I'm a little disappointed by the lack of topics with real posting value in General lately, mostly because people think the question forum is a better place for threads, when a lot of them could be going here. But hopefully this topic will get some discussion, and maybe lead people to see what is acceptable in general beyond news threads. (I know there is a thread about this in the question forum, but this will deal with different topics)

Anyway, I want to talk about Halloween! It used to be my favourite Holiday. From trick-or-treating, to dressing up, to just watching Halloween themed cartoons... it was a great time. Everyone really got into it when I was younger, on the days leading up to Halloween there's no way you could forget it was almost October 31st. Heck, it usually started at the BEGINNING of October.

But now it seems like the thrill of the Holiday is wearing off. I want to know why you think that is?

I personally think it's a mix between apathy, cynics (or people who think they're too cool for fun) and religion.

Apathy: I think people are just too lazy to take a couple of hours and deck out their lawn, or to carve a pumpkin. It really doesn't take that long, but it does take effort. People seem to be unwilling to exert that extra bit of effort to make it a joy for children. And I know it can be a little costly, but most decorations can be reused for many years so it's totally worth it.

Cynics: I've noticed a lot of people think that they're too cool for stuff like this. Whether that's because stupid little kids who dress up like it's Halloween every day ruined their view or if it's because they want to be radical and different, or if they truly don't care, I don't know. I wish more people were enthusiastic about it though.

Religion: In Canada, at least, we have a very multicultural society. And because of that, we often have a lot of conflicts surrounding holidays. I completely understand these people not wanting to celebrate, but the fact that they ask us to change our ways for them really bothers me. We're not even allowed to say Merry Christmas anymore because not everyone celebrates it and they find it offensive or something. Our traditions are being put second to those of outsiders. I know that sounds offensive, but I don't understand why we are bowing down to people who came to our country.

I don't want to say much more about religion because it could easily break this topic.


But also, I want to know what you've gone out as in the past, and if you're dressing up this year (whether it's for a party or something else), as what?

When I was younger I went out as batman and superman a few years, and then I started going as zombies, dracula, and a ghoul. Things that I thought were pretty spooky. As I got older it became more of a joke and I began dressing up as a woman, a tennis player, and GUY WEARING MASK.


I'm not going out this year, unfortunately. I will be handing out candy at a friends house I believe. I'm going to count how many kids come. She lives in a fairly populated area, but I want to see how bad it is as far as trick-or-treaters go. Maybe I am wrong and it's still as popular as ever. I really hope so, because I want to take my kid out in a few years and if the trend continues the way I think it is, that may not happen, which upsets me greatly.

Also, Happy Halloween guys. (google image search picture time)

Am throwing a halloween party. Insane robot costume time!

I never really got into the "spirit" of Halloween, I just see it as another holiday with themed candy.

I'm not one to advocate political correctness, but I feel it's necessary here. You said it yourself: canada is a multicultural society, not a christian one. Your beliefs aren't being put second behind others, they're simply being put on equal footing with them. Just like other people aren't happy to see merry christmas everywhere, I'm sure you wouldn't be happy to see fucking salam aleikum or whatever everywhere.

I wouldn't care, in all honesty. I have no problem with others celebrating their beliefs. I wouldn't be happy having to see that while Merry Christmas was stilled BANNED or whatever though.

As far as halloween is concerned, I think its loss of appeal has more to do with the fact that you're getting older as opposed to there being some WAR ON HALLOWEEN or some shit. It's really more of a little kid's holiday anyway.

I'm not saying there's a war on Halloween, I'm saying the holiday seems to be dying. Most holidays are. It's not just me; I've had my TV on YTV the last few days and where they would normally be airing tons of halloween things, I've seen none. Not even commercials. I took into account the fact that I'm older and the shows and channels I watch are different, but even on channels aimed at children, there's very little, when there used to be lots.

And I am still very interested in it. I have grown out of the trick-or-treat phase, but the celebration is something that still appeals to me. I love seeing creative costumes, and people decorating. These things just don't happen much anymore, that's what I'm saying.

Halloween has lost its childish appeal to me, because now it simply means that 60% of girls are dressed up in bunny costumes and go whore themselves out for the weekend (even more than usual).

Some "interesting" costumes I've seen this year:

NASA Mission Control Center & Neil Armstrong (2 people)
Tissue Box ("Blow me")

As you can see I am not very excited about Halloween this year.

Halloween has lost its childish appeal to me, because now it simply means that 60% of girls are dressed up in bunny costumes and go whore themselves out for the weekend (even more than usual).

Exactly, it use to be about people trying to look scary or vastly different, but now it's about people trying to make the holiday sexy.

I am going to attempt to carve Park Myung Soo's face onto a pumpkin with no carving experience. Expect photos and a mashed up pumpkin.

Halloween isn't very fun in my neighborhood. There's a lot of people who bring their kids from other neighborhoods to trick or treat here so that kinda gets the candy buyers down. Also, last year I gave out candy and only about 10 kids came to my door, it was so depressing. This year I'm going over to a friends house and watching a scary movie or two, nothing too special.

edit HEH EDITING MESSAGE BEFORE POSTING but uh, i was about to rant about my disapointing culinarist exprience about pumpkin but apparently you americans prepare it first and not eat it raw as i did! Thanks to Izekeal and Allsop at irc for the valuable information.
So uh yeah, you guys are forgiven. ~ Hooray Halloween! I'll definitely try that pumpkin pie if i ever happen to encounter such anywhere.

what is that tv show, like "wild n out" for japanese people?

It's a Korean show called Xman. And yeah, I guess it's similar to that (although I've never seen it).

As an artist I love Halloween. Absolutely love it. Imagine a dark space with a bright shining orange light. Just amazing. No I'm serious I'm not drugged out. ;-)


Halloween and the color orange always remind me of the friends I would hang out with. The nice chill of the fresh thick air running through the fields as me and my friend would walk around town.

And you could urge the possiblity of these fuzzy feelings starting when I was a kid. The memory lodged in the back of my sub-concious mind.

Even though it's a fake holliday with loads of commercialism, there is still a warm spot in my heart for the day and always will be.

That's what halloween truly means to me.

the last couple years I've either had to work or have had loads of school work on halloween, so I never did get around to dressing up

halloween was absolutely one of my favorite holidays as a kid, but I am not very creative at dressing up and buying costumes is expensive (unless you put together shit from thrift) so I just.. dont really do it I guess

though my dad has a bunch of friends over and they get really drunk and pass out candy to the neighborhood kids, so that will be interesting at least