What do the British think of Halloween?

Question

I'm curious as to what degree it's celebrated there- esp. in the more southern non-traditional areas. I'm an American and was surprised to find that many British don't celebrate it and even consider it American. Ironically, in the U.S. it's viewed as British since it's based on ancient British type culture (sort of like the Celts, Druids, Stonehenge, etc.). I've also heard some don't like it because of petty vandalism that increases then and others have problems because it's too close to Guy Fawkes day and that's more British. Just curious though, no judgements.

Answer 1

Hallowhat?

Answer 2

You are quite correct in what you say. Years ago mostly Guy Fawkes would have been celebrated more so than Halloween, however recent years have shown Halloween increasing in popularity. Some see it as a fun time, but unfortunately, the rough yobby culture has made it quite scary because of vandalism etc.
It was always viewed as a more 'American' thing.

Answer 3

as others have said, American Halloween is all about spending money like everything else. Pumpkin carving, a bit of festivity, even the begging of sweets isn't all that bad.
What makes no sense the runaway spending of loads on costumes for a one time thing and all the, as someone pointed out, excuse for yobs to act the gits, to say the least.
I wonder if Hallmark will eventually catch on and start a HAPPY HALLOWEEN buy your dustbin lid a card tradition.
Being of Anglican tradition (more than faith at times) I do understand the significance of all hallows (souls) even, and the day after. Why pray tell must it be such a silly commercial monstrosity from one side of the Atlantic to the other I can not phantom.

--That Cheeky Lad

Answer 4

For people my age, 47 Halloween when we were young did not have trick or treat. We did other things, and england being really cold and dark in those days, we used to play games such as "duck apple" where apples would be placed in a bowl full of water and you would have to try and take a bite with your hands tied behind your back. Another game was called "bob apple" in which strings would be attached to the ceiling and and apple tied to the end of each one, again with your hands around your back you would try and take a bite.

All these were innocent childrens' games played with the family, and fun. We started getting trick or treat in England, around the mid 80's, it had more to do with shops making money out of halloween custumes, which, before then, had never been seen in the shops over here. It became more of an adult thing and the traditional english games seem to have gone, although I know of at least one woman who refuses to let her children do trick or treat and they must do the traditional english halloween. Halloween has now become a dread over here, it has become a licence to cause vandalism in some areas, and now we have mischief night, which is a thing which did not exist when I was a child.

Answer 5

It's not celebrated to the extent that it is in America, because Halloween though Pagan by traditions was actually reconciled with Catholic traditions, and the UK has a low Catholic population in comparison to the US.

Also in the US Halloween is very commercialised and is part of corporate America.

It is still celebrated to a small extent whether it's young children going trick or treating or people going to fancy dress parties and clubs.


Oh by the way, we don't call the 5th November Guy Fawkes Night, it's called bonfire night.

Answer 6

It's not really celebrated that much here. I'm in South of England, on the coast. Trick or treating did get more popular a few years ago and some people do it, but people I know usually only go to the neighbours houses of people they know. Some people have halloween parties and everyone is aware it's halloween, but most people aren't fussed. I think the shops are trying to make it more popular but it isn't working that much.

Alot of people don't like it here. Alot of old people living alone find it scary, especially because it's not limited to little children going around, its usually teenagers who are willing to vandalise if they don't get what they want. Plus it's pretty annoying to wake up to find your car has been covered with broken eggs or flour or something. Alot of mindless vadalism does go on and it seems that it's not really got alot of point apart from that.

I think it's thought as american because we know how heavily it's celebrated over there. As far as I know it's never been that popular over here. Especially where I live. It wasn't until I was about 13 i think that I first ever went trick or treating, and that was only because I went with a family friend from Canada who insisted on taking us all.

I don't think it's much of an issue that it's close to firework night (guy fawkes), just means we have to put up with fireworks on halloween as well, that's probably more popular than trick or treating. But we have fireworks from end of september till about february supposdly because of 'guy fawkes'. Mostly, it's an excuse for people to make a lot of noise.

Hope this satisfys some of your curiousity.

Answer 7

When I was young it was a very limited event involving ghost stories and carved pumpkins. Now the arrival of Trick or treat which I believe was an American addition it has become an excuse for yobs to carry out mindless vandelisum. I'm not blaiming America for the vandelisum I just think Trick or Treat is spoiling the essence of the festival.

Answer 8

It isn't celebrated to the extent the americans do but in some small towns it is still used to keep smaller children entertained. some people do stil hold parties and pubs/bars usually end up decorated a little. You right though Guy Fawkes / firework night is a much bigger thing.

Answer 9

I agree, it used to be fun and widely celebrated but now it just seems like an excuse for extra vandalism from teenagers! They start fires that are sometimes very dangerous! In my area we have a kids party on the night, they dress up, we play games, it is fun and yes, in Ireland anyway it is very widely celebrated!

Answer 10

It's not really a big deal over here, just a bit of fun. We usually carve pupkins. Other than that, you get some kids going trick or treating. But you're right. It's in no way celebrated as much as in America.

Answer 11

We always dress up in costume & have a party or go out for a drink.

My other half's birthday is on Halloween too so maybe thats why we always make a bigger celebration of it!