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We await the Halloween experience in Derry this Saturday night. I am of the age that I am beginning to look for the things that could go wrong - very public excesses of alcohol, torrential rain, thousands of pounds of ratepayers money being set alight in the form of a fireworks display. Is there a Halloween version of Scrooge ? A cousin of Ebeneezer's, perhaps, who sits at home and turns up the sound on the television so he can't hear the fireworks ? Who leaves the outstretched hand at the door free of nuts or apples ?
AsÌýlegend has it , most of Derry dresses up for the night. Wits will say that married men use it as an excuse to wear their wives' clothes. Fake policemen will be stopping cars in the centre of town. I will do my best to resist but as Pacman costumes are being constructed in the room next to me, even I cannot poop this particular party. I could go as Morrissey, sing one verse of 'This Charming Man" and then lie down on the ground, whispering "I'll be grand once I get my breath back. You go on ahead without me." I am of that age.
I am also of the age that remembers when Halloween was done on a street by street basis. It wasn't a marketing opportunity for the city's tourist industry. Only children dressed up, with what was available in the house. No one counted bed occupancy rates as we were allowed to stay up past midnight and there was no school the next day.
Some people bemoan the American influence on our Halloween. Pumpkins instead of turnips. "Trick or treat" instead of 'Any nuts or apples ?"Ìý Can I add a moan about it all being too, well, organised ?ÌýÌý