Is anyone dressing up for Halloween?

[michellemoran]

It's been a looong time since I've dressed up for Halloween, but I can remember planning my costumes nearly a month in advance. I was a cat once (wasn't everyone?), and a magician another time... but my favorite costume was Tinkerbell.

Now that it's October (well, in Australia it is!), is anyone dressing up for Halloween, and if so, what are you wearing?

[SonjaMarie]

Nope, Harm to old to go trick or treating now, so we just stay home and watch either "The Lady In White" or "The Others" two of my favourite ghost movies.

SM

[Amanda]

Here in Australia we don't do Halloween.

Well....I should say, that we didn't when I was a kid. That was about 20-25 years ago (ouch!) and there was nothing Halloween around at all. Now though some streets get into it, or kids might have a party. We have never had a trick or treater.

[pat]

My kids did it twice in England but not here. I am not overly fussed anyhow!

[michellemoran]

I didn't know Australia doesn't celebrate Halloween! I'm not dressing up myself, but my husband and I always get invited to dress-up parties for the 31st. The largest ones are in Vegas, a few hours away. It's tempting...

[SonjaMarie]

Oh Halloween in Vegas, that would be cool to see all the fantabulous costumes, but I don't care for Vegas that much, I've been there twice and didn't really have a good time.

SM

[michellemoran]

Me too, SonjaMarie, which is why we never end up going. So while it's tempting theoretically, then I'm forced to remember the crushing crowds and rampant commercialism... If I did dress up though, I think my ideal costume would be something historical.

[diamondlil]

We have the occasional trick or treater but not many. I think last year we had one. Having said that, the neighbourhood where I used to work had a big street party and all the kids came all dressed up but I do think that that is a bit of the ordinary for here.

[boswellbaxter]

I usually don't, since I usually have to concentrate on passing out the candy to the neighborhood kids and keeping Boswell from running out the door. This year, though, maybe I'll scandalize my teenage daughter and dress up in my gown and my new hennin (http://susandhigginbotham.blogspot.com/2008/09/home-again-with-pictures.html). Got to get some wear out of it!

[Carine]

Ho Susan, that looks nice !!

Halloween is not big at all in Belgium. When I was a kid (and I won't tell how long ago that was :p) there was no Halloween at all. Now there is the occasional group of kids that comes to the door, but not more than 1 group if any at all.
I do like to watch a good thriller that night.

SonjaMarie, I've seen "The Others". What a great film that is ! I enjoyed it very much that one.

[Vanessa]

My daughter is going to a fancy dress party at Hallowe'en so she'll be dressing up. We have been to Hallowe'en parties before. I've been as a witch and a devil. My husband won't dress up, though - thinks it's silly (sad man!) - the nearest he's got is putting red ink on his neck and pretending to be a victim. Funnily enough, as he doesn't dress up, he's the one who looks odd. LOL.

[Alaric]

Halloween somewhat loses its effect in Australia when the sun isn't down till after 9:00 by then.

I've never done it and I can't ever remember someone knocking on our door either come to think of it.

[Divia]

I dunno if I will or not. I'm on the fence about it. I mentionedi t to the ladies I work with and they looked horrified.

[Ludmilla]

Our girls have informed us that we need to have a party this year. We don't live in a neighborhood, so trick or treating each year is problematic. Since Halloween is on a Friday, we're thinking about having a party for the kids Saturday afternoon, and we'll probably have some friends over and cook out. My eight year old wants to watch Halloween movies (not so scary variety).

[Ash]

Halloween somewhat loses its effect in Australia when the sun isn't down till after 9:00 by then..


Hee, I never thought about that...

Halloween was my fav holiday as a kid. My neighborhood was filled with kids, and there was always plenty of goodies. It was also the one chance all year to walk around in the dark without adults (this was in the 60s). In college I went to several Halloween parties, and since I became a teacher of young kids, well I am almost obligated to dress up (oh darn). I love it and the kids do too.

I am also very very fortunate to be in a district that does not ban celebrating it. Its so much fun for the kids; our school has a parade with all the kids in costumes. I think it helps in our area that Dia de Muertos (Day of the Dead) is celebrated the day after Halloween, so some of the same themes come up.
I just get so tired of these Puritan folks who say that its devil worshiping and such. Its a fun holiday. Period.

I do notice that nowadays most kids go to planned parties that night, rather than go trick or treating. We still get lots of kids, but not as many as I remember when I was a kid.

[michellemoran]

Bosweellbaxter: This year, though, maybe I'll scandalize my teenage daughter and dress up in my gown and my new hennin. Got to get some wear out of it!

I love the hennin!!! One of my favorite (http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Retour_d_Isabelle_de_France_en_Angleterre.jp g)15th century paintings has women in hennins. Now you could be one of those ladies!

[Ariadne]

I work the late shift at the library on Wednesday, so last year I got stuck working on Halloween night. We had candy out for the students who were hanging out studying in the early evening before heading out to the parties and bars. I decided to dress up as a stereotypical librarian (not my normal attire). The sad thing is, nobody but my coworkers noticed. :mad:

[Leyland]

Since Halloween is on a Friday, we're thinking about having a party for the kids Saturday afternoon, and we'll probably have some friends over and cook out.

Sounds fun - maybe you could have a Trick or Treat Hunt on your property. Kinda like an Easter Egg Hunt. The kids could burn off sugar highs while running around looking for more treats. Or maybe they'll find they've been tricked instead. :)

[boswellbaxter]

I love the hennin!!! One of my favorite (http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Retour_d_Isabelle_de_France_en_Angleterre.jp g)15th century paintings has women in hennins. Now you could be one of those ladies!

Nah, I want to be Isabella with the crown! Nothing but the best on Halloween! :)

[princess garnet]

Last year I wore a circlet of flowers with long steamers that I'd bought in Las Vegas. A few other library staff members wore something but not a full costume.

[Ludmilla]

Sounds fun - maybe you could have a Trick or Treat Hunt on your property. Kinda like an Easter Egg Hunt. The kids could burn off sugar highs while running around looking for more treats. Or maybe they'll find they've been tricked instead. :)

That's exactly what we intend to do! Plus, my husband created a zip line for the girls, and we'll probably string that up for the kids to play on. I've dreaded Halloween in years past because the girls always want to dress up and go trick or treating, but we don't know that many people on our street, so there are only a small number of homes we can visit. We, ourselves, never get trick or treaters. Our house sits back at least 1400 feet from the road and the front is totally wooded (we've often thought of doing a "haunted woods" theme for our adult friends). Our backyard is like a park. Lot's of space for the kids to play and do stuff, so I'm looking forward to being able to do something this year.

[Leyland]

Our house sits back at least 1400 feet from the road and the front is totally wooded (we've often thought of doing a "haunted woods" theme for our adult friends). Our backyard is like a park. Lot's of space for the kids to play and do stuff, so I'm looking forward to being able to do something this year.

Haunted woods? I'm in! My woods on my place twenty miles north of Greenville SC are on partly flat ground and then down some steep hills, so I'd probably have to help pick up fallen guests or get them disentangled from mountain laurel thickets - with a chainsaw. Texas style. ;)

But I'd just love to have a Haunted Moonshine Still or a Haunted Holler with ghosts floating through the trees. And maybe Hell Hounds - I'll dress up the Cocker Spaniels and make them look really scary. Yeah, right!

[SonjaMarie]

Scary Cocker Spaniels, that would be funny to see, can they even be scary?! My Jasper is part Cocker and he's just too cute for words!

SM

[Rowan]

My answer to the OP is yes and no.