One third of city children do not understand Hallowe'en

One third of city children do not understand Hallowe'en One third of city children do not understand Hallowe'en

A THIRD of children in Southampton do not understand why they celebrate Halloween.

As many as 16% believe it is a day to mark the last witch being burned in the London trials.

But with 45% - almost half - of the seven to 14-year-olds surveyed in the poll attending themed parties to celebrate, it is clear that Halloween is becoming as crucial a date on the calendar for UK kids and their families as it is in the US.

The study, unveiled today by Snazaroo face paints, also pin pointed just how dedicated kids are when it comes to trick or treating, with half knocking on up to 30 doors in their annual rounds of the neighbourhood – smashing the national average of 20%.

A third of Southampton youngsters claim that they feel braver in Halloween costume – it’s no surprise then, that, alongside eating sweets and carving pumpkins, dressing up in costume topped the list as the most popular way for children to get into the spirit of the annual horrorfest.

Four percent of children were so confused as to the meaning of Halloween that they confessed to believing it is actually a day to commemorate the Devil’s Birthday.

Kids in Cardiff were the most clueless, with 77% unsure as to what the day represents.

Unsurprisingly, the traditional Halloween activities of bobbing for apples and trick or treating still remain popular, bringing up the rear in the top five activities carried out by kids in Southampton at Halloween*.

 

Comments(9)

Brusher Mills says...
3:25pm Mon 29 Oct 12

It's probably the same with Xmas and Easter.

Nicole23 says...
3:35pm Mon 29 Oct 12

Hallow'een is not supposed to be a celebration at at all . It's an old Pagan/Druid ritual to cast out evil spirits.
It has now been turned into a commercial freak show by the yanks and simply to make money.

Lord Ikea says...
3:38pm Mon 29 Oct 12

Oh Bless. Don't they realise that it is a money making scam bought over from the good ol' US of A. A bit like School Proms.

Snowstorm says...
3:50pm Mon 29 Oct 12

This is stupid. Daily Echo, what is the "right" answer to this question? I don't think there is a "reason that we celebrate halloween". As Nicole23 above points out, it's got origins in a number of religions and cultures.

Brusher Mill's comment above is stupid though, I'm pretty sure every kid knows why we celebrate Xmas and Easter.

WHAT WOULD BE A GOOD QUESTION TO ASK is why we celebrate bonfire night - I suspect that is something only 1/3 of kids get right...

Shoong says...
4:02pm Mon 29 Oct 12

Who cares? It's just an excuse to hawk crud to harassed parents and gullible kids.

cantthinkofone says...
4:29pm Mon 29 Oct 12

It's to appease the spirit of Margaret Thatcher and prevent her demonic return to power.

pod says...
5:52pm Mon 29 Oct 12

Nicole23 wrote:
Hallow'een is not supposed to be a celebration at at all . It's an old Pagan/Druid ritual to cast out evil spirits.
It has now been turned into a commercial freak show by the yanks and simply to make money.
Halloween (Samhain) is the celtic new year and also the time when pagans believe that the veil between the worlds of the living and dead becomes thin.
This is a time that we remember our ancestors and commerate or celebrate their lives.

Stupideditor says...
6:51pm Mon 29 Oct 12

The act of trick or treat is technically illegal. Knocking on a stranger's door and demand the giving of a gift otherwise i'll inflict a penalty is harassment and a threat.

Huffter says...
7:20pm Mon 29 Oct 12

Hallowe'en is simply the Evening (E'en) before All Hallows (All Saints) Day.

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