Yet another aspect of the cultural divide

Celebrating Halloween is yet another aspect of the US-UK cultural divide. I didn't understand this until I became a parent and am raising a child in the American ways of addressing the holiday. Each year Bailey's grandmother sends Bailey lovely Halloween costumes from the States and each year when I take Bailey trick-or-treating, there are remarks about how sweet she looks. Of course she looks sweet but anyone would compared to how locals dress for Halloween. It seems the local English way is to dress up as scary/gruesome/upsetting as possible and then go beg for some chocolates. Accordingly, over half of the houses in our family-based neighbourhood were completely dark last night.

There are some insights into this division. The Independent has an interesting op-ed on the topic. The BBC also sheds a little light. I too have an insight. I thing it comes down to begging. Most people don't want people turning up on their doorsteps asking for food, and trick-or-treaters seem to fall into this category.

In truth, I prefer the ideal of the US model, where Halloween is an event for little kids to dress up and visit friends and family, and get decent sweeties. I'm doing my best for the cause, with our carved pumpkins and welcoming demeanor, and of course by taking a very well costumed little girl around the neighbourhood.

There's also the issue of how the Anglican faith deals with Halloween and it's Pagan origins, but that's another topic for another day...