Britain is sick of the American cult of Halloween

The Telegraph ^ | 10/30/2009 | Damian Thompson

[markomalley]

This is the only time of year when I become seriously anti-American. Our national media, retailers and brainwashed children have all been sucked in to the American cult of Halloween, which demands that shops deck out their windows with feeble pumpkin displays – and your doorbell is rung every five minutes by infants dressed as vampires, demanding presents.

I can live with with “the commercialisation of Christmas”, because at least the cult of Xmas wasn’t foisted on us by another country, and as I recall it was even tackier 30 years ago than it is now. But the modern Halloween, although it marks a perfectly respectable (and depressing) event in the Christian calendar, was created by Americans. Over in the States, an entire nation throws itself into a fancy dress party with a naive enthusiasm that comes naturally to Yanks. We, on the other hand, have only recently adopted Halloween, and we do it self-consciously, like embarrassed guests forced to play charades by a tyrannically cheerful host.

[markomalley]

I have heard Halloween called a true Obama-type holiday. People dress up in silly outfits and then demand to be paid off (treat) with an implied threat if not paid off (trick).

[the long march]

Silly Englander doesn’t realize that most of the ‘trick or treat’ behaviour orginated a bit to the north in Scotland

a classic and interesting celtic celebration

[autumnraine]

Sean’s rant yesterday about him not liking Halloween because trick or treating is liberal by nature was ridiculous.

If you don’t want to hand out candy, don’t hand out candy. Sheesh.

Not EVERYTHING is political or needs to be. It’s freaking Halloween.

[La Lydia]

What a delightful grump!

[Responsibility2nd]

Britain is sick of the American cult of Halloween

_____________________________________

Boo fricken hoo.

Seems like they should worry more about the increase of muslims in their midst.

Ding-dong... “Jihad or treat!!”

[autumnraine]

Yes, and don’t you just love the implied “America is the reason Christmas is commercialized”

[NavVet]

I say we TP this Limey Bas!@#$$@’s house. Maybe a few eggs for good measure.

[z3n]

lol, brainless euro-idiots with their blame-america reflex.

Even if there was some sort of conspiracy to push a Halloween agenda in the UK, it wouldn't work if their people didn't accept it.

[OldPossum]

I can imagine Mr. Thompson writing this with nose stuck firmly upward. What a snob.

As far as being irritated by children on Halloween, he could just turn off his house lights and they won’t bother him. Problem solved.

[Reaganesque]

And you can’t just not celebrate Halloween and let everyone else have their fun because...?

[the long march]

Of course and I bet it is all Bush’s fault -—— never would have happened if we were good muslims like The One ;)

[ClearCase_guy]

LOL!

[Scythian]

To be honest, Halloween came over to America from the Irish who were awash in the occult ...

[dalereed]

“It’s freaking Halloween.”

And really stupid!

[Knitebane]

I thought it was, “Sharia or BOOM!”

[RushIsMyTeddyBear]

They give coins out in the UK at Halloween.

[MEGoody]

Britain is sick of the American cult of Halloween

If Brits were sick of it, Brits wouldn't be observing it. The author might be sick of it, but to claim that his feelings reflect those of the entire country is ludicrous.

[Deb]

I think of it as an example of American ingenuity that shows our ability to create a vital and benign industry out of thin air.

The Brits can be so crotchety and negative. It must have something to do with the constant dismal weather.

[RushIsMyTeddyBear]

Oh....and to add.....EASTER in the UK is ‘commercialized’. It’s all about the huge ‘chocolate eggs’. JMO.

[tillacum]

I didn’t read the article,,,but I can imagine Britians sick of the Americal cult of halloween. They have to up with their own Cult of Halloween, with all those muslims parading through their streets in their silly costumes.