By Patricia Finn
It’s tricky to be approaching October 31st and be anti-Halloween. “What! What is wrong with you Miss Pat? Are you against candy? Do you hate little children? They look so cute in their costumes.”
Yes, they do; and when I step on a scale there is no question that I approve of candy. I can’t help but wonder why we are celebrating a holiday that features death and ugliness? I am the equivalent of Scrooge at Christmas when it comes to Halloween. Dracula? Blood dripping from fake scars? I just am not for it.
Do I hear a chorus of “Lighten up, it’s just for fun?” No thank you. I’m not interested.
Let me begin my defense of being anti-Halloween by suggesting that we take a close look at the choice of decorating. It is not as if we are decking our homes with flowers. We are decorating with cute little tarantulas, skeletons, and witches. If I am not mistaken the keyword is “boo” as in “I will frighten you.” Last year I saw grown men move little children to tears with their scary costumes. At the risk of being labeled as very old school I will be brave and ask, “Is scaring people fun?” I don’t mind being old school. But how old? Which school? The Little Red Schoolhouse?
Related: October Editorial: It’s About the Barbecue, Beer and Halloween Candy
Fortunately, a lot of communities are sponsoring “safe” trick or treating and have activities and booths set up with a carnival atmosphere helping the children not miss the door-to-door tradition. I like that practice, and it gives me a chance to present myself as a person who enjoys fun instead of as a crabby old lady. (Who, me crabby?) I still bristle at the Halloween décor and the haunted house but seeing the cute children in costumes helps to soothe my “I don’t approve” disposition.
When I was a child, I celebrated Halloween, and it was an adventurous holiday. Growing up in a suburb, this was the only time that groups of children ran around outside at night. It was also a celebration that was for children only. Grownups were merely the chaperones that guided us through the neighborhood. They did not run around dressed up in costumes.
I am the first to enjoy a good holiday, but October 31 is on the bottom of my “hurrah! It’s here!” holiday list. I am celebrating the fall season, and by October, fall is here. Well, not “here,” because I live in Florida and it is still ninety degrees, but it is somewhere and I have memories of crisp fall air, apples, apples and more apples. Being the humble queen of homemade applesauce, I am all about the fall season.
The only boo in my October is a “boohoo” because I have no leaves to shuffle through and the air is not crisp. However, I will not be negative; not me, I may slam Halloween, but I will enjoy a pumpkin latte and suggest that we change “trick or treat” to “treat or treat.” With that in mind, I’ll have a slice of apple pie with my pumpkin latte.
