Poirot

[denis567]

Just been watching this weeks episode of Poirot ( I had recorded it) called 'Hallowe'en Party'
I am not sure what time period it is set in, but it looks as though it could be in the 1920's - 1930's.
My question is, would Hallowe'en parties be a common thing then?.
I cannot go back quite as long as that, but during my childhood in the 40's - 50's we certainly didn't have such parties, and I don't remember anyone else doing so. Does anyone recall celebrating Hallowe'en then, or is it, as I think, something that became more popular at a much later date

[sandyRoe]

I'd have said Guy Fawkes NIght was the big thing then.

[denis567]

It certainly was, and Mischief Night (November 4th) which a lot of you, not in the North of England will not be aware of.

[askyourgran]

We did have Mischief night on 4 November but I don't recall having any special night for Halloween in the late 40/50's. It only seemed to take of in the 90s.

[sandyRoe]

It was always the autumn festival in Scotland and Ireland but I think it came back into England from the US

[Francis Asis]

This programme was set in the 50s and I asked the same question of my husband, who is older than me. He said they never celebrated Halloween in this way. We certainly didn't in the 70s.

[knowabit]

Was it adapted from one of Agatha Christies book or is it a newly written one?? If from one of her books, then obviously she did celebrate halloween, or knew enough to have a party in her book!?

[denis567]

According to Wikipedia, it was one of Agatha Christies later novels, published in 1969. I suppose that by that time it had become more common practise to celebrate Hallowe'en, especially if the author had travelled to America (I don't know if she did or not) but as knowabit suggests, she must have had some knowledge and experience of hallowe'en parties