Since coming down to Brisbane in August I, for some unknown reason, have been very concerned about Halloween and if the Aussie's celebrate it. Maybe its because I have some great memories of Halloween's past from being a youngster 'trick or treating' to an adult going to numerous Halloween parties.Halloween is one of my favorite holidays. I can't quite figure out why but I think its because although it is very commercialized it is still a holiday that allows young and old to put on costumes, be creative, and have fun along the way! When else during the year is it acceptable to eat candy like you do during Halloween? When else do you want your front door bell to ring? You know that on Halloween when your door bell rings it will be a local neighborhood kid dressed up as their favorite hero of the moment proud as can be and saying those magic words 'trick or treat'
When I got to Brisbane I asked some locals if they celebrate Halloween. Overwhelmingly the answer was 'no'. I was told that some people have Halloween parties but the whole act of children dressing up and going from house to house to gather candy was a foreign concept to them.
I was pleasantly surprised to find out that Halloween wasn't all lost on the adults though. Last Saturday night I was walking around Fortitude Valley, the Brisbane hotspot for bars and clubs, and I saw many adults dressed up in everything from Vampires to Mel Gibson's character in Braveheart.
On Halloween night the national news asked people on the street if they felt that Australia should celebrate Halloween and have more trick or treaters. There was about a 50/50 split of Aussies saying 'sure, its a fun holiday and good for the kids... bring it on' to the other half saying
'that is an American thing. Leave it in America'. Although there are negative things that can be said about America one of them isn't that we celebrate Halloween. I only wish I could show the parents of Australian children how happy their sons and daughters would be if they dressed up every October 31st and went house to house 'trick or treating' and then the sugar high they are on for next 2 weeks!I guess you truly have to be an American to enjoy some things!
Happy belated Halloween!
2 comments:
Bean,
I'm with you, I love halloween. Caroline and Paulie killed me this year going around the neighborhood. Caroline insisted to take off her coat at every house to show her Halloween dress and Paulie kept tripping over his Thomas the Train costume. Still going hard on the candy...
James - that is great. It must be strange being the parent chaparoning the trick or treaters. Got you email about Weymouth Soccer. I am bummed that I am not there to see the Eastern Mass Finals.
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