahlin that’s your business though as that place is arguably the biggest hole in the southern hemisphere.

Actually it is Irish rather than American. The Irish took it with them when they started to settle in the US.

nhand42 said :

It wasn’t a thing until the supermarkets started pushing it – no doubt they wanted the profits from a third “consumer” holiday in addition to Easter and Christmas – but it’s not something most people want.

Don’t get me started on the fecking supermarkets and all their tacky-arse decorations which are only hung about 6ft off the ground. Every time I’ve been to Woolies in the last month has seen me smacking my head into stupid pumpkins dangling from the roof and getting caught up in ghastly cotton “cob-webs”. It’s so transparent that they’re trying to push an extra holiday, if I weren’t so damn cynical and lazy I’d write a letter asking them to please stop being so patronising, but I know there’s nothing they won’t do if they think they can make a buck out of it.

Having lived in Canada (where halloween is also celebrated) for 2 seasons, I should point out that the Australian version is completely missing the point.

In Canada, Halloween is almost like a giant, country-wide street party. Its dark and often a bit cold. The houses, almost all of them, are decorated and vividly lit up. The houses that participate (most) have their porch lights on. The kids are out on the streets, dressed up in amazing and creative costumes. Adults are out too, mixing, chatting, just being out. Cars are shunned that evening as everybody knows the kids are out. Its a big social occasion, and the candy is quite secondary.

Comic_and_Gamer_Nerd7:39 pm 21 Oct 13

The kids love it. Why try to take it away from them?

It harms nobody you disgusting grumpy heartless swines.

Woody Mann-Caruso6:15 pm 21 Oct 13

no historical relevance to Australia

sad, tired argument is tired, sad

Kids watch American TV and get all excited thinking they’ll get big sacks full of sweets and lollies. Then are disappointed when the majority of households don’t participate. Let this horrible forced tradition die. It wasn’t a thing until the supermarkets started pushing it – no doubt they wanted the profits from a third “consumer” holiday in addition to Easter and Christmas – but it’s not something most people want.

Parents sometimes try and justify it by saying “its just a bit of fun for the kids” or “its a way to bring the community together”. Well, the majority of neighbours won’t even return a friendly “hello” during the year, so the community angle is bollocks. And if you want your kids to eat lollies and chips and biccies, then you give me supplies a few days in advance, because I’m not paying for your kids diabetes.

Here it is: That is American. We are Australian. It has never and never will be a thing here. Anyone that encourages their snot nosed spawn to harass their needs to take off to the USA where they belong. If you do it in Gungahlin that’s your business though as that place is arguably the biggest hole in the southern hemisphere.

Sounds like good advice. Its reasonable in Australia for houses who want to be part of the trick or treat thing to put some sort of decoration outside their house to let people know. No decoration, dont approach house.

I think its fun for little kids, dont know why people want to whinge about it if they could think of the kids simply having a bit of fun.

neanderthalsis said :

My plans for catering for trick or treaters involves sitting on my porch praticing my “git orf ma lawn” yell.

+1

Another American (originally British, I know) Hallmark Holiday.

I have no problems with the Yanks doing it – it has the force of long tradition behind it and kids love it. But it has absolutely no historical relevance to Australia – it’s a completely alien concept. Not only that, but as an Autumn harvest festival (punkins) it’s at entirely the wrong time of year.

Bah. Humbug.

neanderthalsis4:09 pm 21 Oct 13

My plans for catering for trick or treaters involves sitting on my porch praticing my “git orf ma lawn” yell.

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