I Hate Halloween

For a blog post title, it does exactly what it says on the tin really doesn't it.

It's Halloween weekend and it's one of the times of year that I really detest.

Why such an unveiled contempt when many enjoy the celebrations? Maybe it's because I was born in a part of south Pembrokeshire that was sparsely populated of immediate houses near-by. I never lived in a town or village so the whole concept of 'trick-or-treating' never really took off for me as a child as there was hardly anyone near-by to 'trick or treat'!

Having said that, that isn't a reason in itself to hate Halloween. That was only a reason to not be actively involved in it.

Remember, Remember, the 5th of November (not October 31st)
Really, I can't stand it, because I don't see the point in it. For me, it's a complete waste of time with no redeeming features. Wind the clock forward a few days however to November 5th and as a child, you'd always see me with a sparkler in my hand, no doubt near-by a Bonfire. Because actually, for all that Bonfire Night in itself is also a rather fanciful day of activities, it does at least actually represent something. It represents the failed attempts of Guy Fawkes to blow up King and Parliament in 1605. There's actually a bit of history behind it and as a historian, that always won be over. Also, Bonfire Night is a bloody good laugh.

Halloween though? Call me simplistic, but it's just an American fad. Now don't get me wrong, I love America. I've been there many times and have lapped up it's wonderful sense of self. My brother-in-law is also American and my eldest niece was born there, in Florida on the day of Diana's funeral in September 1997.

So it's nothing against the country, it's just this particular concept, which is naturally an alien one to this country. For me, America can happily keep Halloween. It isn't needed here.

What I do know as a local Councillor, is that I will be getting e-mails and phone calls over the next 48 hours from anxious residents who will have suffered from the pelting of eggs and flour on their windows. That's not very nice is it and yet it predominantly happens at exactly this time of year.

So, call me Scrooge if you like. I don't care. I'll bah humbug the lot of you 'cos I hate Halloween, always have and always will.