Oct 31 2007
Halloween is here
I have been non-stop since yesterday. I finished painting the porch (pictures later) and then started playing catch up with the stuff that fell to the wayside while I painted. Today I had a doctor’s appointment and then off to mom’s group.
I am trying to straighten the house before our Halloween visitors come by. Luke and his uncle Peter will be making the neighborhood Trick or Treat rounds with Damon and Fuller around 6:30 this evening. Esther, Peter’s wife Janet, Ben and I will be relaxing at home, passing out the candy.
Last year I ended up passing out candy Fuller collected because we ran out of the stuff we bought. So I was pretty nervous buying candy this year. Will it be enough? Will I end up with too much? I figure if I have some left over I can just put it away to give as treats for our Sunday School class.
I have an important question to ask, but before that I think it is important to point out some links as to why I think it is ok to “do” Halloween.
Christians usually fall into one of four camps:
1) they don’t do anything in October
2) they have a party at church, usually a celebration of Reformation Day or a Fall party
3) they have a Fall party at church one day and then go trick or treating on the 31st
4) they just go trick or treating.
Our family goes with option four for the fun of getting multiple chances to dress up and get candy. It ends up being completely secular to me. I grew up as a pastor’s kid who trick or treated, but wasn’t allowed to spend money on costumes. I like how we now make our costumes from thrifting or sewing for ourselves.
For me Halloween is candy and costumes. I don’t do the ghosts, witches, or goblins when I decorate. I prefer a generic fall theme complete with candles.
I didn’t plan on getting into this, but Rebecca started it. And I wanted to pass her post along because I know a lot of people who read here don’t read her (but they should!). The first article she links to is a great read and it was this quote that reasonated with me:
The concept, as dramatized in Christian custom, is quite simple: on October 31, the demonic realm tries one last time to achieve victory, but is banished by the joy of the Kingdom.
I remember my parents reminding us that exact concept when we would go out on Halloween.
Wondergirl posted a great letter her pastor wrote and is also worth a read.
And now for my important question: When your family passes out candy do you put it in the trick or treaters bags or do you let them take it from you?
Dayton’s “Beggars’ Night” as they call it, was Tuesday. (I think communities around here do that so parents can haul their kids around to other places and work other ‘hoods.)
When Daddy’s doing the job, he lets the kids do the grabbing. This year I bought huge bags of very good peppermint balls — soft — and put them in the basket. Then I handed out the bits — 2 to each kid. Guess I could have been more generous, but wanted the candy to stretch (It did!) and some of the little and not-so-little darlings around here can really get rowdy with their digging.
Personally I put the candy in their bags myself that way they don’t grab large handfuls and the candy last longer…
ps. I hope Fuller has a great time and well as you enjoy the fun time with your friends
Well, being the organizational freak that I am; I put the candy in little bags and then just give out the bags to them. I let them put those in their bag though.
I give it to them myself.
I am anal.
And kids are grubby.
teehee!
I’m actually bewildered why they’d celebrate Halloween here in Australia.
However, I was very impressed with the well behaved groups of children I had on my doorstep two days ago. They had adult chaperons. They were all dressed up in amazing costumes!
All in all a very good way of doing the entire thing.
I’ll remember the advice to put lollies into bags first. That’s an excellent idea.
Colin
Put it in myself.
Learned that the hard way after the first year in this neigborhood when kids (many not even dressed up) came up, looked at me and the candy bowl with greed, grabbed, and then ran off with no “trick or treat” or “thank you.”
Now we even remind the kids to say “trick or treat” and then say “you’re welcome” in order to prompt a “thank you.”
I think Halloween costumes and manners have definitely gone downhill.