Today is Halloween and in Sweden, the tradition seems to be getting bigger and bigger every year: Jack O’Lanterns everywhere, orange and black, masquerades, scary window decorations.
Most people associate Halloween with USA, but the tradition originated in British Isles and was taken overseas by the immigrants.
Because it’s Halloween, I thought I’d share a childhood memory of the tradition from when I lived in the UK. When I was about 10, we were instructed by the teacher to write a poem about each month of the year. Since I have always loved to write, I set about the task diligently. But when I got to October, I got stuck, I could only get the first line…
‘October, now it’s Halloween,‘
So I asked my mum for help. She sat down beside me, and almost immediately came up with the next line!
‘October, now it’s Halloween
Ghosts and ghoulies can be seen!’
She was so proud of herself. But I laughed hysterically.
You see, in the 70’s ‘goolies’ was slang for testicles! ‘Ghouls’ means ghosts.
Sometimes grown-ups just don’t get it.
Happy Halloween!
Watching the Swedes 