[Jamie89]

Originally Posted by caprimint

Yeah I find it a bit weird when anyone over the age of 10 dresses up tbh (and even worse, get excited/tell people about it).

I don't see how dressing up for Halloween is that different from wearing a paper hat from a Christmas cracker, or going to a fancy dress party or something tbh. It's fine if it's not your thing but I certainly wouldn't call other people weird for enjoying it (or worse, imply they should be too embarrassed to tell people about it ) It's a bit of fun... isn't that something to get excited about? I dunno, each to their own but I don't see why anyone who doesn't enjoy it would have a problem that other people do when it's one night of the year and part of a celebration/tradition (and I really don't get the age references considering the huge adult market that Halloween costumes cater for... if you go out on the Saturday night before/after Halloween you'll see why (and you won't see any 10/12 year olds).

[caprimint]

Originally Posted by Jamie89

I don't see how dressing up for Halloween is that different from wearing a paper hat from a Christmas cracker, or going to a fancy dress party or something tbh. It's fine if it's not your thing but I certainly wouldn't call other people weird for enjoying it (or worse, imply they should be too embarrassed to tell people about it ) It's a bit of fun... isn't that something to get excited about? I dunno, each to their own but I don't see why anyone who doesn't enjoy it would have a problem that other people do when it's one night of the year and part of a celebration/tradition (and I really don't get the age references considering the huge adult market that Halloween costumes cater for... if you go out on the Saturday night before/after Halloween you'll see why (and you won't see any 10/12 year olds).

I think Christmas hats are a terrible invention too.

I'm just speaking from a personal point of view, I'd find it pretty cringe to tell people I was going out in fancy dress to 'celebrate' the occasion. I fail to understand what the hype is unless you are in primary school going trick or treating. Sure it's cool if people enjoy it - I never stated that's not okay...I'll just continue to secretly judge those who make it into some major event.

[kirklancaster]

Originally Posted by Jamie89

I don't see how dressing up for Halloween is that different from wearing a paper hat from a Christmas cracker, or going to a fancy dress party or something tbh. It's fine if it's not your thing but I certainly wouldn't call other people weird for enjoying it (or worse, imply they should be too embarrassed to tell people about it ) It's a bit of fun... isn't that something to get excited about? I dunno, each to their own but I don't see why anyone who doesn't enjoy it would have a problem that other people do when it's one night of the year and part of a celebration/tradition (and I really don't get the age references considering the huge adult market that Halloween costumes cater for... if you go out on the Saturday night before/after Halloween you'll see why (and you won't see any 10/12 year olds).

You sure did inherit your old cyber pappy Kirk's brains and eloquence my son.

Seriously, it is all about one's personal attitude to parties, and whether one prefers being actively fully immersed in the spirit of one, prefers being there at such parties but more as a 'spectator', or does not relish parties at all.

I find it odd that a lot of people who balk at 'celebrating' Halloween, think nothing of joining in with Christmas Festivities - especially those who are not religious.

Really, with me, it's any excuse for a party and a good time with friends and like-minded friendly people.

Life is too short, and too crammed with pain, suffering and misery, NOT to party whenever there is a chance to do so.

[caprimint]

Originally Posted by kirklancaster

I find it odd that a lot of people who balk at 'celebrating' Halloween, think nothing of joining in with Christmas Festivities - especially those who are not religious.

Well since I fit into this category I guess I'll respond to this. I don't view Christmas as being related to religion in any way (of course it is technically, but it all depends on subjective things like family traditions and your own experience). Christmas for me is about getting together with your family/friends and giving/receiving gifts as a sign of appreciation. I don't understand what we are supposed to be celebrating on Halloween?

[Jordan.]

Originally Posted by caprimint

Well since I fit into this category I guess I'll respond to this. I don't view Christmas as being related to religion in any way (of course it is technically, but it all depends on subjective things like family traditions and your own experience). Christmas for me is about getting together with your family/friends and giving/receiving gifts as a sign of appreciation. I don't understand what we are supposed to be celebrating on Halloween?

That's basically halloween too? Getting together with friends/family for a party, watching films, giving out sweets etc. It's just on a lesser scale and horror themed.

[caprimint]

Originally Posted by kirklancaster

It wasn't said as any kind of insult Caprimint.

We are not 'Celebrating' in the pure sense of the word - well I'm not anyway - we are perpetuating an ages old 'tradition', and using it as an excuse to dress up and get together with family and friends for a good time.

It just doesn't really have much meaning. You can do that any weekend you like whether it's Halloween or not just without the ~creepy/ghostly/scary theme.

Originally Posted by Jordan.

That's basically halloween too? Getting together with friends/family for a party, watching films, giving out sweets etc. It's just on a lesser scale and horror themed.

The thing I associate most with Halloween is trick or treating, decorating pumpkins, fancy dress...all things I also associate to be 'child-like'.

It's just a bit of a non-occasion that people try to make happen and give themselves another excuse for going out and getting drunk as hell.

[kirklancaster]

Originally Posted by caprimint

Well since I fit into this category I guess I'll respond to this. I don't view Christmas as being related to religion in any way (of course it is technically, but it all depends on subjective things like family traditions and your own experience). Christmas for me is about getting together with your family/friends and giving/receiving gifts as a sign of appreciation. I don't understand what we are supposed to be celebrating on Halloween?

It wasn't said as any kind of insult Caprimint.

We are not 'Celebrating' in the pure sense of the word - well I'm not anyway - we are perpetuating an ages old 'tradition', and using it as an excuse to dress up and get together with family and friends for a good time.

[Lostie!]

Originally Posted by caprimint

Well since I fit into this category I guess I'll respond to this. I don't view Christmas as being related to religion in any way (of course it is technically, but it all depends on subjective things like family traditions and your own experience). Christmas for me is about getting together with your family/friends and giving/receiving gifts as a sign of appreciation. I don't understand what we are supposed to be celebrating on Halloween?

Well, like Christmas, Halloween's origins come from religious celebrations that have been overshadowed over the years so it's not just a random night that people suddenly decided to make an event out of. And if Christmas has no religious significance to you, you're essentially celebrating that for no reason too (that's not a criticism, I'm not religious and I love Christmas). We celebrate it because it's what we're used to doing and it's a fond tradition as a result, no different from people who've grown up always celebrating Halloween night.

It's just that Christmas is a bigger deal so it seems like more apt to be something to fuss over.

[Jamie89]

Originally Posted by kirklancaster

You sure did inherit your old cyber pappy Kirk's brains and eloquence my son.

Seriously, it is all about one's personal attitude to parties, and whether one prefers being actively fully immersed in the spirit of one, prefers being there at such parties but more as a 'spectator', or does not relish parties at all.

I find it odd that a lot of people who balk at 'celebrating' Halloween, think nothing of joining in with Christmas Festivities - especially those who are not religious.

Really, with me, it's any excuse for a party and a good time with friends and like-minded friendly people.

Life is too short, and too crammed with pain, suffering and misery, NOT to party whenever there is a chance to do so.

Originally Posted by caprimint

Well since I fit into this category I guess I'll respond to this. I don't view Christmas as being related to religion in any way (of course it is technically, but it all depends on subjective things like family traditions and your own experience). Christmas for me is about getting together with your family/friends and giving/receiving gifts as a sign of appreciation. I don't understand what we are supposed to be celebrating on Halloween?

It's funny actually thinking about it, because I don't particularly enjoy Christmas, for me it's always more of a hassle because I have to do a lot travelling, it's expensive, and 'family time' can be stressful... if I was dress up in a santa costume I'd probably be miserable Whereas with Halloween, maybe it's because there isn't a load of hassle that comes with it, I'm into horror, I associate the dressing up with having a laugh with my friends etc etc. I always look forward to it more. I think my gripe was just with the 'it's only for kids' thing. There's something really freeing about putting on a costume and going out/showing off/letting go of yourself, basically doing something totally different that you'd never normally do for a night, and a sense of coming together when you see everyone else is doing the same thing (which you wouldn't get if there was no occasion and you were dressing up on a random weekend), and Halloween nights out/parties everyone always seems in higher spirits because of all that, and I think adults need that and get more from all that than kids do. They only really enjoy it because of trick or treating and getting lots of sweets but it's only when you're an adult that you can fully appreciate Halloween imo So it's not really about there being a specific reason or need for celebrating it, it's just enjoying the fact that there is a celebration and like I said, letting go of yourself a bit (which of course noone needs to do if they don't want to or don't get anything from it, but I don't really get why anyone would be judged for doing it either).

[kirklancaster]

Originally Posted by Jamie89

It's funny actually thinking about it, because I don't particularly enjoy Christmas, for me it's always more of a hassle because I have to do a lot travelling, it's expensive, and 'family time' can be stressful... if I was dress up in a santa costume I'd probably be miserable Whereas with Halloween, maybe it's because there isn't a load of hassle that comes with it, I'm into horror, I associate the dressing up with having a laugh with my friends etc etc. I always look forward to it more. I think my gripe was just with the 'it's only for kids' thing. There's something really freeing about putting on a costume and going out/showing off/letting go of yourself, basically doing something totally different that you'd never normally do for a night, and a sense of coming together when you see everyone else is doing the same thing (which you wouldn't get if there was no occasion and you were dressing up on a random weekend), and Halloween nights out/parties everyone always seems in higher spirits because of all that, and I think adults need that and get more from all that than kids do. They only really enjoy it because of trick or treating and getting lots of sweets but it's only when you're an adult that you can fully appreciate Halloween imo So it's not really about there being a specific reason or need for celebrating it, it's just enjoying the fact that there is a celebration and like I said, letting go of yourself a bit (which of course noone needs to do if they don't want to or don't get anything from it, but I don't really get why anyone would be judged for doing it either).

Another great post Jamie.