A Hot Australian Halloween – Who Cares?
Drag out the pumpkins, skeletons, fake blood and spiderwebs and step away from the air-conditioner, it’s Halloween.
Not such a big deal here in Australia. And I’m sure that has nothing to do with it being spring and the pumpkin plants are just getting started. There are pumpkins in the shops, though obviously not fresh, this season’s pumpkins.
I wrote a piece this time last year about the difference in attitudes regarding Halloween in Australia and America.
And I have to report that this year, Australia still doesn’t really care.
Sure, Halloween gains a few more fans every year, mostly parents bowing to pressure from their kids, but it’ll never have the following it does in America.
We’re Australian, not American. If it were ever going to be big here, it would have already happened.
There’s a big resistance to all things American. We’ve seen what’s happened to you guys and we’re determined not to make the same mistakes.
If anything it’s just another excuse for the retail and hospitality industries to bump up revenue before the big Christmas spendfest.
Right now it’s the day before Halloween and the temperature is 35 degrees (95F). Even the most die-hard Halloween fans are feeling less than inspired to dress up and beg for a sugar fix.
I know it’s only one night of the year but trawling the streets, knocking on the doors of strangers, and eating your bodyweight in sugar can’t be the safest or healthiest thing for anyone to do.
But handing out raw nuts and sliced vegetables to the trick-or-treaters wouldn’t have the same appeal. Blame society for that one.
Halloween seems to be more popular in small towns further out from the major metropolis. Possibly because in smaller communities everyone can get involved, and it gives the locals a social event to attend. In a place where social events are limited, it’s up to the townsfolk to get inventive.
In other words, the kids can have fun with their friends and enjoy sugar highs, while the parents can get together later and have a few drinks. Everyone wins.
In my town of 400 people, with many living on isolated properties, it’s nice to look forward to dressing up and coming into town to socialise. Isn’t that what builds friendships and keeps communities together?
And who doesn’t love to dress up and look silly?
The proprietors of our local pub, our one and only, have devised a way to protect non-participants of Halloween from hordes of unruly kids knocking on their doors.
If you want to join in the fun, and are happy to receive door-knockers and donate sugar in attractive colours and shapes, you register at the pub and receive a sign for your house welcoming the party-goers.
Trick-or-treaters are only to knock on the doors of houses displaying this sign.
When the door-knocking is over, participants can return their sign to the pub and receive a free drink. Again, everyone wins.
Kudos for the enterprising pub owners. They’ve drummed up business for themselves and brought the community closer together.
It’s what makes living out here so great. It would be nothing without these tough, resourceful people.
I still don’t see pumpkin pie ever catching on though. It’s a cultural thing.
Happy Halloween to everyone who cares. And to the resistance … Bah humbug!
KEEP THE FAITH