Quote: Nat Wicks @ October 31 2011, 6:53 PM BSTWe used to carve turnips. Did others do that or were we just weird and northern?
That's traditionally British, I think pumpkins are an American idea.
What I want to know is what spooky records they used to play before the 60's, since it's always 60's records like 'Monster Mash' which get played now.
Quote: Nogget @ October 31 2011, 7:11 PM BSTWhat I want to know is what spooky records they used to play before the 60's, since it's always 60's records like 'Monster Mash' which get played now.
The neighbor kids played "Thriller" over and over and over yesterday afternoon. 
We never did anything here before about 1970.
Quote: Nogget @ October 31 2011, 7:11 PM BSTThat's traditionally British
Well I've never heard of it.
Quote: zooo @ October 31 2011, 7:15 PM BSTWell I've never heard of it.
Of course it is. Turnips (or tumshies) are the traditional British thing you carve at Hallowe'en and put a candle in. I used to leave that to Mr. K when our boys were young so don't know how difficult it is. Pumpkins are an American thing - maybe they don't eat their porridge so they're too weak to take on a turnip (kidding, Da Butt, so put the gun away!) Do we even grow pumpkins in this country?
Quote: Chappers @ October 31 2011, 7:14 PM BSTWe never did anything here before about 1970.
Well we did in Scotland. Kids always went out 'guising' but my mother never let me - she must have been afraid I'd be grabbed by a wicked pervert.
I've seen a few pumpkin patches in England.
Maybe the turnip thing is Scottish/Northern/Welsh? I've never seen it in England.
Quote: keewik @ October 31 2011, 7:39 PM BSTOf course it is. Turnips (or tumshies) are the traditional British thing you carve at Hallowe'en and put a candle in. I used to leave that to Mr. K when our boys were young so don't know how difficult it is. Pumpkins are an American thing - maybe they don't eat their porridge so they're too weak to take on a turnip (kidding, Da Butt, so put the gun away!) Do we even grow pumpkins in this country?
Well we did in Scotland. Kids always went out 'guising' but my mother never let me - she must have been afraid I'd be grabbed by a wicked pervert.
I think you should rephrase that traditionally Scottish instead of British. You're talking in a foreign language.
When I was attending the University of Florida the school invited the foreign students to a pumpkin carving party. Most of them had no idea what to do but a South African(?) couple showed up with a pair of tiny gourds. Apparently they knew the large ones as gourds and their smaller cousins as pumpkins.
Quote: Nogget @ October 31 2011, 7:11 PM BSTThat's traditionally British, I think pumpkins are an American idea.
What I want to know is what spooky records they used to play before the 60's, since it's always 60's records like 'Monster Mash' which get played now.
I don't recall Halloween as being significant in the 60's & before in the UK. Greater emphasis was on Guy Fawkes night instead.
So the answer is probably NONE.
Quote: billwill @ October 31 2011, 9:01 PM BSTI don't recall Halloween as being significant in the 60's & before in the UK. Greater emphasis was on Guy Fawkes night instead.
So the answer is probably NONE.
Sorry, when I said 'they' I meant Americans, not us; I'm old enough to remember that we didn't do Halloween in the past.
I'm with the non celebrationists (new word) on this.
We never did anything special before the multi nationals spotted a money making opportunity.
Same with Fathers Day, Grandparents Day etc etc
I've never done anything for grandparents day, sod 'em.
I don't even know when it is, doubt anyone does. I think we can safely say that's one of the ones that never caught on. Like that teachers day thing.
All right, maybe it was a Scottish thing, but we always celebrated Hallowe'en, and my mother's generation celebrated it. Now Guy Fawkes wasn't celebrated here but is now.
As for grandparents' day! They must get their presents on Mother's Day and Father's Day so why have more?
My Grandad on my Mum's (Mom's) side is American, I think they used to do stuff for Halloween but obviously trick or treating would have just confused the neighbours (neighbors).
Just spent 3 hours handing out candy, drinking beer and watching my neighbor pull everyone around the neighborhood on a tractor-propelled hayride. Good fun.
Now it's time to watch The Walking Dead.
Just received a text message advising that my neighbor is lighting the fire pit in his back yard. Looks like we'll be drinking beer and The Walking Dead will have to wait.