Trick or treat in Poland

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Nov 1, 11, 11:46 #1

I must say that the youths that came round were very well behaved.

we had bags of sweeties prepared and we had wave after wave of very nice kids all dressed up
asking for sweeties

next year just for a laugh I will tell them to make sure they put the sweetie wrappers in the bin
and I am sure that they will :-)

anyone else have any Polish trick or treat related stories

noticed quite a few pumpkin lamps out and about

a much needed excuse for a bit of fun prior to Stiff's Day

WroclawThreads: 77 Posts: 7,404 Joined: Apr 1, 06 ♂ [Moderator]	Nov 1, 11, 12:21 #2
hythorn: anyone else have any Polish trick or treat related stories i can only say that in my neck of the woods it was an ordinary evening/night with no sign of trick or treat or pumpkins. it may have been different in rynek, but i didn't check it out.

scottie1113Threads: 11 Posts: 873 Joined: Mar 13, 07 ♂	Nov 1, 11, 12:49 #3
Nothing in my neighborhood in Gdansk.

teflcatThreads: 6 Posts: 1,076 Joined: May 29, 11 ♂	Nov 1, 11, 13:00 #4
scottie1113: Nothing in my neighborhood in Gdansk. Nothing where I live either. Perhaps it's got something to do with the fact that trick or treating is an american activity, and this is Poland.

Knee Grow	Nov 1, 11, 13:02 #5
hythorn: I must say that the youths that came round were very well behaved. Maybe they had already had fun on mischief night:)

hythornThreads: 6 Posts: 843 Joined: Feb 21, 08 ♂	Nov 1, 11, 13:20 #6
how extraordinary they have been trick or treating for three years straight now in our neighbourhood in Warsaw obviously this is a phenomenom which will no doubt trickle down to the provinces in due course stands by expecting to be flamed and rightly so

delphiandomineThreads: 42 Posts: 9,954 Joined: Nov 25, 08 ♂ [Suspended]	Nov 1, 11, 13:22 #7
hythorn: stands by expecting to be flamed and rightly so It's entirely true ;) Nothing here as well, which was surprising...

teflcatThreads: 6 Posts: 1,076 Joined: May 29, 11 ♂	Nov 1, 11, 13:25 #8
hythorn: obviously this is a phenomenom which will no doubt trickle down to the provinces in due course Perhaps it will; America's 'cultural' hegemony has a long reach. As it is, the teenage lads in my village still bid us a polite 'good day' when they pass our gate. In the city a dirty look from a rap-loving hoodie would be more like it.

rozumiemnicThreads: 4 Posts: 1,026 Joined: Nov 16, 09 ♀	Nov 1, 11, 13:32 #9
teflcat: trick or treating is an american activity, interestingly this is not actually true, it seems to have criss crossed the Atlantic more than once......http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trick-or-treating Had a lovely time last night with two lit jack o lanterns on our doorstep and handing out sweets to little kids who came a knocking.....

♂ [Moderator]

Nov 1, 11, 13:34 #10

hythorn:

obviously this is a phenomenom which will no doubt trickle down to the provinces in due course

when november 1st is part of a long weekend then it is unlikely that people will get together for halloween. the whole weekend is based on visiting the graveside.

i can't imagine many of the older folk visiting a cemetery on october 31st and then allowing their offspring to go and party.

i have seen pumpkins used in recent years. it never caught on though.

the culture of november 1st (and the days around it) is too strong for halloween to succeed. at least at the moment.

teflcatThreads: 6 Posts: 1,076 Joined: May 29, 11 ♂	Nov 1, 11, 13:39 #11
Wroclaw: the culture of november 1st (and the days around it) is too strong for halloween to succeed. at least at the moment. That's right. The sight of a cemetary in the evening, bejewelled with candlelight, is mesmerizing. The American children's threats with menaces is unlikely to supplant this solemn and beautiful tradition.

isthatu2Threads: 13 Posts: 5,228 Joined: Apr 3, 08 ♂	Nov 1, 11, 13:45 #12
"Guising at Halloween in Scotland is recorded in 1895, where masqueraders in disguise carrying lanterns made out of scooped out turnips, visit homes to be rewarded with cakes,fruit and money....." I believed that right untill it got to the "fruit"......in Scotland!?!?!? Do like how its first recorded in North America in 1911, in Canada :)

PlasticPoleThreads: 10 Posts: 5,433 Joined: May 28, 09 ♀	Nov 1, 11, 13:53 #13
It came to America from Europe, not the other way around:)))) I am surprised it isn't in Poland due to the strong Catholic influence.

teflcatThreads: 6 Posts: 1,076 Joined: May 29, 11 ♂	Nov 1, 11, 13:55 #14
PlasticPole: It came to America from Europe, not the other way around:)))) Guising came to America from Europe. Demanding treats in return for not playing tricks is American.

PlasticPoleThreads: 10 Posts: 5,433 Joined: May 28, 09 ♀	Nov 1, 11, 14:06 #15
Most kids do not play tricks, they just ask for candy and the idea did come from Europe. Most of that old country stuff originated over there. Ever notice the Star Spangled Banner and God Save The Queen have the same tune? Old country has a profound influence on this one.

isthatu2Threads: 13 Posts: 5,228 Joined: Apr 3, 08 ♂	Nov 1, 11, 14:26 #16
Its "My country tis of thee ,sweet land of liberty etc " that has the same tune as God save the Queen/King ;) Causes great confusion in productions of West Side Story over here where people wonder why the Jets mockingly whistle the English national anthem to the coppers ;)

PlasticPoleThreads: 10 Posts: 5,433 Joined: May 28, 09 ♀	Nov 1, 11, 14:35 #17
That's the Star Spangled Banner. I just researched Google. The trick or treating idea did originate in medieval Europe but wasn't popular in the US until the 1930's.

isthatu2Threads: 13 Posts: 5,228 Joined: Apr 3, 08 ♂	Nov 1, 11, 14:53 #18
PP!!! Shame on you......lols http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pG1W7JDWv50 its America(My country tis of thee) totally different song....sheesh, a limey teaching a colonial about their own patriotic songs :)

PlasticPoleThreads: 10 Posts: 5,433 Joined: May 28, 09 ♀	Nov 1, 11, 14:58 #19
Well Star Spangled Banner sounds close enough.

WedleThreads: 24 Posts: 786 Joined: Sep 27, 11 ♂	Nov 1, 11, 15:10 #20
hythorn: they have been trick or treating for three years straight now in our neighbourhood in Warsaw Trick or treating has been going on in Warsaw for well over 10 years,especially in one of the enclosed villages in Kabaty/Ursynow were many American and korean families live.

beckskiThreads: 19 Posts: 2,148 Joined: May 15, 07 MEMBER ♀	Nov 1, 11, 21:07 #21
Wroclaw: the whole weekend is based on visiting the graveside. This concept is also practiced in parts of Latin American. Wedle: Trick or treating has been going on in Warsaw for well over 10 years I had no idea it was introduced that long ago in Warsaw. A sincere thanks PF, for putting up with me FIVE terrific years, muah!

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Nov 1, 11, 21:50 #22

Wroclaw:

visiting the graveside

to look for Zombies?

We had some kids knocking last night, Mrs forgot it was Halloween and when she opened the door she near had a heart attack when she saw all these kids in scary masks.....we had feck all sweets but we threw them what we had, some apples and a few quid between them too.

I detest this graveyard stuff so I was delighted to see some kids actually enjoying themselves this weekend.

WedleThreads: 24 Posts: 786 Joined: Sep 27, 11 ♂	Nov 6, 11, 01:01 #23
beckski: I had no idea it was introduced that long ago in Warsaw. From my knowledge it all started off with the families of the American embassy staff who live out near Kabaty, I was invited with my children to one in 1999.

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