World War II Evacuee Halloween Costume: Offensive Or Educational? (PHOTOS, POLL)

Making the Internet rounds today is yet another Halloween costume -- but unlike some we've seen, this get-up is no laughing matter... or so we thought.

The World War II Evacuee Costume is meant for young girls and the packaging features a girl with her hip jutted out jauntily and a smile on her face. It's a bit confusing -- is this some sick joke? A teaching tool gone wrong?

The blogosphere has sounded off, of course, with some calling it "the worst costume of all time." But as it turns out, we sensitive Americans need not get so riled up: it's a British thing, people. We just don't get it.

Blogger Nick Douglas, editor of Slacktory.com, explained via Tumblr that the UK has several national commemoration days worked into the elementary school curriculum as a creative way to teach kids British history. One of these is the unfortunately named Evacuee Day:

Parents get letter informing them that their little darling has to dress up as an Evacuee, Victorian child, Roman, etc.

Time-poor, stressed parents don't want to have to spend ages researching and making said costume when they could be spending their time w/their actual child (or OK watching TV) (this doesn't really apply for the Roman one because that costume is a sheet)

Internet search reveals readymade costume (see photo above)

Parents grumblingly shell out their 15 pounds or so. All kids at school end up dressed identically. Costume company laughs all the way to the bank.

We checked and indeed, the costume is sold on Amazon.co.uk, making it easy for British parents to order for just 11.99 pounds.

So British children dress up as WWII evacuees... but can American kids? Or would this costume still read all wrong stateside?

Quick Poll

Would you buy this costume for your kid?

Sure -- what a fun educational tool.

No way -- definitely too offensive.

Share your vote on Facebook so your friends can take this poll

Comments

[Sassyone1]

11:39 PM on 10/30/2011

Hated it!!!

[leescheinberg]

04:25 PM on 10/30/2011

Let's recap:

Title of article=misleading. Not a Halloween costume. Costume for UK educational day: Evacuee Day (evacuation of children from major industrial centers/cities in the UK because of the Blitz).

Evacuee Day=Celebration of courage and sacrifice on the part of UK parents and children
Halloween= US celebration of ancient traditions, now primarily about dressing up and getting candy

Costume=Appropriate for Evacuee Day, nothing to due with Holocaust or Halloween.

Opinion: I think a lot of Jewish parents in Nazi Occupied Europe would have been happy to see their kids as evacuees, in this outfit, being shipped to safety. (See also Kinder Transports.)

[Gripper2]

01:14 PM on 10/30/2011

For the sake of making my point, let's just say that this costume has no relation to any educational program or anything else official, but, in fact, it was of her own design for this Halloween.
Who gives a damn?
Is this offensive to the surviving WWII evacuees? If so, get over it. There are 7 billion people on this earth so no matter what she wears, you can round up a handful of people that will be offended by something. I can see, maybe, if a kid dressed up as a crispened Hiroshima survivor carrying a Geiger Counter that's clicking like crazy, how that would be insensitive, but still, we seem to be going against what we were taught a children. Ignore it. Don't respond to it. Don't take it personally.
If that advice is good eough for our kids then it should be no problem for an adult.
If winston Churchill had to comment on how are society is today, he might change that famous speech he made to, "Never has so few, whined so much to gain so little."
Geeeeez! People need to quit being such crybabies. Yeah, Yeah, Yeah! We should outlaw the word crybaby because it offends those who had to suffer with Cholic.

[mvp019a]

10:11 AM on 10/30/2011

Slow news day????

[superjoe]

12:52 AM on 10/30/2011

haha, that's funny. I don't understand why people would get upset though. You could easily just throw a sash on here and she'd look like a Girl Scout. Is it just the reference to WWII? Because that really did happen...

[Edward Holiday]

12:24 AM on 10/30/2011

This is strictly British Humor; Most Americans would not understand unless they have some background dealing with Brits; I think its hilarious and educational at the same time. Like running around pretending to be blind with 3 fingers on each hand and a t-shirt that reads former EOD Technician.......

[VanTroi]

03:14 PM on 10/29/2011

HUH?

[NYCSingleMom]

03:10 PM on 10/29/2011

this doesnt even make sense. what little girl is going to want to be a WW evacuee any way?

[cabrobst]

08:47 AM on 10/30/2011

Some of the best children's stories are based on that time in history, CS Lewis' The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe comes to mind. Disney has revisited that time repeatedly. London was evacuated and children went on adventures in the country. So yes, children have shown interest in being a WW2 evacuee.

[Dara Fleurentin]

12:42 PM on 10/29/2011

I'm all for education but I don't think this the best approach. Yes, we shouldn't shy away from history but I think, for little children, it's a bit extreme. Can you imagine a child coming to your door, asking for candy and saying "I'm a WWII evacuee!" At least, my reaction would be --> O_o.

[Coryf]

11:30 AM on 10/29/2011

So reading the article it seems that this isn't a a Halloween costume at all like the title suggests but an attempt by a costume maker to capitalize on parents wanting to save time on their children's attire for a school commemoration day (a smart business move IMO).

I haven't been a frequent visitor to Huffington Post for very long, but repeatedly finding this type of trash tabloid "reporting" makes me think I won't be much longer.

[Loz Hughes]

10:35 AM on 10/29/2011

It is part of our history and we should be proud of it

[nepatriots1941]

10:47 AM on 10/30/2011

Sorry, not humor.....

[sort84]

08:13 AM on 10/29/2011

Why is there even a market for this? Who is actually buying this?

[angeltel27]

10:47 AM on 10/29/2011

No one I assume. What a boring costume.

[topkatnc]

07:08 AM on 10/29/2011

Much to do about nothing .

[sailormoon1988]

01:32 AM on 10/29/2011

I would rather have my daughter where that costume than the short skirts, and prostitutes boots and tight corset tops they wear now.

[nepatriots1941]

10:50 AM on 10/30/2011

The real point is trying to change our (stupid) minds thru/for the sake of our children.....Wake up Americans....stop being used as stupid pawns in your own country....

[laurarvail1]

12:10 AM on 10/29/2011

I think it looks like a school girl's uniform. The Brits have a more concrete memory of the Blitz, and there are still plenty of old-timers who remember it. At the same time, last year I dressed my youngster as a suicide bomber (much more scary than Frankenstein). A lot of parents were troubled by it, and I asked "Why?" and they said "It was too real"... that should have made them think, not become unhinged.