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Wed 29 Oct, 2008 08:10 pm
I discovered an odd holiday custom in my new neighborhood this year: the "Boo". I've mentioned elsewhere that Halloween is a big deal in my neighborhood but this is a bit.... odd. And interesting. And fun.
A "Boo" is a gift bag, left anonymously on your porch with a note instructing you as to how to continue the Boo. It is sort of a physical chain letter. You get a Boo, you pay two Boos. The people who recieve your Boos pay two Boos.
If you have recieved a Boo, you post an image on your window (that is left with the gift bag) so that you don't continue to recieve Boos. The trick is to see how far the Boo will go.
It's kind of cool and kind of nutty. I think I'll Boo the people who just moved in one block over.
Have you ever heard of such a custom?
Do you have any odd holiday customs?
@boomerang,
The Boo is alive and well in Texas.
@boomerang,
I've never heard of this Boo thing, but I like it. Do you get any candy or presents?
What kind of instructions are included?
I did The Google and apparently it is not an old custom. I did find a poem about it:
Quote:The air is cool the season fall
Soon Halloween will come to all
The spooks are after things to do
In fact, a spook brought this to you
“BOO” is a shield from witching hour
Just hang it up and watch its power
On your front door is where it works
It wards off spooks and scary jerks
The treats that came with crypted note
Are yours to keep, enjoy them both
The power comes when friends like you
Will copy this and make it TWO
Then others here among our friends
Will give warm fuzzies that do not end
We’ll all have smiles upon our faces
No one will know who “BOO”ed whose places
Just one short day to work your spell
Or a big ZAP will strike your tail
And don’t forget a nifty treat,
Like something cute or something sweet
Please join fun, let’s really hear it
And spread some “BOO”s and Halloween spirit.
Austin, Portland.... except for a thousand miles they're the same place.
I can say this with confidence since I live in one and my family lives in the other. I go back and forth without much difficulty. Love Austin. Love Portland.
The poem I recieved is not that long or sweet, Green Witch; it's a bit more cryptic.
The instructions read:
Enjoy your treat.
Place the BOO sign on you door or visible in a window.
Within 2 days, make two treats, two copies of this note and two BOO signs,
Secretly deliver to two friends without a BOO.
Keep an eye on nearby front doors to see how far and fast it spreads by Halloween.
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