Are Kiwis the grinch?
 

http://blogs.nzherald.co.nz/blog/you...ectid=10540349

Some of these comments are unbelievable! :rofl:

Halloween it's an American conspiracy.

See above........

Re: Are Kiwis the grinch?
 

Why are you worried about such a Hallmark Holiday? It's fun for the kids to dress up, and because we're in the southern hemisphere they're (esp the younger ones) not out after dark.

Re: Are Kiwis the grinch?
 

When I said It's an American Conspiracy I was being sarcastic. Forgot the appropriate smiley. Im on your side on this one. CHeck the comments from the Kiwi grinches, however. And, yeah, yeah, yeah, no,no,no, I am not Nerine - but nice try to get me banned as per method used to dispatch Looking2OZ.

ps - I don't think quoting from a newspaper's online feedback is a copyright issue, at all.

mod note

if you have an issue with moderation, take it to PM or email admin.
I'll await your PM & take the issue up from there . Quite happy to re-instate the long line of quotes if needs be.

Re: Are Kiwis the grinch?
 

Right! Let's make this clear !

Looking2Oz was a previously banned member who had received several warnings when Campbells. So was given the boot. No big drama. Had the user heeded admin warnings etc. in their first incarnation, the user would still be here but hey, the users choice at that time, so the heave ho.

As for this little set-to between you two. Behave ! I'm not arsed who you may have been before BUT if you start to bust up you are both trolls on toast. Hope that is clear.

Re: Are Kiwis the grinch?
 

Ja wohl, mein capitan!:rofl: (snaps to attention)

Re: Are Kiwis the grinch?
 

Good ! Saves us all a lot of bother, including those that really could do without this.

Re: Are Kiwis the grinch?
 

Personally back to the point..I think I do not like the bit about Halloween where the kids come for sweets. I know you think I am probably being said Grinch, but why should I feed well nourished kids. I do my bit with World Vision.

Also there's the underlying 'trick or treat' issue..I am sure there are some individuals who do some unpleasant things if refused sweets.

I just don't get it..knocking on doors expecting to get sweets. I wonder if I could start knocking on doors for my weekly shop??:rofl:

Re: Are Kiwis the grinch?
 

OMG....Halloween i love it, always dressed up my house make a buffet for my Kids, watch scary movies...this year in NZ I had lots of kids around and with there Parents, it was all good fun and a way of meeting people also...also my kids went trick or treating same as a lot of people, and I didn't get any negatives..



I cant understand some poeple bah humbug!!!

I had lots around because my house was decorated...and the little kids faces was a delight and they were all so poilte...yes I mean the teenager's also...didnt get any eggs thrown at the house :p

ps. I should go to America and live...should be good now they have a new president..:lol:

Re: Are Kiwis the grinch?
 

Jawohl Bevs!!! *clicks heels* LOL Seriously, calm down, you're drunk with power. Did you just win an election or something? I have zero clue who lookin2oz is/was.

Re: Are Kiwis the grinch?
 

You forgot to salute military fashion and rather crisply!!!!!!!!!!

Re: Are Kiwis the grinch?
 

I don't really get trick or treating so we don't do it but we've never lived anywhere where people do so it's not like my kids have really been aware of it (don't have a TV either- well not one that is hooked up). The concept of dressing up and going round houses demanding sweets seems a bit odd. From where I live it seems Xmas, Halloween etc are much less of a big deal here in a commercial sense. Christmas is quite different- it's much more a family few days off together with gifts and food and decorations. There's less commercial punch it seems and I like that. I used to love Xmas in the UK and I'm glad it's completely different here as it makes me miss it less than if it was the same but miles from family.

Re: Are Kiwis the grinch?
 

My Mum would never let me do it..said it was 'begging'. Best way round this is to agree houses to go to in advance with a group of friends. My kids did nothing this year and OH and I had a function to go to...mean parents or what!

Re: Are Kiwis the grinch?
 

As with so many things these days, it seems to me, this modern practice is simply a corruption of something far older and more meaningful. It's not an American conspiracy. Have a look at this and see what you think:

http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/trick-or-treat.html

Now, if someone knocked on my door and offered to pray for the soul of someone I'd recently lost, I might be amenable to parting with a small offering.

Re: Are Kiwis the grinch?
 

Yes it is a copyright issue, there is a copyright sign at the bottom of the newspaper concerned, therefore you need to obtain their permission before you can use it on a public forum/site. Plus its not good forum etiquette to cut and past content from other sites onto BE. You can however link to the content as per rule 7 of our site rules.

Thanks

Re: Are Kiwis the grinch?
 

You know, I always "laugh" (aka snear) at these comments about things being American as if all things bad must be American. Anyway, I grew up in Canada and loved halloween. We used to talke about what to take out trick or treating that would hold the most candy. Pillow cases were great. My wife misses the halloween candy put out at the front of the grocery store. Starts just after the back to school stuff comes off. Of course we would have to rebuy the candy. I don't miss the wrappers around the house as my OH is not very good at putting her wrappers away. Anyway, it is all part of the marketing calendary: Back to school in August, Halloween September/October and a blend to Christmas, then Valentines after the boxing day, which sort of begins before Christmas now, then spring sales, all the large stores put out garden centres in the parking lot, then the summer break and back to school....

Re: Are Kiwis the grinch?
 

Reminds me of a great thing in NZ - no pointless greetings cards - as our neighbours said last Christmas - "we'll see you on Christmas Day so why bother with a card?" - indeed why?
Just takes out more rain forrest and keeps Mssrs Hallmark, et al in the business of making up new dates to mark with a card.......:thumbdown:

Re: Are Kiwis the grinch?
 

I sent a birthday card to a friend on Monday, her actual birthday, in which I wrote Merry Christmas, Happy New Year and have an awesome Easter - so I'm covered all under the 1 card ... I am sooo environmentally friendly!:thumbsup:

Re: Are Kiwis the grinch?
 

To a certain degree Hallowe'en is American though.

And before anyone starts reminding me of its history, all I will say is that is all well and good but it is not where the images of Hallowe'een in New Zealand come from. Those images are generally of American tv shows and movies.

Yep I realise that in parts of the UK it is celebrated. But I swear if you asked most people where their images of halloween come from it is the USA, not the UK.

Not saying I have a problem with it. It is one of my favourite holidays after all. Costumes, food, drinks, excuse to party. Quite frankly, it is a holiday aimed at adults who never grew up if ever I saw it.

Re: Are Kiwis the grinch?
 

I don't see Halloween as an American thing, although I know they celebrate it with cards and things more than here, but to me it's British. I love it, just like other days like Xmas, Valentine's Day, and anything with lots of special cakes and goodies. The more the merrier!

Re: Are Kiwis the grinch?
 

I think of Halloween as an American tradition (which is probably what most kiwis believe too) that just has not taken off in NZ despite the usual marketing. IMO that is no bad thing.

I would rather celebrate Burns night, Matariki or Chinese New Year.

Re: Are Kiwis the grinch?
 

Personally I love Halloween and any excuse for people to meet each other in the community. My little suburb, Seatoun, was full of little kids and their parents, all dressed up (not the parents like). It was great to see (and a far cry from the Hoodies we used to get in Reading - no costume just a hoodie pulled up, about 13-14 years of age - now they were frightening!).

A method of letting those who wish to participate do so and at the same time not disturb those who don’t (for whatever reason) is to ask the kids only to go to houses that are decorated.

BTW being a Grinch is not exclusive to Kiwis. I know of lots of Brits and even Americans who do not wish to participate. Each to their own is what I say…..now when does Carol Singing start? :thumbsup:

Re: Are Kiwis the grinch?
 

Umm....I really really don't want to be the one to break this to you....

Re: Are Kiwis the grinch?
 

It normally begins on the first evening in December when its dark before 5pm.

Re: Are Kiwis the grinch?
 

Oh Ha Ha!! :p In Sydney there was a Carol Concert at Darling Harbour after the traditional Xmas on Water Ski's show....How festive

Re: Are Kiwis the grinch?
 

ya probably won't get carol singers at your house though.


But I am sure there will be a carol evening in seatoun. Not to mention the carols by candlelight event that is usually in late nov/early dec.

Down repeat after me "Down Under, Santa Gets a suntan, rudolph puts the cream on his nose..."

Re: Are Kiwis the grinch?
 

He's not the only one getting sunburn....forgot to 'Slap' till it was too late this weekend...I'm the guy on Cuba Street with a face the colour of a stop sign!

Re: Are Kiwis the grinch?
 

ooh, I'm with you on that one. I used to go Carol Singing when I was little. Halloween was always spent in fancy dress playing bobbing Apples at home! Guy fawkes was all the family round with Jacket Potatoes, Sparklers and Catherine Wheel fireworks in the back garden. All the events that I have very happy childhood memories about. :D

Lou
xx

Re: Are Kiwis the grinch?
 

Me too :thumbsup:

Re: Are Kiwis the grinch?
 

Ah, someone else who remember the dook'in for apples. Also, did you have the treacle scone?

Re: Are Kiwis the grinch?
 

We always had Toffee Apples!!!! it was an autumn thing! But a treacle scone sounds yummy!!

xx

Re: Are Kiwis the grinch?
 

We had toffee apples tied upside down and you had to try and bite 'em without using your hands.

Himself , from Wolverhampton , says he did apple bobbing and the upside down toffee apples on strings. They also stayed up a bit late. Lit candles and then his mom and dad would tell ghosty stories. Himself says their ghosty stories were really very good and i can imagine they were TBH. They were mostly based on 'true stories' as they felt them to be.

T'was the same for me down south.

Re: Are Kiwis the grinch?
 

Do you notice that the argument against Halloween seems to be that it is an American tradition?

Right.

Take off your jeans, put your car in the garage (permanently), stop listening to any music (All modern music based on early blues), stop watching the TV, take off your hoodies, don't use certain english/american phrases (e.g. cool) , put away your BBQ, hide your lap-top and don't read this on the internet!

Kiwis are OK about the USA when it suits them.:eek:

Re: Are Kiwis the grinch?
 

...and this anti-americanism is a trait unique to kiwis, of course...Yeah right!
http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/showbiz/...can-brits.html

Re: Are Kiwis the grinch?
 

edit< to make clear this is in response to Jokermans post>

Eh? You lost me.

This is New Zealand and we all can choose what we feel is OK and not OK for families and this country in which we live. It will be a blend of overseas influences and then it will be it's very own self . That is the same for so many countries of today. Live with it. Mix with it. Enjoy it. Reject it. It really is up to you.

Re: Are Kiwis the grinch?
 

In some quarters there is. Not from me, though. Good point by Fry about the inadequacy of people who mock the USA...:p

Is it worse in NZ or the UK? :confused: I think we will see a big change now that Obama has his fingers on the button.

Bev, my simple point is that without the USA most of things you enjoy today, you would not be doing :

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of...tes_inventions


I mean, you never hear Kiwis say "I am not using a computer, or a mobile phone, becuase it is an American tradition", do ya? Nope. Happy to use those traditions alright! Also, where would NZ be without the brits who invented rugby? Haha
:)

Re: Are Kiwis the grinch?
 

The mocking of another country or culture is intrinsic to human nature.

The world evolves.Some go with the flow. Some do not. Meanwhile the fruits of a new discovery will always be enjoyed no matter the inception. It's always been that way & is nothing new.

There is the influence of yesterday and the influence of today and , you know, there will be the influences of what tomorrow brings.

Re: Are Kiwis the grinch?
 

Ah! Great memories Bevs!! So it wasn't just us in the midlands getting fillings from all the toffee apples and candy floss lol!!!!

I think i remember the toffee apple on a string now too!! And we used to take it in turns to tell a ghost story and try and frighten each other.

Also, did you used to do Harvest festival and take tins of food to school? They don't seem to do that anymore.

Lou
xx

Re: Are Kiwis the grinch?
 

That's probably true, to some extent, why do you think people in NZ get so upset when you dare to take the p out of NZ? Small man syndrome? :p

Re: Are Kiwis the grinch?
 

Interesting - I actually know a few Kiwi's who won't buy from Starbucks as it is American - I kid you not! Blimey, coffee's coffee surely?!:o

Re: Are Kiwis the grinch?
 

i remember that 2 lou every year you'd be in your mums/grans cupbpoard etc stealing cans to take in lol


we did all that for halloween too along with bobbing with apples . every year my mum would make us a cool costume and we would go around trick or treating and had so much fun telling wee jokes and songs to neighbours, who would then have us bob for apples etc, them were the days huh when everyone got into it. Last 3 years i have had not one caller in house even though i have stocked up in bits and there are lots of kids up here.. I was thinking of taking my 2 year out but when i asked my friends in the street from toddlers none of them were so i didnt bother hey ho ill try next year i suppose