--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Coming over from England, I was…" description: "\"Coming over from England, I was awe-struck by what Americans do at Halloween. I find it magnificent. In England, you get the occasional fancy dress par..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ba3/neil-gaiman-29_halloween_coming-over-from-england-i-was-awe-struc_1296929.jpg" --- # Coming over from England, I was awe-struck by what… ![“Coming over from England, I was awe-struck by what Americans do at Halloween. I find it magnificent. In England, you get the occasional fancy dress party.” quote by Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ba3/neil-gaiman-29_halloween_coming-over-from-england-i-was-awe-struc_1296929.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ba3/neil-gaiman-29_halloween_coming-over-from-england-i-was-awe-struc_1296929.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ba3/neil-gaiman-29_halloween_coming-over-from-england-i-was-awe-struc_1296929.jpg) > “Coming over from England, I was awe-struck by what Americans do at Halloween. I find it magnificent. In England, you get the occasional fancy dress party.” [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker, an English visitor, marvels at the elaborate American Halloween traditions, contrasting them with modest UK customs. **In simple terms:** American Halloween is grand compared to British. Key Takeaway Appreciate cultural differences. Themes culture tradition celebration Mood curious observational Type cultural anthropological When to use this quote - travel experiences - holiday planning - cross‑cultural study Key Concepts cultural exchange anthropology festivals Questions to Reflect On - What holiday customs surprise you abroad? - How do traditions reflect societal values? A Different Perspective Not all cultures share the same enthusiasm for holidays. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Americans Halloween](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/americans-halloween-4245246/) [Dress Party](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dress-party-267383/) [England Occasional](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/england-occasional-4245248/) [Fancy Dress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fancy-dress-267386/) [Halloween](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/halloween/) [Halloween Magnificent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/halloween-magnificent-4245247/) [Magnificent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/magnificent/) [Party](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/party/) ## Related quotes > [I couldn't think of anything worse than going to a fancy dress party. So, if somebody invited me to one, I'd go as the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-morrissey/i-couldn-t-think-of-anything-worse-than-going-to-a-fancy-dress-party/) [David Morrissey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-morrissey/) > [The worst thing that happens to people when they dress up and go to a party is that they leave their real selves at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-monroe/the-worst-thing-that-happens-to-people-when-they-dress-up-and-go-to-a/) [Marilyn Monroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-monroe/) > [How cool it is to see a bride walking down the aisle with a beautiful long gown with beautiful layers of tulle and organza,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reem-acra/how-cool-it-is-to-see-a-bride-walking-down-the-aisle-with-a-beautiful/) [Reem Acra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reem-acra/) > [A man goes to a fancy dress party dressed only in his Y-fronts. A woman comes up to him and says "What are you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-cooper/a-man-goes-to-a-fancy-dress-party-dressed-only-in-his-y-fronts-a/) [Tommy Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-cooper/) > [Fancy dress is the best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-scanlon/fancy-dress-is-the-best/) [Angela Scanlon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-scanlon/) > [“Funny. The blazer, skirt and tie become automatically sexy the minute you leave school when you're eighteen or nineteen and pull it out for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-forrest/funny-the-blazer-skirt-and-tie-become-automatically-sexy-the-minute/) [Emma Forrest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-forrest/) > [“If a historian does not understand the bounds of the social space within which the events he is studying occurred, all he is doing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-john/if-a-historian-does-not-understand-the-bounds-of-the-social-space/) [Eric John](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-john/) > [I had this wild imagination. I was never me. All my childhood photos, I'm in fancy dress, playing a Russian refuge or Marvelous Mad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juno-temple/i-had-this-wild-imagination-i-was-never-me-all-my-childhood-photos-i/) [Juno Temple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juno-temple/) > [I remember the Silver Jubilee clearly because we had a fancy dress street party in Sheffield. I dressed up as a Japanese girl with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-maitlis/i-remember-the-silver-jubilee-clearly-because-we-had-a-fancy-dress/) [Emily Maitlis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-maitlis/) > [I am allergic to fancy dress. This is actual fact.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claudia-winkleman/i-am-allergic-to-fancy-dress-this-is-actual-fact/) [Claudia Winkleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claudia-winkleman/) > [“The festivities have a fancy dress theme... inevitable. Here's what i consider to be an undisputed fact: nobody actually likes going to fancy dress…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-spalding/the-festivities-have-a-fancy-dress-theme-inevitable-here-s-what-i/) [Nick Spalding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-spalding/) > [I take fancy dress very seriously. I mean incredibly seriously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juno-temple/i-take-fancy-dress-very-seriously-i-mean-incredibly-seriously/) [Juno Temple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juno-temple/) > [I am a fancy dress grump, to be honest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-smith/i-am-a-fancy-dress-grump-to-be-honest/) [Matt Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-smith/) > [“Besides, I loved you before I ever saw you with makeup or a fancy dress on.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brenda-hodnett/besides-i-loved-you-before-i-ever-saw-you-with-makeup-or-a-fancy/) [Brenda Hodnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brenda-hodnett/) > [I have always hated fancy dress parties.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-beard/i-have-always-hated-fancy-dress-parties/) [Mary Beard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-beard/) ## More by Neil Gaiman > [“People talk about books that write themselves, and it's a lie. Books don't write themselves. It takes thought and research and a backache and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/people-talk-about-books-that-write-themselves-and-it-s-a-lie-books/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [“Like all sentient beings, Fat Charlie had a weirdness quotient. For some days the needle had been over in the red, occasionally banging jerkily…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/like-all-sentient-beings-fat-charlie-had-a-weirdness-quotient-for/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [“Shadow crawled across the floor to the yellow foam-rubber pad and climbed onto it, pulling the thin blanket over himself, and closed his eyes,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/shadow-crawled-across-the-floor-to-the-yellow-foam-rubber-pad-and/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [ “\[T\]hey could not help being amused every time another little human believed itself the center of its world, as each of us does.” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/t-hey-could-not-help-being-amused-every-time-another-little-human/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [So many things to see, people to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/so-many-things-to-see-people-to-do/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [“Three may keep a secret, if two of them are dead.’ – Ben Franklin,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/three-may-keep-a-secret-if-two-of-them-are-dead-ben-franklin/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [You need more than a beginning if you're going to start a book. If all you have is a beginning, then once you've written…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/you-need-more-than-a-beginning-if-you-re-going-to-start-a-book-if-all/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [You can tell the date of an old science fiction novel by every word on the page. Nothing dates harder and faster and more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/you-can-tell-the-date-of-an-old-science-fiction-novel-by-every-word/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [“The quickest way is sometimes the longest.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/the-quickest-way-is-sometimes-the-longest/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [“They were spells, spelled with words to make worlds, waiting for me, in the pages of books.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/they-were-spells-spelled-with-words-to-make-worlds-waiting-for-me-in/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [Finish what you're writing. Whatever you have to do to finish it, finish it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/finish-what-you-re-writing-whatever-you-have-to-do-to-finish-it/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [What do stars do? They shine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/what-do-stars-do-they-shine/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [“What," asked Mr Croup, "do you want?" "What," asked the Marquis de Carabas, a little more rhetorically, "does anyone want?" "Dead things," suggested Mr…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/what-asked-mr-croup-do-you-want-what-asked-the-marquis-de-carabas-a/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [You get on with your own life. Lettie gave it to you. You just have to grow up and try and be worth it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/you-get-on-with-your-own-life-lettie-gave-it-to-you-you-just-have-to/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [“Eyes will not see you. Minds will not hold you. Where you are is nothing and nobody”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/eyes-will-not-see-you-minds-will-not-hold-you-where-you-are-is/) [neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) [Explore all 2,526 Neil Gaiman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) ## More Halloween quotes > [Hoes gonna be tricking their treats tonight! Happy Halloween!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/hoes-gonna-be-tricking-their-treats-tonight-happy-halloween/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [...it was a huge creature, luminous, ghastly, and spectral. I have cross-examined these men, one of them a hard-headed countryman, one a farrier, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-conan-doyle/it-was-a-huge-creature-luminous-ghastly-and-spectral-i-have-cross/) [Arthur Conan Doyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-conan-doyle/) > [I was invited to a halloween party until 12, but made a good choice of studying instead :)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mariana/i-was-invited-to-a-halloween-party-until-12-but-made-a-good-choice-of/) [Mariana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mariana/) > [“Did you know that at one time trick-or-treating was stopped? It's true. During World War II children were not allowed to trick or treat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-bozzo/did-you-know-that-at-one-time-trick-or-treating-was-stopped-it-s-true/) [Linda Bozzo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-bozzo/) > [Very fun! Here is one I like: Double, dubloe toil and trouble; fire burn and cauldron bubble. ~ Shakespeare Macbeth Hope you Halloween is spirit-filled!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marvin/very-fun-here-is-one-i-like-double-dubloe-toil-and-trouble-fire-burn/) [Marvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marvin/) > [There was a time when Vader and I had a main event Pay-Per-View match, back in 1993 at Halloween Havoc, and I firmly thought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mick-foley/there-was-a-time-when-vader-and-i-had-a-main-event-pay-per-view-match/) [Mick Foley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mick-foley/) > [Halloween is woke, and there's nothing we can do about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-blum/halloween-is-woke-and-there-s-nothing-we-can-do-about-it/) [Jason Blum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-blum/) > [“Halloweenies: People who break up around Halloween because it's the last stop before the family-filled, gift-mandated, high pressure holidays: Thanksgiving/Christmas/New Year's.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cindy-chupack/halloweenies-people-who-break-up-around-halloween-because-it-s-the/) [Cindy Chupack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cindy-chupack/) > [Some people say, 'Oh you're a weird queen. You're a punk queen.' All queens are weird! I don't care if you're in a sickening…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-needles/some-people-say-oh-you-re-a-weird-queen-you-re-a-punk-queen-all/) [Sharon Needles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-needles/) > [Seems like Americans just want it to be Halloween all year. The holiday just keeps getting more popular.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amity-shlaes/seems-like-americans-just-want-it-to-be-halloween-all-year-the/) [Amity Shlaes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amity-shlaes/) > [For me, writing something in the spirit of Halloween is like Mother Teresa writing on charity and sacrifice. It's just second nature to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danny-elfman/for-me-writing-something-in-the-spirit-of-halloween-is-like-mother/) [Danny Elfman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danny-elfman/) > [“It was a small town by a small river and a small lake in a small northern part of a Midwest state. There wasn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/it-was-a-small-town-by-a-small-river-and-a-small-lake-in-a-small/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [Why don't Jehovah's Witnesses like Halloween? Because they cant handle the competition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/why-don-t-jehovah-s-witnesses-like-halloween-because-they-cant-handle/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“There is a place, September, oh, very far from Pandemonium. A place where it is always autumn, where there is always cider and pumpkin…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherynne-m-valente/there-is-a-place-september-oh-very-far-from-pandemonium-a-place-where/) [Catherynne M. Valente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherynne-m-valente/) > [Be wary then; best safety lies in fear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/be-wary-then-best-safety-lies-in-fear/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) [Browse all 833 Halloween quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/halloween/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Coming over from England, I was awe-struck by what Americans do at Halloween. I find it magnificent. In England, you get the occasional fancy dress party.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Neil Gaiman" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/coming-over-from-england-i-was-awe-struck-by-what-americans-do-at/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Halloween" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/coming-over-from-england-i-was-awe-struck-by-what-americans-do-at/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ba3/neil-gaiman-29_halloween_coming-over-from-england-i-was-awe-struc_1296929.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ba3/neil-gaiman-29_halloween_coming-over-from-england-i-was-awe-struc_1296929.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ba3/neil-gaiman-29_halloween_coming-over-from-england-i-was-awe-struc_1296929.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Coming over from England, I was awe-struck by what Americans do at Halloween. I find it magnificent. In…” — Neil Gaiman", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Neil Gaiman", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Coming over from England, I was...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/coming-over-from-england-i-was-awe-struck-by-what-americans-do-at/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/coming-over-from-england-i-was-awe-struck-by-what-americans-do-at/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```