Guising - used to happen until a few years ago in London when a couple of groups (Graund Order of Guisers then later London Guise) processed in an area in disguise (or guise) and played or sang in a pub. Occasionally we got a beer out of it, sometimes we collected money for a charity, usually we just had a nice walk in funny clothes and a good session at the end.

The tradition of guising (dressing up in disguise to play tricks on neighbours) goes back many hundreds of years, before the colonies were colonised by Britons. Seems as if the tradition was taken over to the US, was "improved" and has now made its way back. The connection with Samhain and the 'Day of the Dead' when the souls of those who died crossed over and the old year died, seems to have brought out the horror element and the two have combined.

A New Year celebration and a change from the monotony of hard labour, a chance to settle old 'scores' and have a few beers in a convivial fashion has now changed to obtaining money with menaces, plastic uniformity and a 3 week build up.

I will be out and about in disguise.. I'll be disguised as a responsible member of society on her way to church for the inauguration of the new priest... he's picked a fine time to join us!

LTS