I have read the thread with interest from Mrs Duck's first comment, through the rhetoric on the English versus the Celts, to the Radio 1 (BBC) "link" from Roger in Sheffield. I learned about folk in the New Forest in Hampshire, I was taught Shanties, Ballads and even music hall (city folk music in my opinion). The heritage is there, but it is unfashionable to be English enough to follow it. As an Englishman I get the impression from the media and politicians that I am "supposed" to feel guilt for the atrocities of my forebears, not rever their traditions. I cannot change the acts of previous generations, nor can I personally bear the guilt. All I can do is to treat everyone the same, whatever their race, religion or creed. But I think that most English people feel that to look to their own traditions, instead of imported ones may be considered racist, and therefore wrong. The net result is that English traditions die out and are replaced by "more acceptable" homogenised ones. Finally, and thanks for bearing with me, I have no problem with halloween, but I do have a huge problem with "trick or treat" imported from ET, and degenerated into teenage begging with menaces, "give me a treat or spend time and money clearing eggs and flour...."

Harry