Halloween, more than scary stuff
Beyond ghosts, goblins, and things that go bump in the night, a mom turned grandmother takes a long look at what Halloween means to her.
As Halloween approaches, many purchase pumpkins, bags of candy, a few decorations, and check out their front porch lights. Some, like the one writing this column, will go overboard buying, decorating, and getting ready for Halloween night. Last year we had people coming back just to snap pictures of our home.
Being a mother for better than 30 years has thrown me into the higher level of celebrating Holidays. I have taken my children trick-or-treating dressed as a giant gorilla, a French maid, a mouse, and numerous other characters through out many fun filled nights. I have dressed my children as mummies, bumblebees, and in scores of other costumes. Now my older kids dress up just for the fun, but take their nephews (yes my grandbabies) trick-or-treating or sit at the door handing out candy. They, like their mother, love the excitement that this night beholds.
Someone approaching our house would see fog flowing across the yard, spiders spinning, skeletons dancing, lights flashing and screeches and screams coming from the box beneath the black light. The courageous children that walk through the maze will choose a bag of candy from an enormous cauldron that is being watched over by my teenager dressed up in their costumes.
Sadly, Halloween isn’t as it was when I was a child. It has not only been attacked by actual monsters that mean our children harm, but in addition, numerous well-meaning belief systems have boycotted it. Let us inspect these two assaults on Halloween to see if we can keep it enjoyable.
We actually have evil people that put razors, pins, and poisons into the treats they give the children who trustingly come to their door. These evil entities are the true monsters of this night. Some treat tampering happens at the stores or factories. For this reason, we have to be extremely cautious while allowing our children to trick-or-treat. Unlike before, the only safe places we can go are homes where we know the occupants. In addition, we cannot allow the children to eat candy until we have it x-rayed at local hospitals. The candy has to be sorted through and opened packages threw away. Walking through neighborhoods, we have to hold on to our children’s hands tightly to keep from being separated and thus making them vulnerable to child snatching. However, many of us still forge onward with extreme caution while still enjoying the night.
After we have battled the foreign objects, poisons and kidnappers, we have to face head on the belief systems that accuse us of worshiping Satan and his day. They keep their children indoors and away from other children and school events who plan on parties and traditional trick-or-treat fun. Their houses are dark and uninviting when the small smiling faces enter their yards. Some will even scold the parents in front of the children thus ending the fun and bringing the children to tears.
Halloween or “All Hallows Eve” is also known as “All Souls” and “All Saints day.” It is a day that has been celebrated by certain belief systems for centuries. In 741, it was used to celebrate everyone in Heaven with a feast. Although there have been evil acts committed on this night, there has been on each and every night of the year. Evil does not choose one night – it chooses every night. Sometimes we have to look at the reasoning behind the festivities.
Despite all the history with different belief systems, it is not why I have chosen to decorate or trick-or-treat on Halloween. I do it for the fun of seeing small children giggling with excitement as they come to the door and have the complete attention of the homeowner. Each year, we see hundreds of smiling faces filled with excitement at the entrance to our home. I watch the faces of the parents as they gleam with happiness and pride as they follow their child the entire night.
This is a night that the parents participate in costume choice, map construction, and then spend the entire night with this child. How can such an act be perceived as evil? If all someone can see is evil in that then I suppose it should be a night of prayer for that person. The fact is, you can find evil in anything if you seek it. Don’t look for it my friends. Instead, march forward with a clear heart and enjoy your time with your children.
There are a few safety tips I would like to share with you. I don’t represent this as a full or complete list, nor do I promise that Halloween is completely safe. You have to use your own judgment at all times. Nonetheless, you can add these tips to your list if you desire.1) Exercise extreme caution when trick or tricking. 2) Apply reflectors on everyone’s costumes and carry glow sticks. 3) Devise a meeting place if you should get separated that is known to be safe. 4) Write your cell number on the inside of your child’s costume and on the inside of their treat bag. If possible, allow them to have a cell on them with a preprogrammed number. 5) Inform them repeatedly not to eat or drink any treats until you have inspected them. 6) Make sure they have full vision through the costume at all times. 7) Make sure the costume is free of material that could drag across lit candles that some use as decorations at their houses. 8) Test the costume for flame resistance. 9) Make sure the bags of treats that you purchase at the store are unopened and puncture free. 10) Drive carefully and slowly while anticipating a small child to run out in front of your vehicle at all places – even your driveway. I hope that it will not happen, but you can’t be too cautious. Make sure to have sugar free candies or non-candy items for diabetic children.
If you are extremely opposed to your child dressing in scary costumes or having fun on a night, you feel celebrates the devil, consider dressing them as angels or disciples. This way your belief system would be putting good in place of what you feel is evil.
I truly hope this explains my belief about trick-or-treating. I respect everyone choices and rights to their own belief system and I will honor your decisions as I hope you will mine. If you choose not to participate in Halloween, don’t turn on the light or turn it on so others will not fall but put a sign on your door. There are many way to help others honor your wishes besides chewing out parents and children who come to your door.
Happy Halloween or All Saints Day!
