HALLOWEEN ...do you celebrate it?

[JINZONINGEN73]

Do you?

Me, I carve a pumpkin into a jack-o-lantern aaaaaand... and that's pretty much it.

Oh, and a purple light has to replace any outdoor lighting, too.

Ah! And paper chinese lanterns with spiders and junk printed on them.

: p

http://flickr.com/photos/11579617@N02/1612802887/

Why yes, it is smoking a cigarette. X-D

How about you guys?

Any cool tradition, decoration setups, carving pics?

I'm tempted to carve some radishes sometime, just to see how hard it is (that's what the Irish used to use... it wasn't until America that they used pumpkins).

[Bonaparte]

We don't really celebrate halloween here in Belgium.

Only since a few years there are some halloween parties.

But I haven't seen many carved pumpkins like yours.

I like this version better :-D

[gylman]

Absolutely! Fav holiday other than Xmas.

This year my two daughters are going as Naruto characters - one as Sakura, one as Naruto. We were making tombstones the other day, and are putting up our display this weekend.... I'll try to take a pic to post.

[TheFrisian]

We don't really celebrate halloween here in Belgium. Only since a few years there are some halloween parties.

Same goes for the Netherlands, halloween isn't really big here either. Although I've noticed it's gradually gaining popularity in recent years.

[LuxorV]

In Italy is the same. Some will celebrate, but most won't. I line with the second, but espect a Halloween-Special MOC ;-) .

LuxorV

[natelite]

my neighbors do, but we don't...being the good christians that we are X-D X-D X-D it's paganistic and deep inside i'm terribly afraid :-D :-D

[andy_0306uk]

Here in the UK the whole Halloween experience is getting more and more commercialized every year and more and more people are geting involved in the "celebrations"

My kids are 2y9m and 10m so can't see us doing much apart from maybe carving some pumpkins.

I don't agree with "trick or treat"ing because while its fun for the smaller kids (with appropriate adult supervision/protection) it can be very intimidating when large groups of teenagers with nothing more than 1 scary mask between them turn up expecting far more than just sweets. There are more and more areas that are trying to bring in bans to stop the harrasment. Which is a shame for the younger kids.

[Lord Of Pies]

I don't celebrate Halloween! I find it rather irritating, and another excuse to flog dodgy merchandice!

But hey it is a great reason to dress up stupid and make MOCS!

[Holodoc]

Here in the UK the whole Halloween experience is getting more and more commercialized every year and more and more people are geting involved in the "celebrations"

This is the reason I really hate Halloween. *n* >:-(

There is no connection with festivals in Germany, it

[Nyundi]

Halloween is definitely my favorite holiday. I think we're having guests over tomorrow to carve pumpkins, and we have a huge party planned for next Saturday... the decorating will be overboard (but not commercial, I tend to want to make everything myself).

I've mounted some hand made bat silhouettes on directional lights, and am projecting them up into our 20 foot loft ceilings; lighting at Halloween parties is key :)

Of course we all love to get really dressed up, there are always at least 2 parties a year between all of our friends, and we tend to go out to Fells Point in Baltimore (a hip bar-crawl area on the harbor) on the 31st itself... the amount of people there in ridiculous outfits makes it more than worth the trip :)

[TheFrisian]

What makes me really mad, is that this "event" more and more is replacing St. Martin, that IS a festival in Germany, at least in my part of the country. >:-(

We have the St Martin festival as well, but without the processions. The kids do go round the neighbourhood (often with self made lantarns) ringing doors, singing special St Martin songs and then getting sweets. Among kids this usually turns into a contest about who gets the most sweets, but that's hardly surprising. It's actually kinda funny to see how, as the kids grow older, the texts of the songs grow less and less appropriate (to put it mildly) as they start to make up their own texts. X-D

I too am very sad to see youngsters gradually losing touch with old traditions like St Martin in favor of more commercial events like halloween, but there's probably no way to prevent that from happening.

[The Kid]

I sit at home grumbling and mumbling to myself at how bad Halloween is.

TK

[JINZONINGEN73]

Just the interesting replies I expected, as alot here aren't in the US.

Here, Halloween's been kind of poopy for the last decade, participation and decorating for it dying down greatly from what I remember as a kid.

It's still a commercial holiday, but MAN have the costumes gotten alot better.

In the 70's and 80's, "costumes" for kids were no more than a cheesy plastic mask with a plastic garbage bag (lol) looking thing with popular characters printed on them... most ugly.

Some companies still sell them, but it's nowhere near like it used to be. There's more "construction" involved these days, as kids buy them in components.

I fear that the children loose the sense of local festivals.

Instead they get another replaceable festival without tradition but the smell of "if you don

[SirNadroj]

Of course! I love it! I like it better than christmas! Every year my brother and I get together and set up a HUGE display to frighten the little children! *skull*

In fact, here's a picture of my halloween costume. It's not complete, though. I've also bought a belt w/ cross strap, so I'll post pics of it later.

Yes, this is the first actual picture of me. Not a flattering one, though. |-/

My costume is 95% authentic (all but gloves). No, I'm NOT a nazi, I'm a STAZI from EAST Germany! Some people are SO ignorant! ;-)

My brother cutting his arm with a butcher's knife! ;-)

I'll be sure to post pics of the halloween display and costumes, since we go all out! *sweet*

Edited October 18, 2007 by SirNadroj

[Norro]

Christmas is a nightmare of conflicting religions all needing to do things in different ways, tons of stress, letdowns, largely in praise to a kid's birth which didn't even OCCUR in December! (lol), ...YIKES.

Take a seat, over there on the couch... X-D

Seriously, I don't think the exact date is that important, establishing it accurately would be well nigh impossible beyond the year (yes I know not the year 0 ;-) ) and as too conflicting religions, I think the name 'christmas' says it all even if the arbitrarily chosen date corresponds with a few native tribal celebrations in North America.

Looking at Halloween's origins, it's remained pretty alike over the centuries... despite the church trying to turn it into days of fasting and whatnot a few decades ago.

I would have to disagree, all though the origins of halloween (in the loosest sense) go back to celtic culture, the actual date used now is a spin off of all saints eve. A superstition that developed (slightly more than a few decades ago ;-) ) evolving from a fear of the night before all saints day. I think the Catholic Church could indirectly claim fatherhood of the modern halloween, ironically ;-)

God Bless,

Nathan

who normally carves a pumpkin or two or three...

[Corvus]

Halloween is going strong in my family. Every year, two weeks before halloween, we pull out all five boxes of halloween decorations...

We also go to the Corn Maze each year. That's a lot of fun. It features a large corn field that's been grown specificaly for the purpose of making a maze through it. It can take the whole day to get out.

After, we go out, buy a dozen pumpkins or so... and get carving! *sweet*

[Scouty]

I usually set up a bunch of stuff for Halloween...not this year....this year I moved, and am in an apartment....sooooo. 8-|

SirNadroj, nice costum, but they had uniforms in that size? Or is it a little big for ya??

[SirNadroj]

SirNadroj, nice costum, but they had uniforms in that size? Or is it a little big for ya??

It's a size 44 east german. That's the smallest size, but it fits me really nicely. The sleeves are a TINY, TINY bit too long, but it's hard to notice. I may wear the tunic around in public since it's wool! It'll keep me warm in the winter, unless that seems weird... 8-|

[Corvus]

It's a size 44 east german. That's the smallest size, but it fits me really nicely. The sleeves are a TINY, TINY bit too long, but it's hard to notice. I may wear the tunic around in public since it's wool! It'll keep me warm in the winter, unless that seems weird... 8-|

That does seem a bit odd... :-P I think it's too formal for winter use, and the wind would go right through it. Brr!

Guess what I'll be? A LEGO brick, of course. X-D

[SirNadroj]

That does seem a bit odd... :-P I think it's too formal for winter use, and the wind would go right through it. Brr!

Guess what I'll be? A LEGO brick, of course. X-D

Well, I like to dress classy when I can for no reason! ;-) How would the wind go through it? It's a heavy wool material! :-P

A lego brick you say? I'd like to see pictures! X-D See, if I didn't go all out decorating, I'd like to go trick-or-treating... but I think I'm getting too old now. I mean, I'm already 15, I think it'd be more mature if I scare kids instead! :-P .................. ;-) j/k

[Corvus]

Well, I like to dress classy when I can for no reason! ;-) How would the wind go through it? It's a heavy wool material! :-P

A lego brick you say? I'd like to see pictures! X-D See, if I didn't go all out decorating, I'd like to go trick-or-treating... but I think I'm getting too old now. I mean, I'm already 15, I think it'd be more mature if I scare kids instead! :-P .................. ;-) j/k

I don't really trick-or-treat, but I do like to go to a friend's house to show off each other's costumes.

You'd be suprised about wool. Unless I'm missing something here- does it have a liner or anything like that? I'd guess that your tunic is pretty similar to my band uniform, and it did get chilly when I wore it. :-$

[SirNadroj]

I don't really trick-or-treat, but I do like to go to a friend's house to show off each other's costumes.

You'd be suprised about wool. Unless I'm missing something here- does it have a liner or anything like that? I'd guess that your tunic is pretty similar to my band uniform, and it did get chilly when I wore it. :-$

I think there's a liner, but TRUST ME, it's warm! :-D I hope it's cold on halloween or I'll sweat my butt off in the costume! I think the pants are wool and then the boots...and gloves... oh yeah, plus one of those plain, white masks. I'll have to post a pic of the whole thing complete!

Edited October 19, 2007 by SirNadroj

[Corvus]

I think there's a liner, but TRUST ME, it's warm!

All right, I bow down to your superior knowledge of your tunic. :-P

On a related note, does anyone else think it's time for a Halloween-ify Your Avatar 2007 topic?

[SirNadroj]

On a related note, does anyone else think it's time for a Halloween-ify Your Avatar 2007 topic?

Sure, why not! See, my fabluand bird avatar was halloween-ified, but I guess my current one is too, since I AM gonig out as a military officer! ;-)

[Scouty]

It's unusually warm here in PA, so dressing heavily wouldn't be the best idea! Plus, you gotta be careful when washing it :-P . But me, probably wont be doing anything Halloweenish this year, I'm really not in the best position to do much, not even decorate :'-( . Maybe I can at least put candy outside the door for the...few, passerbys on halloween :-) .