What is planned for this year?
If I remember correctly, Mr and Mrs Wallis (aka Bruce and Julia) frightened the lives out of many, dressed as horific scary people along with others on a night out in Carvoeiro, (bruce is generally scary anyway)
Anything planned for this halloween?

We never celebrated Halloween when I was a child - it was a stupid American custom - and I don't intend to start now.

Although trick-or-treating did not gain popularity in the United States until the 1950s, the tradition has Celtic roots. October 31 is known as Samhain, a day when the dead returned to the earth. During Celtic celebrations of Samhain, many people wore disguises to ward off evil spirits. Groups of "guisers" performed plays in homes they visited. They were rewarded with treats of food.

The children would also carve out lanterns from a turnip (now we use pumpkins) to resemble a scary face. The children would go around the neighborhood, carrying their turnip lantern on a piece of string and knock on doors and say "please help the guisers." The kids would be required to sing a song, or say a poem or tell a joke for which they would receive sweets, fruit, nuts or money.

There is a great Halloween tradition in Portugal, everybody, kids and all, seems to get dressed up, a family affair, and visit bars and restaurants. It's a fun time, here in Carvoeiro.

Unlike in the UK, it isnt an excuse for kids to knock on your door to con sweets and money!!

Bruce Wallis wrote:There is a great Halloween tradition in Portugal.....

. . . and to prove it, here's a photo of two very well-known members . . .



. . . all dressed up and ready to scare.

Good heavens - I've really aged since that photo was taken

Here in Holland the kids come around usually accompanied by a parent, they are not allowed to receive money only fruit or sweets and at a reasonable time too, which is far less intimidating.
Gaynor