Hallowe’en for halloweejits

Germans think Hallowe’en is a fancy dress party. They were going around in costumes on Friday and Saturday for fuck’s sake! The Kulturbrauerei (and others too I’m sure) had a “Hallowe’en party” on Saturday. Two days before the night itself! Halloweejits.
I‘ve been so discouraged I didn’t even bake a brack this year, didn’t hang up any decorations, didn’t bother with a lantern. They’ve managed to turn a night about the souls of the departed into a totally soulless affair.

Then on the night itself we’d terrorise the village in our frightful (in both senses of the word) costumes, play games and eat brack, before heading up to a bonfire so big it could be seen from space. Jaysus there was everything and anything on that fire – beds, mattresses, planks, tractor tyres, car tyres, truck tyres, (we were eco warriors, fighting the environment), household waste – anything that would burn and plenty more besides. All the shit people had been wanting to get rid all year was dumped onto that bonfire. If your old pet needed cremating, on it went. Everything was doused in petrol to send great clouds of illuminated smoke blocking out the stars, our faces glowing orange from the blaze, the trees faraway on the field’s perimeter all a terrified orange too.


Update: As you may have guessed from the pictures, they had pumpkins. Reduced! So I came home with Pumpki, who already had an unHallowe’eny face and hair, but we scrubbed him up appropriately for the night that was in it. He’s on the balcony now. Anyone who looks up will know what night it is.
This post is so hilarious. I want to take part in that Halloween right now. Ozone burning bonfires, turnip Jack o' lanterns, and scolding of the Berliners - a perfect storm of a perfect post.
ReplyDeleteAh yes, them were the days, as people would say where those days were had.
ReplyDeleteAs I already wrote on your blog I reckon next year we should have a BIG shindig, a proper Hallowe'en extravaganza, with loads of like-minded souls (ha!), ozone-burning bonfire, scary costumes, monster hits, beer and then perhaps when we're brave enough break into a graveyard or three. I'm not sure what the Polizei would say about a great roaring bonfire - no doubt it's verboten - but we've almost a year to plan the thing. It's on a Wednesday, so that's a start. Maybe we could involve a few Germans for their organisational skills (if permits are needed for a huge roaring fire for example). We can throw them on the bonfire when we're finished with them. Let's bring Hallowe'en to Berlin!
This Is Hallowe'en
Love your blog!! Spent 6 weeks in Guatemala by myself and have driven over most of Mexico. I'm a 65 year old female and love the non-touristy areas best. I intend to move their in June, 2012. Just don't know where as I loved every bit of it. Where would you move?
ReplyDeleteMexicobound1
Cheers Connie. I reckon I'd go back to Oaxaca just for the food alone. Holy guacamole it's fantastic! Mexico's huge of course and I've only seen a little bit, so would have to travel more - and I intend to - before I could give you an objective answer to that question. Oaxaca would be my first stop though.
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