lincasanova

Very sad Hallowe'en in Spain. Four girls now dead, one still critical in stampede at mega party

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worl...-stampede.html

Bedar

Yes, very sad for people to be killed in such a crush. But, since when is Halloween celebrated in Spain ? I know Spaniards will seize on any excuse for a party but ... ? We were in Madrid two years ago and saw none of the stupidities involved in this non-holiday. What a shame that this cancer has spread to Europe.

Christina

From what I've read Halloween has spread to various European countries, I find it rather odd to import holidays myself, I don't get it.

Bedar

It's an excuse for a party fueled by the merchants who sell all the junk involved.

lincasanova

Well there are mega parties constantly at these type disco warehouses. Nothing new. I hope the inspection gets tough on these owners as there are/were obviously not enough escape routes or there were locked doors or something. They are still trying to figure it out. On a video I have seen during the stampede there was also a flare that went off in the background, but unless there was one previously, too.. who knows what incited all those kids to flee.

The most unusual/disheartening aspect.. the party still went on til 6 a.m as the rest of the entire area was so far removed they had no idea of the severity of the crushed kids. There were absolutely no problems whatsover elsewhere in the warehouse.. just in this one passageway.

Very sad. I hate mega crowds and hope to never be in one.

cigalechanta

Here's how Halloween was accepted at first in Paris.


http://www.bonjourparis.com/story/halloween-paris/

Bedar

Gee, only 22€ to get stampeded. 12,000 kids were able to afford this. Now I'm not going to believe all those reports of a financial crisis there ! But, it was in Madrid. Guess their parents must work for the govt.
We loathe and avoid crowds, too. Think it's only the young who seek out such venues. The young and the dumb.
Oh yes, let's not forget Hollywood's Halloween horror movies in the spread of this non-holiday.
Happily in the 31 yrs since we returned from 20 abroad, we have not had kids coming to the door for candy. Great luck, that.

amer_can

22Euros, heavy unemployment, bad economies..Makes you wonder what priorities are for some..

Sassafrass

Some kind of harsh responses here. Every few years, something like this happens at a concert or big party venue. A few years ago, there was a fire at a place in the US where the owners had locked most of the doors to prevent people from coming in who hadn't paid, etc. Criminal! These were young people just thinking they would have some fun (perhaps a real splurge for some of them) and instead lost their lives. I used to say if we could just keep them alive until 21, we had a good chance they would develop good judgement and survive to old age.

We live on a little city court. Halloween is a super kids/family event here. A couple of weeks ago, parents and kids got together one afternoon and made straw scarecrows and carved pumpkins with a cook out. It was so much fun last night to see all the little ones running around the street in costumes, parents with flashlights hanging out with each other, catching up on neighborhood news, etc. Every single child who came to my porch said "Thank you." Older kids hung out and helped the little ones, with hotdogs and cider afterwards. I know merchants sell needless junk, but at least it isn't the overwhelming commercialism of Christmas and the little ones do enjoy more than just the candy.

cigalechanta

Is there a full moon?
Alot of nasty comments on posts tonight.

Sassafras, in your enclave ok but in today's world
i would not let a little one go door to door trick or trear
as
i did when a youngster

Sassafrass

Cigalechanta, I know what you mean. You are asolutely right. That is sad, isn't it. Now, you've made me re-think last night.

I had kind of put it out of my mind because nothing happened, but last night I noticed something that made me nervous. There were some grownups in costume actually T&T, that were definitely not from our neighborhood. I did not like it one bit, but the really little ones were inside already and the rest of us were outside and all watching. Other neighbors commented on how odd that was. They didn't do anything, just collected candy and left. Perhaps I should have said the candy was only for children, but it was late - near the end of the night and I was so surprised by them that I didn't. Wish I had at least asked them where they came from and how they got here. Someone thought they were from a homeless shelter. We certainly do not mind any kids coming from any place. But grownups? Now I am wondering if we were all too nice and even naive? Makes me think we need a gate keeper next year. No, we don't actually have a gate, but we could create a temporary one.

Now I feel really angry. I hate the idea of such a sweet, fun activity being spoiled by fear or worry.

LSky

"We were in Madrid two years ago and saw none of the stupidities involved in this non-holiday. What a shame that this cancer has spread to Europe."

Wow! Are you so old and unhappy that you have forgotten what is was to be young?
Traditions and holidays are happy things that are shared in communities acrossed the world.

Seriously, do you actually travel? Do you spread your "cancer" to every place you visit or do you just confine it (please say yes) to this board?

MissPrism

This is another weird trick or treat story
http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/20...treat-children
When I were a lass, sweets were rationed, so if you'd begged the neighbours for them, you would have got short shrift. I can remember apple bobbing. In those days, Guy Fawkes was by far the bigger festival and I think that it still is.

danon

"Gee, only 22€ to get stampeded. 12,000 kids were able to afford this. Now I'm not going to believe all those reports of a financial crisis there ! But, it was in Madrid. Guess their parents must work for the govt."

What an ugly, ignorant comment.
Americans have spent eight BILLION dollars on Halloween
Are they all working for the government?
Hasn't the US been is an economic crisis? Who are all those
Americans waiting in lines to purchase the latest Apple products?
We returned from Madrid yesterday...there were some decorations in stores and we have seen young people
dressed up in Halloween costumes.
Did not notice groups of kids going door to door or anything resembling the North American madness.
The restaurants of the wealthy Serrano- Salamanca area were
filled with locals every night.
There is no doubt that Spain is in a financial crisis, but like in the USA, there are certain groups in the society that are not affected very much by the unemployment or cuts in pensions and salaries of, yes, the government employees.

MaisiePlague

Wasn't Halloween originally from Europe? I think it was imported in the United States from Scots/English/Irish immigrants?

lincasanova

Trick or treating is becoming popular as a clean , fun way for kids to be creative with costumes and parents enjoy taking them around to friends´houses now for VERY small treats compared to the States.

Crisis.

Of course there is a crisis, but some people still gather together a few euros from here and there and choose to go out and try to have some fun amidst the doom and gloom atmosphere.

The more news that comes out, some jack***/ es set off some fireworks and flare during the concert and the people who were near a certain area panicked and "moved" en masse and crushed a couple kids. The scenes of those around trying to get the crowd in front of them to STOP moving towards them is heart breaking.

I'm not going to watch that again.

I can´t imagine what a horrible experience. The one boyfriend of one of the girls saw her getting trampled and unable to grab her into his arms.. it is so pathetic.


I guess this is the end of "Happy" Hallowe'en for many.

Underhill

"North American madness"? Why the geographic reference? For years now we've seen very few kids out on Hallowe'en, parents opting instead for parties in safe settings.

danon

Of course, the parents would not let kids roam the unsafe
streets of some parts of the US or Canada.
Madness....?
a mother of a four year old bought 3 different costumes for him so he would have a "choice" (our family member)

"Americans Will Spend $8 Billion On Halloween This Year"
http://news.yahoo.com/americans-spen...192801807.html

"
Canadians with kids will drop $75 on Halloween: Survey"
http://www.torontosun.com/2012/10/10...oween-survey-2

just a few examples of excesses we indulge in.

lincasanova

maybe you forgot the costumes for the pets.

danon

no kidding

https://www.google.ca/search?q=hallo...w=1280&bih=707