Religion and Ethics Forum
General Category => Literature, Music, Art & Entertainment => Topic started by: Anchorman on October 31, 2019, 01:32:47 PM
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A great rendition of 'Tam o Shanter. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dkiZbpd9stw&app=desktop
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Bollocks to Hallowe'en, a stupid and tiresome American import. I know, before someone says it, that trick-or-treating is based on old British customs such as guising and mischief night, but in its modern form, and with its modern name, it is pure American, and bloody tiresome.
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Bollocks to Hallowe'en, a stupid and tiresome American import. I know, before someone says it, that trick-or-treating is based on old British customs such as guising and mischief night, but in its modern form, and with its modern name, it is pure American, and bloody tiresome.
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There's more to the season than the American rubbish. Here's a great song sung by Sheena Wellington anhd Karine Polwart; it's a poem by Violet Jacobs, written in the 1920's, remembering the customs as she knew them, and the son she lost in the war, unable to take part. I think it's a very beautiful, haunting song - no pun intended.... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FisdvJmgVNY&app=desktop
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And as I have mentioned before on here - this is what I think of at this time of year. https://www.galoshansfestival.com/
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Trick or treat is an American import with which we could do without, we never open the door to trick or treaters. I am always sickened the following day when I go for my morning walk to find discarded sweets on the pavements, people are starving in this world. >:(
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It's a long while since I went gallowshans - guising. Now it's a thing for kids, but in the rural area where I live, it used to be youn adults...and we counted ourselves pretty lucky to remain (semi)sober the following morning...or, more realistically, unlucky. We used to go round the farmhouses, technically performing some party piece, but in reality, taking part in the dooking for apples, or trying to eat the treacle-covered sciones, etc - things which would make today's health and safety bods throw a collective wobbly - whilst consuming copious quantities of liquid refreshment/encouragement (delete where necessary). The idea was to have a general knees up at the end of harvest, with the cattle stowd away in their winter byers. Dunno about miracles, but the fact that several worthies managed to stand up, never mind work, the following morning was nothing short of astounding.
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It's a long while since I went gallowshans - guising. Now it's a thing for kids, but in the rural area where I live, it used to be youn adults...and we counted ourselves pretty lucky to remain (semi)sober the following morning...or, more realistically, unlucky. We used to go round the farmhouses, technically performing some party piece, but in reality, taking part in the dooking for apples, or trying to eat the treacle-covered sciones, etc - things which would make today's health and safety bods throw a collective wobbly - whilst consuming copious quantities of liquid refreshment/encouragement (delete where necessary). The idea was to have a general knees up at the end of harvest, with the cattle stowd away in their winter byers. Dunno about miracles, but the fact that several worthies managed to stand up, never mind work, the following morning was nothing short of astounding.
I've noted again previously on this subject that Halloween was very big in the West of Scotland, and had obvious links to Samhain. Also it allowed sectarianism to be ignored, unlike Guy Fawkes, and let both sides of the divide draw from their pagan past.
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I was going to ask before reading your post, Anchor, are you going out guising tonight or whatever you do up there? Obviously not this year :-) (but you'll do first footing in a couple of months no doubt).
Halloween is very popular in America, quite a big thing but they didn't invent it. Children here have gone trick or treating for years in some areas of the UK. The conventions are slightly different wherever you happen to be.
Hardly exists in Bromley I'm happy to say. One of my children had a friend with a birthday around November 2nd I think. She nearly always had a party and once when the weekend was just before her birthday it was Halloween themed. They did apple bobbing and wore masks, then had fireworks in the garden in honour of the impending November 5th :-). They had a good time. Some pubs have a theme night and if there's a pub quiz, people wear ghostly fancy dress sometimes. No one knocks at the door for trick or treat though.
Chaz and I are going out this evening so might see a bit more of the festivities on our travels.
('Strictly' Halloween week was very good. Michelle certainly looked the part.)
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The problem with Hallowe'en is that retailers have realised that they can make a shedload of money selling worthless tack. Hence you can't move in a British supermarket without seeing shelves and shelves of Hallowe'en rubbish all aimed at children. Like Mothers Day, they have imported an American money-making scam and ruined a traditional celebration. (Mothering Sunday was the day young people in domestic service went home to their families to worship in their "Mother Church".)
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The problem with Hallowe'en is that retailers have realised that they can make a shedload of money selling worthless tack. Hence you can't move in a British supermarket without seeing shelves and shelves of Hallowe'en rubbish all aimed at children. Like Mothers Day, they have imported an American money-making scam and ruined a traditional celebration. (Mothering Sunday was the day young people in domestic service went home to their families to worship in their "Mother Church".)
HH
do you feel better now 😂