Ooohhhhh Scary
October 30, 2007Halloween, thank goodness the boys have grown out of that malarkey. Halloween is one ‘tradition’ that should definitely have stayed state side; it is a tradition we worked very hard at side stepping in this household. However we did grow some cracking pumpkins on top of the ‘midden’ (muck heap) one year, pumpkins apparently like a good deep root run, and we obviously made them feel at home.
Up and down the country vulnerable people dread the ‘trick or treat’ calls. Not sure why parents think it is a good idea to let there kids wander the streets at night banging on the doors of stranger; am I a kill joy? I don’t think so.
Halloween is of course the the day preceding All Saints or All Hallows day now a little know fact about this festival is that it sends the price of cut flowers soaring in the UK, (you won’t notice it in the super markets because their suppliers grow to a contract price, but in the independent flower shops who buy through the local wholesale markets who in turn buy from the Dutch auctions (that act like a clearing bank for the world flower industry) will see wholesale prices rise.
The reason for this is supply and demand, in many countries through out Europe it is traditional to take flowers to the graves of your loved ones, since departed; and to light candles.
This is a little known fact about Halloween that you can chuck into the conversations today!
When I flogged flowers for a living I hated this time of year, prices went up (I knew they would come back down again, but I still disliked it) huge amount of cash had been committed to stock for the Christmas rush, and all the customers would disappear off to the Dark City to ‘do their Christmas shopping’ (this was a few years ago no doubt now they just go to Google and EBay) The didn’t reappear again till a few days before Christmas, with a list that read
- Pick up Turkey
- Buy Satsuma’s
- Send flowers to Auntie Vera (in Australia)
- Buy holly wreath
- Buy flowers for hall
- Buy 1.5 meters of 1/4 inch ribbon, red shade; not tomato red, not claret red, not blood red (same thing to some readers) but robin red.
And if we had a penny for every time a customer said ‘This is just what I have been looking for, I couldn’t find it any where in Dark City; and look it was here in Market Town all the time.’ we would have been much richer.
The moral of this tale, shop local, who want’s to go to the Dark City anyway.
We didn’t mind Christmas being very busy,as much as three weeks turn over in as many days, we were very happy to get the money in the till, we just wished it wasn’t so last minute, it used to make me feel like this.
Now that is scary…….
I agree with you. Can’t stand Halloween, and don’t like the kids going door-to-door in a threatening manner. Makes me feel a little guilty, as when I was a kid, people were so generous to us when we went carol-singing, and giving us paperboys a Xmas tip. Oh well. Just say I’m old and grumpy. Everyone else does!
I’m told by my colleagues that the demanding trick or treating is a South of the Border thing. Being raised in England I dread Hallowe’en and am quite glad no one comes up our lane.
Apparently the Scottish tradition of guising is alive and well in Aberdeen and children are still expected to do a turn to get their treat.
Last year I was at the in-laws for a Hallowen party. After the umpteenth glass of Guinness I happened to look outside the front window and saw Gandolph standing there! Staring at me! I nearly did something unspeakable in my trousers!
It fair ruined my nice lovely glass of Guinness as I spilt it on the carpet!
Guising is alive and well and (in this town, at least) still respectful. The kids arrive at the houses in costume, sing, tell a story or a joke and play games (apple dooking, cake on a string, flour cake).
Much fun, love halloween. Just for little ones though, older kidsget a bit mercenary about it all.
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