Difference between UK and US Halloween celebrations

[Boo]

Well I only joined the forums today, it's great to see so much genuine affection for a tradition that I've always loved.

It seems that many of the old world customs that found their way to America have slowly crept back to the UK. Halloween as a fun festival has grown in importance for the last 30 years or so in the UK and especially so in the last 5 years.
The biggest difference between the UK and the US celebrations seems to be this; in the UK the focus is very much on classic horror...vampires, werewolves, ghosts, witches, zombies etc. Whereas it seems our US cousins make use of a much wider range of literary and film characters (I've read on here that people dress as pirates, Star Trek characters etc etc).
I also get the impression that in the US it's more of a general party whereas in the UK it's a nod to old beliefs........just my two cents (or two pennies, depending on what side of the pond you're on

[Pumpkin-Pie]

I agree with you completely.

Having said this, i do prefer the US ways of Halloween celebration.
I love tradition. =)x

[Felix Felicis]

(fresh meat here too)

I think simply that the uk dont liberate themselves to the fun as much. Mostly worried about the neighbours etc, this year thats tuff, we are having a party!!!!

Look at the neat stuff you can get in USA nothing really like here.

[uncletor]

Welcome aboard all three of you! Neat to hear your feedback on a holiday that is winging it's way back to you...it's such a grab bag of styles to begin with...the Romans did the bobbing for apples, trick or treating really got going over here in THIS century..the pumpkin carving was totally American/Canadian...(the Irish and Scots used turnips before for that..)
I know what you mean about the different styles, though. I used to say that it was turning into DRESS UP AS YOUR FAVORITE MOVIE CHARACTER NIGHT...but now I think it's turning into DRESS UP AS YOUR FAVORITE ICON OR SOCIAL SYMBOL..interesting..

[mummynuts]

I know what you mean about the neighbours, heaven knows what they are going to make of our planned garden graveyard in Bedfordshire!!

[Celtic Ghoul]

Hi Boo,

When you say a nod to old beliefs are you referring to Samhain? How common are true Samhain celebrations rather than Halloween celebrations over there?

I did a post a while back on the history of Samhain, but I was talking primarily about that holiday as it existed in prehistory.

[MHooch]

It's so great that we have some international posters...welcome to you all. It's so interesting to hear the differences between the US and UK styles of celebrating. Either way, we have a lot of fun, don't we???

[Boo]

Hi again, and thanks for the warm welcome.


I mentioned that we give a nod to the old beliefs over here in Britain.

We seem to have a mish mash of traditions (bobbing the apple, pumpkins, bonfires etc), but I think our costumes and paraphanalia are concentrated mostly around three things; popular horror literary characters, witches and magic, and the dead.
I've never seen anyone in the UK dressed as Elvis or in other popular non-horror costumes.
So what I'm getting at is this, in the US I think the emphasis is more on the party aspect of Halloween than in the UK, and here there's more of a nod to the ending of the summer, the dark nights setting in etc etc.

I may be wrong, but that's how I see it.

[Rising Dead Man]

I hate the non Halloween related costumes people wear at Halloween. Halloween is about horror and death. Other costumes that have nothing to do with Halloween do not make you think about Halloween. Like if someone is dressed as a cow, you think of cows and farms. Nothing Halloween related. If someone is dressed up as a zombie, you think of zombies and Halloween creatures. I have always worn Halloween themed costumes because I love horror and scary things and because Halloween is about horror and death, not cows and farms.

[Haunt Master]

I really don't like to see some people who do not like celebrate on Halloween, even some parents won't make their kids go out on Halloween for dressing up their costumes and wearing masks!

Some people need to understand Halloween is fun! If they don't like horror or something scarier then they need to buy something cheaper like Superman, Barbie doll, other cartoon costumes!