I'm the same. I hate the pressure of having to be that creative, plus it seems like a waste to spend so much time/money/effort on an outfit you're only going to wear once or maybe twice. So I tend to just avoid things that require costumes...
We do have Halloween here by now! But it's definitely imported from the US, and so some people scoff at it. I think lots of countries have some variation of All Hallows/whatever they call their day on Nov 1.
We also have St Martin. It's around Nov 11, I think it doesn't exist in the US, it has parades with lanterns which typically end with a bonfire, after that the children go from house to house with their lanterns, sing traditional songs and get candy. Sound familiar? ;)
So some people are like "we already have fall holidays, we don't need this imported Halloween". My parents were like that, though maybe they just didn't want us to be full of sugar and hyperactive through all of November... there are lots of people celebrating Halloween here but I'm not one of them.
Oh, interesting! I actually think it's really cool how so many countries have "different" holidays that somehow all end up being really similar, but with completely different takes on it. Or like how there are so many different versions of Santa Claus across different cultures. I love hearing all about those more unique versions instead of just the copied ones.
I agree - I love hearing about other countries! In my family, Baby Jesus ("the Christ child", it took me a while to understand that that was supposed to be Jesus) brings the presents on Christmas Eve. It's a Catholic German thing, I think. :D
I like this Tumblr post (in English) about Sankt Martin: http://useless-germanyfacts.tumblr.com/post/152461929848
I saw it earlier today and it gave me so much nostalgia. You don't really participate in this once you grow up. I should go with my nephew this year!
What country do you live in? I've been wondering if there are any other countries that really celebrate besides the US or if it's mostly just a one-country holiday.
I wouldn't see Sankt Martin as that similar though, because where I live, it is really only a kindergarten holiday. Children make their lanterns in kindergarten, and then the whole kindergarten group walks around singing. People who don't have very young children in their lives hardly notice it.
There is one obscure tradition though that is really similar, but well, it's also really obscure and I've only ever heard about it from one person. It's called "Frisch und gsund schlagen" (~ whipping fresh and healthy) or, as German Wikipedia tells me, Schappen. On December 28th, children go from house to house, saying some slightly creepy poem that wishes people all the best for the new year (and a long life and great health and a good death) and in some versions mentions hitting people, then snapping the grown ups with twigs as hard as they can, and getting money or sweets for that.
I think it's a very regional and mostly rural thing, and I suspect that it mostly disappeared a few decades ago everywhere but the core area. I've really only ever heard about it from one person, who was kind of the only one doing it in their town, and I thought it was strange, but apparantly it's kind of a thing in Carinthia (which is not where that person was from).
November 1st and 2nd are generally seen as gloomy, dark and depressing, partly because loads of people don't seem to like November and awesome foggy rainy cold weather, partly because those days (mostly the 1st) are when people go put flowers and candles on graves of people they lost.
That was me, and I'm from Germany :) over here, some schools participate in St Martin up to sixth grade or so. But yeah, it's not literally the same as Halloween.
We don't do Schappen over here and I'm kind of glad about that. XD I wouldn't reward people hitting me with sweets!
No plans. I never know what to dress up as. Nothing ever seems right.
I'm the same. I hate the pressure of having to be that creative, plus it seems like a waste to spend so much time/money/effort on an outfit you're only going to wear once or maybe twice. So I tend to just avoid things that require costumes...
I told several friends I'd be at their party as the invisible man.
Stayed home with wine and PC-gaming, best Halloween in decades :)
Ha! That's an awesome idea. I'm much more of a homebody myself. I'll have to try that tactic next time... :P
My girlfriend and I went as Fred and Daphne from Scooby Doo.
Me and my dogs are going as Velma, Scooby and Scrappy Doo!
Whoa! You guys all need to meet up and you'll have the whole crew! How funny.
No plans at all! Halloween isn't much of a thing in my country.
Is Halloween a US-only thing, or are there other countries that celebrate it too? I'd never really thought about that.
Mexico has Dia de los Muertos, which is different but kinda similar...
We do have Halloween here by now! But it's definitely imported from the US, and so some people scoff at it. I think lots of countries have some variation of All Hallows/whatever they call their day on Nov 1.
We also have St Martin. It's around Nov 11, I think it doesn't exist in the US, it has parades with lanterns which typically end with a bonfire, after that the children go from house to house with their lanterns, sing traditional songs and get candy. Sound familiar? ;)
So some people are like "we already have fall holidays, we don't need this imported Halloween". My parents were like that, though maybe they just didn't want us to be full of sugar and hyperactive through all of November... there are lots of people celebrating Halloween here but I'm not one of them.
Oh, interesting! I actually think it's really cool how so many countries have "different" holidays that somehow all end up being really similar, but with completely different takes on it. Or like how there are so many different versions of Santa Claus across different cultures. I love hearing all about those more unique versions instead of just the copied ones.
I agree - I love hearing about other countries! In my family, Baby Jesus ("the Christ child", it took me a while to understand that that was supposed to be Jesus) brings the presents on Christmas Eve. It's a Catholic German thing, I think. :D I like this Tumblr post (in English) about Sankt Martin: http://useless-germanyfacts.tumblr.com/post/152461929848 I saw it earlier today and it gave me so much nostalgia. You don't really participate in this once you grow up. I should go with my nephew this year!
Oh cool! Thanks for the link! :)
staying home & doing nothing. it's not really a thing here anyway… but even if it was i'm more of a not-doing-things person tbh :3
What country do you live in? I've been wondering if there are any other countries that really celebrate besides the US or if it's mostly just a one-country holiday.
Austria. It's pretty similar here to what someone explained for some european country that is probably either Germany or Austria anyways upthread. People tend to scoff at it because it's "imported", yet many enjoy the opportunity to dress up and drink alcohol, and some children do halloween-ish stuff as well. Still, it's not expected and easy to avoid.
I wouldn't see Sankt Martin as that similar though, because where I live, it is really only a kindergarten holiday. Children make their lanterns in kindergarten, and then the whole kindergarten group walks around singing. People who don't have very young children in their lives hardly notice it.
There is one obscure tradition though that is really similar, but well, it's also really obscure and I've only ever heard about it from one person. It's called "Frisch und gsund schlagen" (~ whipping fresh and healthy) or, as German Wikipedia tells me, Schappen. On December 28th, children go from house to house, saying some slightly creepy poem that wishes people all the best for the new year (and a long life and great health and a good death) and in some versions mentions hitting people, then snapping the grown ups with twigs as hard as they can, and getting money or sweets for that.
I think it's a very regional and mostly rural thing, and I suspect that it mostly disappeared a few decades ago everywhere but the core area. I've really only ever heard about it from one person, who was kind of the only one doing it in their town, and I thought it was strange, but apparantly it's kind of a thing in Carinthia (which is not where that person was from).
November 1st and 2nd are generally seen as gloomy, dark and depressing, partly because loads of people don't seem to like November and awesome foggy rainy cold weather, partly because those days (mostly the 1st) are when people go put flowers and candles on graves of people they lost.
That was me, and I'm from Germany :) over here, some schools participate in St Martin up to sixth grade or so. But yeah, it's not literally the same as Halloween. We don't do Schappen over here and I'm kind of glad about that. XD I wouldn't reward people hitting me with sweets!
Haha, Schappen sounds crazy! Glad we don't have that part. I would not enjoy children coming to my house and hitting me with sticks.
Went to a party as a Cubs fan. Depending on the outcome of today's game, I maybe be going as a cursed fan.
:( ❤
I think that i am going to be Kylie Jenner
No plans, just listening to gothic and doom metal