Halloween disasters averted!
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| Thu, 11-01-2007 - 8:18am |
We've just moved from England (where Halloween is Americanized, Trick or Treating etc) to Scotland - where, we didn't realise it, but Halloween is very different. You dress up etc and go round neighbours, but you do 'guising' - you do a song, dance, story or joke for your 'treat'. I checked with our neighbours whether people did Trick or Treating before we set out, but they obviously didn't realise that I meant something different, because they just said yes and didn't explaing about the 'guising'. So at the first house they asked us 'What are you going to do for us' and Euan (9, Aspie) nearly lost it. He has to work so hard at new social situations to work out what the rules are that he hates it when he gets it wrong, and he nearly collapsed in tears and went home. but I was so proud of him! (because *I* was a bit perplexed and embarrassed and frankly, would have liked to go home) because once a kind neighbour had explained it to us, he really rallied round. We worked out some spooky jokes and his little brother (4, NT) remembered soem very rude jokes (well, rude for a 4 year old, involving bodily functions....!!! which he then helpfully told all our neighbours that *I* had told him, little stinker LOL) and we managed to do a good round. But I am glad we saved the day because normally Euan would have collapsed in a heap, sucked his thumb and refused to move at that point!
The other disaster averted was the school Halloween disco. Euan wasn't sure about this, and luckily the disco for the younger ones was earlier, so I took Rohan and was able to report back exactly how loud it was, and what games were being played. He decided he didn't want to go, which was probably the right decision as he really truly would have just sat in the corner with his hands over his ears crying.
And now we know for next year!
Kirsty
mum to Euan (9, Aspergers), Rohan (4, NT) and Maeve (23m, NT)

Kirsty,
Good save! (on both counts).
Given the Celtic then Catholic origins of Halloween; I am surprised to hear they actually celebrate it in
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