Today I want to talk about that lovely American (and Canadian) holiday called 'Thanksgiving'. I feel like I have talked a lot about holidays recently, but there are just a lot happening all around the same time in the fall/early winter.
Thanksgiving, for those who may not be aware, is the celebration of food, people you care about, and other things you are thankful for. For a long time, I thought the holiday was celebrated because back in pilgram times there had been a big feast between the pilgrams and the Native Americans, which is because that is what my teachers told me. Well, that is all a lie. It was probably a celebration in honor of stealing other people's food and having stored up enough food for the winter. But now a days, it is more of a day to eat enormous amounts of food and be surrounded by family you love/are forced to love.
My extended family lives rather far away, so Thanksgivings at my house are just my parents, sister, and me. Although I am not missing Thanksgiving too much (most likely due to that we are having a Thanksgiving party here in England), I cannot imagine what it must be like at my house. When only four people attend Thanksgiving, one person missing is quite a large percentage.
I also find myself wondering if they will go 'Black Friday' shopping. (That is when people go to stores really early in the morning (like 12 AM) to try and buy really cheap stuff.) Last year I had to stand in line for four hours, waiting for a TV to be released. You could not even go to the restroom, because you would lose your spot. I ended up being the first person in line since I got there so early, and it turned out I did not need to stand in line, because hardly anyone even wanted those TVs.
But the main thing I remember was being glad that I was in line instead of walking around the store (we were in Walmart, which pretty much turns into some variation of hell on Black Friday). At Walmart there are certain items, which are not released until 10 PM, midnight, 2 AM, etc. and these items are wrapped in plastic wrap so you can find them but not take any until they are opened by the employees. There were literally people walking around with box cutters out, slashing randomly at wrapped items, taking the items, and then running off. Specifically, I saw them do this with a Dora the Explorer coloring set. What? Is Dora's array of colored pencils really worth it?
There were also people who would stand next to you looking at an item and then when you looked away, they would steal items out of your cart. And speaking of carts, I saw at least three carts entirely full of mini crock pots. What? How many fondues are you planning to make at once? Maybe just one large one would suffice?
Oe woman who was in line behind me, told her husband about how she had tried to get an electric car for their young son, but that these other women had box cutters and were threatening to cut her with them. Again, what? You do have to go back to real life after tonight. A real life where stabbing people is illegal.
Yes, I was glad to be in line, safely behind a barrier where I could watch as thousands of years of building a civilization came crashing down, because of some colored pencils. It was probably one of the scariest moments in my life. Only second to when I was in ninth grade and some insane girl was screaming at the bus driver and we almost crashed about three times.
But here in England, they do not have Black Friday shopping, although they might have a varient of it (like Boxing Day in Canada). And even if they did, I would not be going. Hell is not a place I like to make frequent visits at.
But another thing about Thanksgiving, is that for some people it is more of a seque holiday. Like, we have to get through Thanksgiving before we can get to Christmas. I feel that way, in a sense, in that I refuse to listen to Christmas music until Thanksgiving. I used to not have this rule, but I would then get tired of my favorite tunes way before it was even time for Christmas.
England, does not have Thanksgiving to get through though, so they have had Christmas decorations up since Halloween, some places, even before that. And tons of businesses have signs saying, 'Book Christmas Dinner here', a few restaurants even have New Year's ones.
Overall, I am a bit sad to be away from my family on this family-centered holiday, but I will get to see them in about a month, so nothing to be too sad about. And I am really excited for the Thanksgiving party we have having. All of the study abroad students from our school are getting together to eat together today in celebration. I have never had a big Thanksgiving, so I am excited to experience it.
Until next time...
Embrace the Odd,
Caitlin
"The difference between a violin and a viola is that a viola burns longer." -Victor Borge
Showing posts with label Holidays. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Holidays. Show all posts
Thursday, 22 November 2012
Monday, 19 November 2012
Happy Birth to You!
Today is my little sister's birthday, and I just wanted to congratulate her on being super, duper old! Have a great day, little sis! I love you more than ice cream, which I like a lot.
Speaking of my little sister, every time I come overseas (which has only happened three times, mind you), I make sure to get her a small animal. I am not really sure why, it just kind of developed over time.
When I went to People to People's Leadership camp for a week one summer, I got her a tribal horse from a museum I visited. It was one of the first times I had been away from her for an extended period of time (not that a week is really that long, but it seemed long then). So, I wanted to give her a gift when I returned, also since Washington DC is just cool and I thought she needed a gift from there. The tribal horse somehow ended up being named Senor Wally Pringles (by me, although I am not sure where I got that name). I was in seventh grade and probably thought it was hilarious.
Then when I went to the UK in eighth grade for about three weeks, I wanted to get her a cool animal gift again since she really liked the last one. I think that was when I got her a Dragon named Dennis. If I remember correctly, he was bought in Wales, but I could be mixing him and another animal figure up. I have bought her quite a few over the years now, and it is hard to keep them all straight as well as remember them all.
Either way, Dennis is a bad ass. He is not very large but he is made of a dark gray, shiny rock and looks like he would kill you as soon as he looked at you, if he was alive. (Luckily, he is not.) And he is definitely from the UK, whether from the first or second trip overseas is the real question.
When I went overseas the second time after twelfth grade, i got her quite a few animal figurines. I actually attempted to get one from each country I went to, but that was a bust since not every one of the ten countries I visited had figurine shops in easy access and/or I had almost no time to look around at them.
I know that in Italy I got her a glas, white stallion. His name escapes me, but I would guess something along the lines of Fernando. In Germany I bought her a small porcelain doll that looked a bit like her and named it Lurane (purposefully spelled strangely). I know for a fact that I got her something else in Germany as well, but I cannot remember what it was. I also got her a postcard of Prince Charles's face in England that trip, and although it is not technically an animal or a toy, I still count it.
That postcard was actually a bit creepy also. It was definitely not one of the best photos of Prince Charles that they could have picked. She thought it was hilarious though. And honestly, we could not remember the Princes' names (William and Harry) so we thought he was suppose to be one of them, and we spent quite some time trying to figure out if he was suppose to be the hot one or not. (We did not find him attractive, but why would you make a postcard of the less hot one, and not then make one of the hot one?) Luckily our mother sorted us out and told us he was the father of Harry and William. I really do not know why we did not just google it.
This trip I have worked really hard to get her gifts of animals from every country we have gone to. I think it is driving my flatmates, who I travel with, crazy. We will go into a shop and I will look around for small animals, and if they are too expensive, or not good enough, I will tell them we need to keep looking. In Scotland I think we went into fifteen shops before I found one I liked.
I do not want to spoil the surprise for her, so I will just say that I got two things from Ireland, two from Wales, one from Scotland, and two from England. We are planning to go to Spain in December and I hope to get something good from there too!
Until next time...
Embrace the Odd,
Caitlin
"Wear the old coat and buy the new book." -Austin Phelps
Speaking of my little sister, every time I come overseas (which has only happened three times, mind you), I make sure to get her a small animal. I am not really sure why, it just kind of developed over time.
When I went to People to People's Leadership camp for a week one summer, I got her a tribal horse from a museum I visited. It was one of the first times I had been away from her for an extended period of time (not that a week is really that long, but it seemed long then). So, I wanted to give her a gift when I returned, also since Washington DC is just cool and I thought she needed a gift from there. The tribal horse somehow ended up being named Senor Wally Pringles (by me, although I am not sure where I got that name). I was in seventh grade and probably thought it was hilarious.
Then when I went to the UK in eighth grade for about three weeks, I wanted to get her a cool animal gift again since she really liked the last one. I think that was when I got her a Dragon named Dennis. If I remember correctly, he was bought in Wales, but I could be mixing him and another animal figure up. I have bought her quite a few over the years now, and it is hard to keep them all straight as well as remember them all.
Either way, Dennis is a bad ass. He is not very large but he is made of a dark gray, shiny rock and looks like he would kill you as soon as he looked at you, if he was alive. (Luckily, he is not.) And he is definitely from the UK, whether from the first or second trip overseas is the real question.
When I went overseas the second time after twelfth grade, i got her quite a few animal figurines. I actually attempted to get one from each country I went to, but that was a bust since not every one of the ten countries I visited had figurine shops in easy access and/or I had almost no time to look around at them.
I know that in Italy I got her a glas, white stallion. His name escapes me, but I would guess something along the lines of Fernando. In Germany I bought her a small porcelain doll that looked a bit like her and named it Lurane (purposefully spelled strangely). I know for a fact that I got her something else in Germany as well, but I cannot remember what it was. I also got her a postcard of Prince Charles's face in England that trip, and although it is not technically an animal or a toy, I still count it.
That postcard was actually a bit creepy also. It was definitely not one of the best photos of Prince Charles that they could have picked. She thought it was hilarious though. And honestly, we could not remember the Princes' names (William and Harry) so we thought he was suppose to be one of them, and we spent quite some time trying to figure out if he was suppose to be the hot one or not. (We did not find him attractive, but why would you make a postcard of the less hot one, and not then make one of the hot one?) Luckily our mother sorted us out and told us he was the father of Harry and William. I really do not know why we did not just google it.
This trip I have worked really hard to get her gifts of animals from every country we have gone to. I think it is driving my flatmates, who I travel with, crazy. We will go into a shop and I will look around for small animals, and if they are too expensive, or not good enough, I will tell them we need to keep looking. In Scotland I think we went into fifteen shops before I found one I liked.
I do not want to spoil the surprise for her, so I will just say that I got two things from Ireland, two from Wales, one from Scotland, and two from England. We are planning to go to Spain in December and I hope to get something good from there too!
Until next time...
Embrace the Odd,
Caitlin
"Wear the old coat and buy the new book." -Austin Phelps
Sunday, 18 November 2012
Remembering Remembrance Day
In the UK, November 11th is called "Remembrance Day", and is a day when military heroes are remembered and thanked for their services to the country. It is celebrated by wearing a small red paper poppy on your coat for the day, and placing a wreath of poppies at war sites and memorials.
Leading up to November 11th, I had been told of the tradition to wear poppies and that they would be handed out at local stores a few days before the actual day. So, I was not surprised when November 1st rolled around and a few people were wearing poppies. However, I was surprised on November 2nd when just about everyone I saw was wearing poppies. Where did they get them? The stores I had been to had not had a single whisper of a poppy yet. And yet some dogs had poppies to wear.
And I am sure this was all in my mind, but the closer it got to November 11th, the more I felt like people were watching me, wondering where my poppy was. I could just feel them thinking, 'Where is that girl's poppy? Does she hate love and joy?' But none of the stores had any poppies for sale, and I had no idea if there was some secret code word I needed to use to get one or what. Because I felt so judged, I would sometimes talk in a more stereotypical American accent so they would just think, 'Oh, she's just a silly American' and hopefully stop judging me. That was the only time I was comfortable with our stereotype.
As the day got closer though, eventually some stores did begin to sell poppies near by. It just was not until the 8th, or so. Some people were a bit too cool for the paper poppies at the store and had ones they clearly had made or bought to be reused. One woman had a crochet poppy. I saw another woman with a gold necklace one. One man had a real poppy attached to his jacket on November 11th, and there was someone I saw with small silk ones. I even saw some people sporting multiple poppies at once.
The actual day was not very exciting compared to Guy Fawkes. There is a moment of silence at 11:00 AM all though out the country, but besides that and people laying down poppies at memorials, not much else happens.
Since my flatmates and I were on a train when 11:00 AM rolled around, we did not even get to experience the moment of silence since it was not announced on the train. We, however, did get to see lots of poppy wreaths at grave sites and memorials as we walked around that day. In fact, most of them are still up now, and probably will be up until the end of November.
Remembrance Day seems like a lovely for everyone to celebrate as it thanks current soldiers for all their hard work and fallen ones for their sacrifices, but it seemed to be a bit lost in all the tradition and formalities. (As America's Veterans Day is a bit, also.) I felt like there should have been a bit more going on in honor of the military, but I suppose the wave of poppies gets the message across as well.
Until next time...
Embrace the Odd,
Caitlin
"If God had really intended men to fly, he'd make it easier to get to the airport." -George Winters
And I am sure this was all in my mind, but the closer it got to November 11th, the more I felt like people were watching me, wondering where my poppy was. I could just feel them thinking, 'Where is that girl's poppy? Does she hate love and joy?' But none of the stores had any poppies for sale, and I had no idea if there was some secret code word I needed to use to get one or what. Because I felt so judged, I would sometimes talk in a more stereotypical American accent so they would just think, 'Oh, she's just a silly American' and hopefully stop judging me. That was the only time I was comfortable with our stereotype.
As the day got closer though, eventually some stores did begin to sell poppies near by. It just was not until the 8th, or so. Some people were a bit too cool for the paper poppies at the store and had ones they clearly had made or bought to be reused. One woman had a crochet poppy. I saw another woman with a gold necklace one. One man had a real poppy attached to his jacket on November 11th, and there was someone I saw with small silk ones. I even saw some people sporting multiple poppies at once.
The actual day was not very exciting compared to Guy Fawkes. There is a moment of silence at 11:00 AM all though out the country, but besides that and people laying down poppies at memorials, not much else happens.
Since my flatmates and I were on a train when 11:00 AM rolled around, we did not even get to experience the moment of silence since it was not announced on the train. We, however, did get to see lots of poppy wreaths at grave sites and memorials as we walked around that day. In fact, most of them are still up now, and probably will be up until the end of November.
Remembrance Day seems like a lovely for everyone to celebrate as it thanks current soldiers for all their hard work and fallen ones for their sacrifices, but it seemed to be a bit lost in all the tradition and formalities. (As America's Veterans Day is a bit, also.) I felt like there should have been a bit more going on in honor of the military, but I suppose the wave of poppies gets the message across as well.
Until next time...
Embrace the Odd,
Caitlin
"If God had really intended men to fly, he'd make it easier to get to the airport." -George Winters
Saturday, 3 November 2012
Guy Fawkes and the Enthusiastic County Fair
Guy Fawkes is a holiday celebrated in London on the fifth of November. It celebrates Guy Fawkes and his followers' attempt at blowing up Parliament and the King at the time. The king was Protestant but Guy Fawkes and co. were Catholic and thought that once the government of England was gone Spain could take over, since they were also Catholics.
If you know the poem that starts with "Remember, Remember, the fifth of November," it is about Guy Fawkes. Or of you saw the movie "V for Vendetta" that is about him too.
The Brits commemorate Guy Fawkes by making a giant bonfire and throwing effigies of Guy into the flames and watching him burn away... Wow. That's not dark or anything.
I decided that I wanted to experience Guy Fawkes Day, or Bonfire Night, properly and go to an event for it. For some reason making a fire in a trashcan in my room just did not sound like it would do the day justice. (Or that it would be up to fire code.)
My flatmates and I ended up finding out about a big fireworks display that they were going to have in the nearby park and on the days leading up to November the third (it was moved to the weekend so more people could attend) lots of carnival rides started to appear in the park.
When we arrived at the festival today, we were greeted by a huge crowd of people that just seemed confused as to what they were doing. Several police, or people in yellow hi lighter jackets, directed everyone which lines to go to, but there was still a lot of general confusion. We paid for our tickets and entered a vast expanse of green grass.
The rides and attractions for the county fair like festival were very far away, and you had to track through strange sinking pits of mid on your way to the rides.
Once up to the rides, everything had a bizarre name. The machine, typically called the 'Scrambler', actually lacked a name, and the 'Merry-Go-Round' was called something like 'Golden Galloping Horses Patronized By Nobility of Great Britain'.
Can I be honest? That is a horrible name for a children's carnival ride. The parents will lean down to ask their over-zealous kid which ride theory want to go on first and then they have to spit out that whole mouth full of words? No, they will probably just call it the horse ride.
But there was also a fun house, a 'movie roller coaster' (the coaster did not move just a screen made it look like it did), spinning teacups, swings for children, something called 'Body Rock', and a ride reminiscent of an American one called 'Avalanche'. They were clearly missing a few key carnival rides like the 'Drop Zone' but they clearly were trying.
The food selection was limited as well. There were two 'Mulled Wine' stands, two candy stands, three classic British food stands, an American food stand, and a Donut/Cookie stand. There was also live music put on by a local radio station.
Amy bought some candy floss, or cotton candy, and ate out while we all discussed how they recalled needed some funnel cake there.
They evening's event then started as a large group of people gathered near the giant pile of wood that they would later burn. There were too any people to see clearly, but it seemed like there was a small play being put on were people with lit up helmets fought each other. I am not sure if that had to do with Guy Fawkes or is just something they chose to do for fun. There was someone talking while it went on but the live music kept going and drowned out anything they said. Although you could distinctly hear a bagpipe playing.
Afterwards, the fireworks began, which to be honest, I thought would not be very good. I just kept thinking of the fourth of July at home and how this would probably not be as good, but it actually was. I was very impressed, as were some college students near me who kept saying, 'Wow', 'Amazing', and 'That's like a proper planet'.
Then it was time for the flames. These two men in yellow coats lit some giant torches and then showed them deep into the pile of wood. The wood was actually set to look like some kind of giant throne with the Guy Fawkes Mask sitting on top of it.
Seconds after they lit it, the entire seat of the throne had caput on fire and blazed briefly before us. The back wall then lit and actually tumbled down into the seat area, taking the mask with it. Several cheers erupted from the crowd. The flames grew larger and larger as the wind powered it. I could actually feel the heat from it on my face while standing behind the barrier from the flames and a good distance into the crowd.
We stayed to watch the fire for a while, until the two sides fell in also and then headed home to eat some hot soup and grilled cheese sandwiches after such a chilly evening (besides the toasty fire that is).
It was a very fun and eventful evening, and it rekindled my love of Great Britain. The whole Halloween thing had me a bit down, but this definitely restarted it. I also think this might be England's equivalent of the 4th of July. Fireworks, classic food, and carnival rides? Sounds about right to me.
Until next time...
Embrace the Odd,
Caitlin
"I don't care what it is, when it has an LCD screen, it makes it better." -Kevin Rose
If you know the poem that starts with "Remember, Remember, the fifth of November," it is about Guy Fawkes. Or of you saw the movie "V for Vendetta" that is about him too.
The Brits commemorate Guy Fawkes by making a giant bonfire and throwing effigies of Guy into the flames and watching him burn away... Wow. That's not dark or anything.
I decided that I wanted to experience Guy Fawkes Day, or Bonfire Night, properly and go to an event for it. For some reason making a fire in a trashcan in my room just did not sound like it would do the day justice. (Or that it would be up to fire code.)
My flatmates and I ended up finding out about a big fireworks display that they were going to have in the nearby park and on the days leading up to November the third (it was moved to the weekend so more people could attend) lots of carnival rides started to appear in the park.
When we arrived at the festival today, we were greeted by a huge crowd of people that just seemed confused as to what they were doing. Several police, or people in yellow hi lighter jackets, directed everyone which lines to go to, but there was still a lot of general confusion. We paid for our tickets and entered a vast expanse of green grass.
The rides and attractions for the county fair like festival were very far away, and you had to track through strange sinking pits of mid on your way to the rides.
Once up to the rides, everything had a bizarre name. The machine, typically called the 'Scrambler', actually lacked a name, and the 'Merry-Go-Round' was called something like 'Golden Galloping Horses Patronized By Nobility of Great Britain'.
Can I be honest? That is a horrible name for a children's carnival ride. The parents will lean down to ask their over-zealous kid which ride theory want to go on first and then they have to spit out that whole mouth full of words? No, they will probably just call it the horse ride.
But there was also a fun house, a 'movie roller coaster' (the coaster did not move just a screen made it look like it did), spinning teacups, swings for children, something called 'Body Rock', and a ride reminiscent of an American one called 'Avalanche'. They were clearly missing a few key carnival rides like the 'Drop Zone' but they clearly were trying.
The food selection was limited as well. There were two 'Mulled Wine' stands, two candy stands, three classic British food stands, an American food stand, and a Donut/Cookie stand. There was also live music put on by a local radio station.
Amy bought some candy floss, or cotton candy, and ate out while we all discussed how they recalled needed some funnel cake there.
They evening's event then started as a large group of people gathered near the giant pile of wood that they would later burn. There were too any people to see clearly, but it seemed like there was a small play being put on were people with lit up helmets fought each other. I am not sure if that had to do with Guy Fawkes or is just something they chose to do for fun. There was someone talking while it went on but the live music kept going and drowned out anything they said. Although you could distinctly hear a bagpipe playing.
Then it was time for the flames. These two men in yellow coats lit some giant torches and then showed them deep into the pile of wood. The wood was actually set to look like some kind of giant throne with the Guy Fawkes Mask sitting on top of it.
Seconds after they lit it, the entire seat of the throne had caput on fire and blazed briefly before us. The back wall then lit and actually tumbled down into the seat area, taking the mask with it. Several cheers erupted from the crowd. The flames grew larger and larger as the wind powered it. I could actually feel the heat from it on my face while standing behind the barrier from the flames and a good distance into the crowd.
It was a very fun and eventful evening, and it rekindled my love of Great Britain. The whole Halloween thing had me a bit down, but this definitely restarted it. I also think this might be England's equivalent of the 4th of July. Fireworks, classic food, and carnival rides? Sounds about right to me.
Until next time...
Embrace the Odd,
Caitlin
"I don't care what it is, when it has an LCD screen, it makes it better." -Kevin Rose
Thursday, 1 November 2012
All Hallows' Evening Adventure
Halloween in America is a big holiday, at least for me. It is a day to dress up in random clothes, you would be shunned from society for wearing any other day and to eat a ton of candy while watching scary movies.
At school in the States I decorate the door to my flat, as well as inside and usually watch '13 Night of Halloween' on ABC Family. I will spend hours looking up costumes and planning over the perfect thing to wear, although I usually end up with some last minute costume that I bought at Walmart or made from things I already own.
The best Halloween outfit I ever did was being a dead person my Senior year in High School. I had spent almost a month choosing what to dress as and only about a week before Halloween did I pick it. I went to a local Goodwill, bought some nice dress clothes, and got to rip them up. Online it said to bury them for a few days so they would get a nice dirt smell to make the costume more believable, but I was not that into it, so I just soaked the shirt in tea for a few days to make it look stained, and then painted my face entirely white white black eyeliner stitches. It was pretty ridiculous looking, but compared to my usually Dorothy costume, I thought it was a pretty good attempt.
But, getting back to England, and what I am suppose to be talking about...
Halloween is a big thing in America. Even if you do not dress up or have a party, you hand out candy (or leave some on your porch), and see all the nice Halloween and fall decorations that people put out leading up to the day. Well, in England, it is hardly a holiday at all. I saw no trick-or-treaters (then again I live in a college residence community, so where would they come from). No Halloween decorations up, and barely any sold. Minimal people dressed up. And general lack of Halloween movies.
I roommates spent a few nights leading up to Halloween watching 'Little Vampire' and 'Hocus Pocus' to get into the Halloween spirit, but there was hardly any point in doing it. I really wanted to dress up this year and to experience Halloween in England, but I don't think there was much to experience. (And plus I had no money to buy a costume, so I dressed as a Muggle from Harry Potter.) I saw some clubs were putting on Halloween themed parties where you dressed up to go, but that just isn't the same when no one appreciates the day being celebrated.
I think so people were relieved Halloween is not a big thing here because there is less requirement to dress up, or hand out candy, but then what is the point of doing anything? I think of Halloween as a day to be silly and strange with your friends while eating large quantities of candy that no one can judge you for doing. It really just reminds me how different England and the US really are in some ways.
But to end the story on a happy note, my friends and I went to a Ghost Tour around Oxford and got to learn about all the strange and horrible deaths that people have gone through over the ages there. It was rather interesting, as well as a bit spooky. We then went home and watched some Halloweentown in honor of the day. And I plan to watch some Stephen King tonight, as it just isn't Halloween without him.
Until next time...
Embrace the Odd,
Caitlin
"The least of learning is done in the classrooms." -Thomas Merton
At school in the States I decorate the door to my flat, as well as inside and usually watch '13 Night of Halloween' on ABC Family. I will spend hours looking up costumes and planning over the perfect thing to wear, although I usually end up with some last minute costume that I bought at Walmart or made from things I already own.
The best Halloween outfit I ever did was being a dead person my Senior year in High School. I had spent almost a month choosing what to dress as and only about a week before Halloween did I pick it. I went to a local Goodwill, bought some nice dress clothes, and got to rip them up. Online it said to bury them for a few days so they would get a nice dirt smell to make the costume more believable, but I was not that into it, so I just soaked the shirt in tea for a few days to make it look stained, and then painted my face entirely white white black eyeliner stitches. It was pretty ridiculous looking, but compared to my usually Dorothy costume, I thought it was a pretty good attempt.
But, getting back to England, and what I am suppose to be talking about...
Halloween is a big thing in America. Even if you do not dress up or have a party, you hand out candy (or leave some on your porch), and see all the nice Halloween and fall decorations that people put out leading up to the day. Well, in England, it is hardly a holiday at all. I saw no trick-or-treaters (then again I live in a college residence community, so where would they come from). No Halloween decorations up, and barely any sold. Minimal people dressed up. And general lack of Halloween movies.
I roommates spent a few nights leading up to Halloween watching 'Little Vampire' and 'Hocus Pocus' to get into the Halloween spirit, but there was hardly any point in doing it. I really wanted to dress up this year and to experience Halloween in England, but I don't think there was much to experience. (And plus I had no money to buy a costume, so I dressed as a Muggle from Harry Potter.) I saw some clubs were putting on Halloween themed parties where you dressed up to go, but that just isn't the same when no one appreciates the day being celebrated.
I think so people were relieved Halloween is not a big thing here because there is less requirement to dress up, or hand out candy, but then what is the point of doing anything? I think of Halloween as a day to be silly and strange with your friends while eating large quantities of candy that no one can judge you for doing. It really just reminds me how different England and the US really are in some ways.
But to end the story on a happy note, my friends and I went to a Ghost Tour around Oxford and got to learn about all the strange and horrible deaths that people have gone through over the ages there. It was rather interesting, as well as a bit spooky. We then went home and watched some Halloweentown in honor of the day. And I plan to watch some Stephen King tonight, as it just isn't Halloween without him.
Until next time...
Embrace the Odd,
Caitlin
"The least of learning is done in the classrooms." -Thomas Merton
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