Trick or Treat?

[Cliphead]

Any truth in the rumour that they modelled the arming compound at Coulport on your place?

Cliphead Studios

Coulport's not quite as secure.

[Scrag Meister]

Oh no is it that time of year already, I must get the oil/tar vat and burner up to the spare room with the window over the front door ready to repel the little bastards.

I do throw a few mars bars in the mix so really its the best of both, a bit like Hovis

[Ignis Fatuus]

According to *cough* wikipedia, guising was started in Britain and Ireland. It's only the phrase "trick or treat" that came back from the States.

Me and the kids enjoy it. Mind you, we'll be in rural Ireland where everybody knows everybody else and it's still quite traditional so the kids are on their best(ish) behaviour and the adults can party.

Thanks Meridian, I was beginning to think everybody here lived in some kind of bubble of SE England + US-influenced TV.

Hallowe'en has always been marked in most of the British Isles, and guisers are part of it. Immigrants obviously took it to America, where it was changed slightly by people who had lost touch with its origin (no spiders in our Hallowe'en, which is the dark side of religion, not a horror movie) and then commercialised. And then picked up by the benighted South-East of Britain as an American import.

(Sigh) next thing you know they'll be portraying Santa Claus wearing a belted tunic instead of a long robe!

[RichardCranium]

Hallowe'en has always been marked in most of the British Isles

I disagree. I grew up in the northern home counties and north London. I was aware of what Hallowe'en was (All Saints Day is a nasty Popish thing, and the idea of bad things happening the eve before it is a superstitious load of old twoddle) but nothing was ever done to celebrate it that I was aware of. When I was in my early 20s I was going out with a Scottish girl who took me to a party in Glasgow (bobbing apples, getting apples covered in syrup off a string, getting blind drunk) on Hallowe'en; that was the first time I had ever heard of it being marked in any way.

and guisers are part of it

I learned that word in this thread.

It must have been a regional thing.

next thing you know they'll be portraying Santa Claus wearing a belted tunic instead of a long robe!

What? In a red jacket instead of a green robe and furs? Don't be silly. Next you'll be saying the spirit of Christmas is about the buying and giving of presents!

[Bunk]

We had guising where I grew up too. Except I could never be bothered. I think the difference between that and the little brats shouting "trick or treat" is that guisers are expected to do something for their treat, whether it's singing a song or telling a joke etc. The Yank version is more like "give us some sweets or we'll mug you". Therefore it's not surprising that that version now has more resonance in Britain.

[Doggy Styles]

Sod them. They'll get nothing from me, and if I get tricked their parents will soon know about it. I never let my kids do it.

[Clippy]

So far, so good - haven't been hassled by any of the local 'cherubs'.

Guess, the rainy/grim weather has something to do with it.

[TimberWolf]

It's dark

And it's still early. Turning the clock back was good, we should do it every day as the day is less rushed. Beautiful spring day, leaves all over the ground, squirrels everywhere, sun shining and not bad temperatures. Was is the age limit for going trick or treating? I know a few card tricks.

[CheeseSlice]

Turning the clock back was good, we should do it every day as the day is less rushed.

I wish...

however, I propose that when the clocks go forward next year, this event is moved to about 3pm on a Friday afternoon

[thunderlizard]

Beautiful spring day

Exactly how far back did you turn your clock?!