Yesterday was the very North American holiday, Hallowe'en.
I never realised it was so NORTH AMERICAN until I travel abroad and realised no one else really celebrates like we do.
Perhaps it is our self confidence in our beliefs that allows us not to be superstitious about ghosts and goblins. Or perhaps it's just another reason to spend money, including that every commerical savy Hallmark card.
At work over this past couple of weeks, I was getting the old 'oh ya, is't Hallowe'en' and then this knowing nod from the person that I have learned to understand means:
'I am simply placating your American sized ego but really think you are most ridiculous and juvenile for partaking in such a trival holiday'
I realise that I am not American but it seems anyone that comes from a continent that is not Europe or Asia is American and therefore, I have given up adding the NORTH bit every time someone mentions those AMERICAN ways. Please people, you must choose your battles.
The holiday did sort of come and go without much excitement. For some reason, trick or treating has not caught on here. Drunken parties dressed up as Elvis? Well, really, I'm sure that caught on in about 6 seconds and yes I did see some interesting characters when I was out on Saturday night.
But the whole buying loads of sweets to hand out to little goblins or witches or harry potters is not a 'thing' they do.
However, celebrating the holiday is starting to catch on in Belfast. And I'm all for supporting a culture that's 'learning' about our CRAZY OUT OF THIS WORLD American holidays.
But I had to put my foot down when a lady a work told me she had trick or treaters on SATURDAY NIGHT. WHAT?? DID I HEAR THAT RIGHT??
SATURDAY NIGHT??? OCTOBER 29???
Kudos to the parents who gave up their Saturday to go door to door but uh HELLO ?@?? If you're going to partake, you MUST do it right.
Hallowe'een is OCOTBER 31. Not the Saturday before. Not the Saturday after. Not when-ever-my-keen-parent-ass-feels-like-it. OCTOBER 31.
Can I tell you what would have greeted any cute little ghost that appeared at my door on Saturday night?
The same thing that appeared at my new neighbour's door Sunday morning when, in her own words, she thought the drilling at 9 AM ON SUNDAY MORNING was started at a reasonable hour.
A grumpy, tired, half asleep, angry banchee in her pjs.
Except of course on Saturday, I was probably drunk.
People of Belfast: Embrace the holiday, don't change it.
I never realised it was so NORTH AMERICAN until I travel abroad and realised no one else really celebrates like we do.
Perhaps it is our self confidence in our beliefs that allows us not to be superstitious about ghosts and goblins. Or perhaps it's just another reason to spend money, including that every commerical savy Hallmark card.
At work over this past couple of weeks, I was getting the old 'oh ya, is't Hallowe'en' and then this knowing nod from the person that I have learned to understand means:
'I am simply placating your American sized ego but really think you are most ridiculous and juvenile for partaking in such a trival holiday'
I realise that I am not American but it seems anyone that comes from a continent that is not Europe or Asia is American and therefore, I have given up adding the NORTH bit every time someone mentions those AMERICAN ways. Please people, you must choose your battles.
The holiday did sort of come and go without much excitement. For some reason, trick or treating has not caught on here. Drunken parties dressed up as Elvis? Well, really, I'm sure that caught on in about 6 seconds and yes I did see some interesting characters when I was out on Saturday night.
But the whole buying loads of sweets to hand out to little goblins or witches or harry potters is not a 'thing' they do.
However, celebrating the holiday is starting to catch on in Belfast. And I'm all for supporting a culture that's 'learning' about our CRAZY OUT OF THIS WORLD American holidays.
But I had to put my foot down when a lady a work told me she had trick or treaters on SATURDAY NIGHT. WHAT?? DID I HEAR THAT RIGHT??
SATURDAY NIGHT??? OCTOBER 29???
Kudos to the parents who gave up their Saturday to go door to door but uh HELLO ?@?? If you're going to partake, you MUST do it right.
Hallowe'een is OCOTBER 31. Not the Saturday before. Not the Saturday after. Not when-ever-my-keen-parent-ass-feels-like-it. OCTOBER 31.
Can I tell you what would have greeted any cute little ghost that appeared at my door on Saturday night?
The same thing that appeared at my new neighbour's door Sunday morning when, in her own words, she thought the drilling at 9 AM ON SUNDAY MORNING was started at a reasonable hour.
A grumpy, tired, half asleep, angry banchee in her pjs.
Except of course on Saturday, I was probably drunk.
People of Belfast: Embrace the holiday, don't change it.
Comments
See ya!