Attached Link: http://www.renderosity.com/viewed.ez?galleryid=99795&Start=1&Sectionid=3&WhatsNew=Yes

Next Wednesday. Tons of kids in our neighborhood will be out ringing doorbells and saying - with exuberance - "Trick or Treat!" Probably a lot more firefighters and police officers this year as opposed to the more traditional "spooky" type costumes. Frankly I love it. Not just for little kids. In the 70s and 80s when I still lived in San Francisco I used to give Halloween parties that became more outrageous as time went by. Talk about your misspent youth! But even now Halloween frivolity is alive - as in an annual milonga (Argentine tango dance party) - Saturday night in full regalia, everything from Civil War to Frankenstein, not to mention one or two Vamirellas last year. LOVE that picture, BTW! Moody, atmospheric. Larry F

Very nice, and yes, it is October 31st....I wonder though how popular it will be this year. Sharen

We don't celebrate Halloween so much in England, but we still get the odd kiddie knocking on the door. Bonfire night is the one we really go for.

What is Bonfire night?

It looks lovely Luca......very atmospheric. We don't celebrate Halloween here in South Australia either, although a few of my fellow australians are beginning to celebrate this hollyday in the eastern states. But I think my computer is trying to get in the flow with this holiday because it is definitely doing some spooky things of late ;] Happy holidays to all who do celebrate it :)

Great picture, Luca! Yes October 31 is Halloween, next Wednesday... Today I heard that according to a Fox network poll, a firefighter costume will be the most popular this year. Also, it was reported that 5% of the people polled will go as Osama bin Laden. In a possibly related poll, it seems that 5% of the population could be considered to have masochistic tendencies. Coincidence? shrug

Nice work, Luca! It must feel a bit strange creating a holiday image for a holiday you don't have. But your image definitely captures the spirit of it. :)

Bonfire night, a celebration of a fellow called Guy Fawkes, who tried blowing up the houses of parliament way back when.We build big bonfires with an effigy (not spelt right), have lots of fireworks and generally have a good time at this poor guys expense. Thething is, I don't even remember why he wanted to blow up parliament!

That's a great Halloween picture! Scary stuff! :) Irene

Attached Link: http://www.britannia.com/history/gunpowder2.html

Yeah, there was a great book about Guy Fawkes, probably one of several, that I read years and years ago but for the life of me I can't remember the title. Had some parallels to other similar historical struggles. Anyway, I always thought Bonfire Night was a better holiday name than Halloween. Also, you know in Detroit, Michigan, USA, for years they have had a problem with night before Halloween arson. Go figure.

Well I'm Scottish and my family has always celebrated both All Hallow's Eve (Halloween) and Bonfire Night, so this was a definite favourite time of year as a kid. Costume parties, dunking for apples, sweets, fireworks, bonfires ... aaah the memories :-) [strange how the standing around in the cold and the rain tends to fade into the background isn't it] - Mark

Memory is selective, especially the more distant. You know that old saying, particularly among retired athletes (I know a few): "The longer ago it was, the better we were."