29: A Hallowe’en Meeting
The Kids hold a Pre-Hallowe’en General Meeting, to discuss what they’ll be doing on the night. This is Ireland after all, and Jenny is the only native Irish kid, so she knows the score.
‘Guising’
When I lived in Scotland up until 1977, when I was 9, and before I moved to Ireland I loved ‘Guising’ every Hallowe’en. We might learn a special song to sing on people’s doorsteps, like ‘Hallowe’en’s Coming‘ That was terrific fun. We might have heard of ‘Trick or Treat‘, but we didn’t do it – and probably had no idea what it meant or how to do it anyway – even if we had seen US TV shows, like Scooby Doo. The absolutely expected element of performance made it all the more exciting for us, and the treats that the householders gave you were always well earned.
Above: Hallowe’ens Coming song. The one we sang was a bit like this
One Hallowe’en, aged 8 or 9, I went as a headless… someone or other. My dad’s white short was buttoned on top of my head. And a bright red hankie hid the top of my head, and also simulated a bloody neck stump! I then carried our old polystyrene hairdresser’s head under my arm. This was painted by me at various times as a Spock or Dracula head, among other things. I must have peeked out of the front of the shirt, between buttons. I think I drew it in my school jotter! When I find it, I’ll give you a look. So stay posted, gang!
A bit more about Hallowe’en in Scotland
Skeleton Dance!
On another occasion, Alan B‘s mum did a brilliant thing for us! She went into Perth town and bought the necessary art supplies to make two, articulated cardboard skeletons! Not only were they articulated but she painted them with luminous paint! Alan and I went into each house that we visited that Hallowe’en night, carefully held the skeletons over their sitting room lamp, requested that the light be turned off – and danced our skeletons about – glowing in the dark – as we sang the Hallowe’en song! Wasn’t she great to do that for us?
It’s Bad Luck!
Above: This is what ‘Neep Lanterns’ usually look like from Wade MacMorrighan’s page
One Hallowe’en, we went out on a Sunday. Do you know, that was supposed to be bad luck in Scotland? Did it stop us? Did it heck. Hallowe’en is no time for superstitious nonsense! I hope you sleep well after seeing the next image 😉
Above: But here’s a more terrifying one on display in the Museum of Country Life, Ireland
** Stay Groovy, all you 1970s kids! **
– John White
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Thanks!
Great stuff, John. The captions describing this little exchange in the manner of a committee meeting really tickled me. And once again the detail really makes the strip – I love it that they’ve got issue one of House of Hammer magazine on the floor in the first panel.
When I was a kid, I was hugely frustrated that Hallowe’en wasn’t really celebrated in the UK. When trick-or-treating did start to take off, it was accompanied by much media concern about this obnoxious American custom! Today, kids go trick-or-treating but it’s all done in slightly uneasy fashion.
If you’ll forgive the plug, I’m currently writing my monthly post for Amazing Stories magazine (amazingstories.com), in which I’m arguing that the ambiguity about Hallowe’en is a lot like Britain’s discomfort with its own tradition of Gothic horror. The post should be published on Thursday.
Thanks Damien. Is it issue 1? I’d no idea! It’s one of those two that I still have! I must dig it out again actually, and maybe show the Dracula film adaptation to Johnny.
Do you have a copy too?
Looking forward to your article 😉
I do have a copy, and I’ll aim to look it out soon. I seem to remember there’s a ‘news in brief’ item that says American Graffiti director George Lucas has just started shooting his next film, The Adventures of Luke Starkiller, at Elstree.
Wow – I need to check my copy! Not, the rise and fall of Darth Vader then 😉
These days many U.S. towns set hours for trick-or-treating, which usually end BEFORE F’ING TWILIGHT! It’s disgraceful! AND they often move it to the nearest weekend! You’re SUPPOSED TO GO TRICK-OR-TREATING AFTER DARK ON THE ACTUAL NIGHT, stupid helicopter parenting politicians! My youngest might never know the real fun!
Anyway, I’ve been wanting to carve a turnip instead of a pumpkin (I’ve done zucchini and butternut squash, too) for years, and this year I finally remembered to buy one!
I seriously can’t wait to see what Jenny has in mind!
Hiya Grace,
Gosh, that’s a bit killjoyish of the authorities. Surely if the kids are accompanied (they do that now!) it’d be fine.
Unless… this is for the home owning adults’ benefit? To protect them from being bothered after dark – on Halloween?
Do these regulations affect the activities of opportunistic older teenagers and students?
John
P.S. Good luck trying to carve that thing!
Well, I did it! It turned out pretty well, too, considering I did it standing in the middle of the kitchen holding the turnip in my hand the entire time!
Older kids are bound by the same time restraints as younger kids. It really sucks. This year was 4:30-7:00.