The Potter's Deathly Halloween

[Geoff Bannister]

No: HPFGUIDX 163369

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, Bart Lidofsky <bartl at ...> wrote:
>
> Steve wrote:
> > I can't say for sure about Britian, though I don't think
> > Halloween is very big over there, but in the USA
> > Halloween is not a 'banking holiday'; stores, banks,
> > businesses, and schools are all open.
 
> Bart:
> 	Here's the Wikipedia article (and, all things considered, I would guess 
> that it is either fairly accurate, or would not stay highly inaccurate 
> for as much as a full day):
> 
> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halloween

Geoff:
Speaking from my own viewpoint, I don't think Wikipedia has got it quite 
right in respect of the UK. My credentials are that I am English; I grew up 
in the North of England, moved to South London when I was 9 and, after 
living 45 years there, moved to the West Country 12 years ago, so I have 
been able to look at Hallowe'en in the UK from a first-hand situation.

I had no contact with Hallowe'en celebrations at all as a young person; I had 
heard of apple-bobbing but nothing more. Wikipedia is right in that the date 
has achieved a higher profile in the last 15-20 years, mainly due to US 
influence, but there is pressure from some schools and also churches that 
the way in which it is celebrated does not present acceptable models for 
youngsters, a view with which I agree with up to a point.

It is not a public holiday and there are no public activities such a parties or 
displays; possibly because it is very near to Guy Fawkes Night (5th November). 
So it remains a small scale celebration with perhaps private parties, "trick and 
treat" groups, although these are rapidly falling into disfavour. It is more 
common now for shops to stock pumpkins near the date and for fancy dress 
items to be seen in shop wndows. But or example, far more people  would 
have turned out in just London alone last night for the New Year than for 
anything to do with Hallowe'en up and down the country.