Halloween

The English have embraced the Halloween holiday in their own way, and I think they like it because it incorporates one of their most favorite things: "Fancy Dress"

They love a good costume party and these go on any day of the year. Its not uncommon to find people in fancy dress in any given pub on a weekend and the themes can be hilarious and elaborate.

I've argued with a coworker that dressing up for Halloween does NOT mean the costume must be scary and he does not believe me. I told him I dressed as a bunny when I was his daughter's age and he dressed her like a witch anyway and sent her off to nursery school. My coworkers all have children and they've told me the schools allow the kids to have a non-uniform day and go to school in fancy dress. Apparently they're all ghouls and goblins and witches. Dress up day lacks superheros and Disney princesses. I guess you can dress as a princess any old day if you're 4 years old.

While they do wear costumes on Halloween, you won't really find kids trick or treating in England. The American tradition is frowned upon and feedback on this varies, but apparently there are sentiments and laws that imply that trick or treating is form of begging. I don't see it becoming mainstream anytime soon.

This same coworker above told me that growing up in Yorkshire, they had something called Mischief Night, which happens the night before Bonfire Night (4 Nov). No treating, just trickery... starting on the tame side - ding dong ditch and spanning to other types of shenanigans that would be deemed much worse than that.

The roots of Halloween in the UK are more deeply intertwined with its origin, All Hollows Eve, but in modern day, you'll see more and more commercialization with Halloween promotions, costumes and themed candy available at supermarkets.

My housemmate and neighbor, Becca and Kate, made me dress up as zombie doctors with them last night. Against my will, I had my face painted and wore blood spattered scrubs. Not going to be sharing those photos here!