Fireworks - grrrr!

[angelrainbow]

I much prefer organised dispplays. Safer and much better. I don't personally mind if people have a few fireworks in their gardens on the weekend of November 5th but I don't like it going on from October until January 2nd.
As for halloween. Rule of thumb here is that if someone has a pumpkin out then they are happy for kids to go around. If not, then the parents don't bother knocking or ringing.
We want our kids to know what halloween is really about to us. We remember our loved ones who are no longer with us, get photos out of loved ones who have passed and talk about them, set a place for them at the dinner table, go and tend graves etc and of course we light a jack o lantern to guide spirits of those who have passed on their journey. [:)] It is a big event for us!

[Skippy]

No pumpkin outside my house I'm afraid!

Seriously, if it's part of your faith it's different, it's the kids who come round expecting something that get me.

[kallis3]

No pumpkins here either! It makes no difference anyway whether or not they are there or not - the kids still knock the door.

I don't like fireworks in the garden at all, and really hope that they are banned.

I'm afraid that my loved ones who have died are remembered on their birthdays and the anniversary of their passing, and that's it.

[Shining]

I've got a pumpkin outside my door the one we took to the Pumpkin parade last week, first time we've ever had one.

[kallis3]

I'm afraid my neighbours would think we had lost the plot if we had one. Halloween is just not something we bother about. I'm usually at work, but not this year unfortunately.

[Shining]

Myself and my immediate neighbours are the ones down our street who haven't lost the plot, the rest I question!

[kallis3]

[:D][:D]

We put a few lights outside at Christmas (and it is a few!), a Christmas tree indoors and that's our concession to the festive season.

If it was left to hubby, we wouldn't have any decorations at all! We have both said as well that when my parents are no longer around and we have some money, we will be going abroad for Christmas.

[Shining]

Jan I would love to go abroad for Christmas lying on a beach on Christmas day would be my ideal.

I'm not allowed Christmas lights outside or I think I would have some! I love naff things!

[kallis3]

My idea of heaven would be somewhere hot. The closest I have been to that is the Maldives in 2003 and we came home on the 23rd December.

[Skippy]

I'd love to go away for Christmas but I don't think our mums would be too happy!

We have a some lights in the front (bedroom window), a wreath on the door, a tree and some lights in the living room. I think Dave would be a bit of a Clark Griswald, but thankfully we've got a small garden and the roof belongs to the girl who lives upstairs!

I have to say I love my wreath as it's a bit different - deep red and purple roses that I got in the sale at Homebase a few years ago.

My pet hate about decorations are those awful inflateable things - I always have an urge to burst them!

[kallis3]

I hate the inflatable things as well. We used to have a wreath but haven't bothered for a few years now, yours sounds nice though.

We won't go away at the moment because of a) no money, and b) my parents as they would spend Christmas on their own if they didn't come here.

[Cath]

we're having a street party and BBQ down the back lane for bon fire night and lots of fireworks. I haven't heard any so far as the shops round here are only allowed to sell them from certain dates.

[angelrainbow]

Well, I wouldn't take my girls to a home without a pumpkin or halloween decs and I know a lot of other mums do the same. I suspect it may be older kids going round on their own who don't take as much note or care. I doubt we will take them this year as we are going to a fund raising haloween pary for the local pool that night then home for some quiet contemplation time.

Oh and I don't only think about passed loved ones on Samhain, in fact I often chat to them and think of them often. It is just a nice ritual for the children I think, to learn about their ancestors etc.

[kallis3]

That doesn't work round here - even young ones with their parents come round. It's a big con to get sweets and money for the vast majority as far as I am concerned, and I don't include you in that AR.

Cath - I am so thankful you don't live near me! Me and the dogs would have to disappear for the night otherwise!

I really do hate them!

[angelrainbow]

That's a shame. I see it as swapsies really. I go out with the girls early on and then I also have a load of goodies in for the kids who come round later(we put a pumpkin out). I have sent some older ones away though and I don't like the ones who ask for money. I agree for some it is all about what they can get out of it and not what they can also offer.