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21 Brilliantly British Halloween costumes
While Americans are paying top dollar to buy a Minion or Joker costume this year, the Brits are having a ball dressing up as alcoholic beverages, TV presenters and, of course, Tardis.
Take a look at Buzzfeed.com’s countdown of 21 brilliantly British Halloween costumes.
As for me? I’m going as Wenda or Wilma, the Girl Friday to Where’s Waldo? or Where’s Wally? (which varies, depending on where you live!) Have a happy Halloween!
Brits and trick or treating
Does this belong in a trick or treat bag to you?
I have this general, possibly misguided, theory that trick or treating is not that big in the U.K. Part of this is based on the fact that I never went trick or treating when I lived in Scotland or London, and never knew anyone who did. Guy Fawkes Night was much more of the thing to do. Granted, that was over a decade ago. Times may have changed. Halloween may have arrived in a bigger way in the U.K. since I’ve moved back to the U.S. Has it?
My husband has an American colleague who moved to London with her family this summer when her husband landed a job there. She commented on how big Halloween was this year, how many kids trick or treated at their house. And then, in nearly the same breath, commented on the amazing items that her kids brought back from their trick or treating adventure in London, which included unwrapped M&Ms and other small, loose, unwrapped, man-handled candies, loose home baked cookies and even a pot of rhubarb yogurt.
Okay, Londoners. Is this weird or the norm? Is this an accurate picture of Halloween, circa 2013, in London? Enlighten us, please!
Happy Halloween!
Are you dressing up and trick or treating today?
I loved these 31 Splendidly British Ideas For Halloween Costumes via Buzzfeed (although I wasn’t sure what #1, 2, 14 and 22 were!).
As for me, I’m going to be an apple (to match my daughter, who’s dressing up as Snow White). Have a wonderful and safe Halloween!
Happy Halloween
I want to carve a union jack o’ lantern! Next year! Photo credit: New Ravenna Mosaics
Can you believe it’s Halloween already? I’ve been looking forward to this day for so long (we bought costumes back in mid-September) and yet I always feel rushed to prepare.
Anyway, this year I’ve kept it mercifully simple. Bought a giant bag of candy at Target, which promises 180 pieces (okay, now there’s more like 160 pieces, but never mind…), which should hopefully be enough. We’ve decorated the house a bit (complete with orange twinkle lights) and we’ve carved our pumpkins early! (and knock on wood, they haven’t collapsed from mold.)
Even more fun? Our family is dressing up this year, Peter Pan-themed! J.M. Barrie would be so proud. I shall be Tiger Lily!
Have a lovely and safe Halloween, all!
Happy Halloween!
I’m a fan of many Halloween time-tested traditions (carving pumpkins, fancy dress, pumpkin beer, etc.) but my absolute favorite remains trick-or-treating, which is still alive and (very!) well in the US.
Leave it to Americans to celebrate what is basically knocking on strangers’ doors and begging for candy, while dressed as Harry Potter or Spider-Man. It’s a veritable street party with roving bands of kids dressed up, moving house to house in search of the best treats.
There’s something simple and wholesome about it.
Yes, I still get trick-or-treaters who haven’t been kids for quite some time and yes, last year, some of these aforementioned trick-or-treaters didn’t even bother to wear a costume. But never mind! In the spirit of the holiday, I give generously and so do my neighbors.
So much so that we have enough candy to get us through most of November. Isn’t that what it’s all about?
BRITRISH.COM 