Halloween lols

October 29, 2018 by Ray Morgan

I was reading an article on the history of trick-or-treating (hey, it's Halloween week) and it stated that "The British hate Halloween." It read "In 2006, a survey found that over half of British homeowners turn off their lights and pretend not to be home on Halloween. Yet another reason by the United States is happy to be free from British rule. No funs."

HOW rude, The Smithsonian Magazine! I'll have you know that yes, while some people hate it, there are a heck of a lot of people who love it, and Leigh-on-Sea is no exception.

Now, growing up in the 80s and 90s, Halloween was not as much of a thing as it is now in the UK. And fair enough, in my house, on the rare occasion the door went on Halloween, we wouldn't answer it. But times have changed - I now love to buy packets of sweets and put a lit pumpkin outside and answer the door to SWEET children dressed up.

People are cynical and say things like "We never used to celebrate Halloween!" and "Everything is too American!" Chaps, trick-or-treating is from, like, the Middle Ages. We are just catching up. I like the fun of it all.

On Friday, Jo and I went to a fancy dress Middle Age Spread club night as Eve and Villanelle from Killing Eve. A) if you've not watched this, who even are you and where have you been, and B) if you have, well done. I went as the crazy Russian assassin in a home-made, enormous, over the top pink tulle dress and biker boots. Jo was Eve, the MI5 agent, in a raincoat and black curly wig brandishing a suitcase and shepherd's pie in Tupperware.

We were seriously LOL-ing at it getting ready. "Will anyone know who we are?" Jo asked, as I climbed into a taxi with approx 6lbs of tulle fabric surrounding me in a pink cloud. (Sidebar: I have a new appreciation for people who get married in big floofy dresses. It's so hard to sit, dance, wee and get in and out of taxis in those things. Respect.) When we arrived, on time because we are 100% not cool and will turn up on time or EARLY for everything, we were instantly worried that other people weren't all in fancy dress or wouldn't know what we'd come as. But as the night went on, more and more brilliant costumes came through the door.

Some of them side eyed us like "Are... are you from Killing Eve?" to which we were immensely grateful. Someone said "You've won Halloween!" to which my ego was buoyed. It was fun!

I love seeing people get into the spirit of things. I love when people go big on the fancy dress. A woman came to the party on Friday night in a body bag. That's the kind of enthusiasm I can get behind. I love that taking toddlers to pumpkin patches has become a thing - the pictures are REALLY sweet and it's something wholesome and seasonal to do. I love that my nephews wear skeleton onesies, and get amped up on Halloween when the doorbell rings. I love that I spent a rainy Sunday carving pumpkins, something I absolutely relished in the warm, with a cuppa, and the radio on.

I'm spending Halloween at my parents' this year (it's my Dad's birthday, yes, correct, he is a wizard) - and I've promised to be on door duty. No hiding, no lights off, I'm even taking my own sweet supplies. The British don't all hate Halloween! We're just catching up.