Halloween has been
Well this year I was all prepared with my big bowl of mixed lollies for the Halloween door knockers.
Yes, I have changed my stance on Halloween. At first it wasn’t on my radar at all, I was always left with nothing to offer and then justifying it when the disappointed kids left by telling myself, “Oh well its not an Australian tradition anyway”. Using the same argument, that it’s just another foolish American fad that the kids have picked up from TV with only the retailers seeing any benefit .
I find over the past few years I’ve been mellowing a bit. I even made a huge batch of popcorn one year when I had nothing else. A small effort yes, and not that popular with the kids, well until I told them to take ‘two’ handfuls.
I realised that these are the very same little year -round doorknockers who sweetly ask, “Would you like to sponsor me in a spellathon?” The same little faces that ask me to support their sport clubs, school and them personally in their readathons and walkathons. A small price to pay to know them personally. The same ones who all come out and fly their kites in the street on a windy day and roll up and down the street with their skateboards, rollerskates, bikes and dolls prams.
They are the very same kids who one day a year dress up together and go out with all their friends and ask for lollies, and always with their mums and dads at the kerb carefully watching over to make sure that they use their manners… and ensure that I’m not a weirdo.
Giving a few lollies one day a year to the kids in my neighbourhood is not as scarey as it seems.
What does Halloween mean to you? Is it, Just for the kids; A bunch of nonsense; The highlight is handing out lollies; I cant wait to dress up; Another chance to party woo-hoo!; Family fun night.
Leave a comment and let us know what you think.
November 6th, 2010 at 7:59 am
Hallow’een is a shortened name for All Hallow’s Eve, which is the day that the spirits come back to earth for a visit. In Mexico it’s called the Day of the Dead and traditionally all families go to the gravesites for maintenance before winter comes. Little altars are built and on those, the favourite items of the dead are displayed and passed around. It could be Grandma’s favourite boiled candies or Grandpa’s cigars or a nip of Great Grandfather’s port ~ it doesn’t matter, it’s a day of celebrating those who have passed before us. It is a joyful thing.
In America, entire neighbourhoods step outside and talk. It’s a very festive time, again one last hurrah before winter makes it difficult to go out and greet the people in your street. It’s not about hooligans trashing the joint, it’s about people coming together, laughter, conversation and fun.
My house has been opened every year for trick or treaters and this year was the same. Only in the each previous year I only had two goblins come up my path and this year I had thirty one. There were smiling and relaxed parents at the gate and happy little faces, most of whom I knew.
I say Bring It ON! My whole street felt alive and safe and full of joy. This is just one very obvious way that we can reclaim our streets again, neighbours meeting neighbours and making a community feel like friends…
thanks for the opportunity to share.