Halloween Eve 2006 is upon us...this is definitely one of my kids' favorite times of the fall. These are actually photos from Halloween 2005, when my son was a precious little spider and my daughter a sweet black kitty. It is also a time for me as a Mommy to think back on some very fond memories and traditions from the Halloweens of my childhood. I cherish memories of things like special trips to both grandparents' houses for the special candy bags they always saved for us grandkids; annual costume photos; making sure to trick or treat at Devere and Charlene's house, because they always gave away full candbars or packs of gum; running into friends and neighbors while trick-or-treating in our little town; watching all the little kids come to our door and ask for candy; the creativity of coming up with the most unique costumes (that usually involved the use of trash bags, incidentally!); in later years, running on main street to do simple pranks a.k.a eggs and toilet paper....Mom and dad always said do what you need to do, but you pay the consequences if you get caught (we never did!); dumping our candy in huge mounds on the living room floor to "trade" with brothers and sisters for our favorites; even inventorying the candy to make sure no sticky fingers got into our stash! Some Christians are against Halloween, saying it is completely of the devil. Some even go so far as to keep their children home from school on party days. Certainly, we need to be cautious and I think that everyone should arrive at their own decision that is in line with their convictions on this issue....but to me, let the kids have their fun and make their own memories to pass on to their own kids. There is something special about choosing a costume, dressing up, parading through the school classrooms, and rounding the neighborhood asking for treats--it's about connection, candy and costumes. We always emphasize that like every special day, everyone has their own version of what the day means and represents, and that we need to be selective about certain practices and costumes that may differ from our values. Carving pumpkins, bobbing for apples, choosing and making costumes, buying our candy to give out to trick or treaters, lighting the candles in our pumpkins on Halloween night, decorating pumpkin cookies, walking the lit streets of our neighborhood with my little kids as they excitedly look to see what each person will throw into their candy bags...I love the homespun and almost magical (in a good way) touches of this season and hope that tomorrow is a very festive and fun time for you and your family, no matter your age!
Halloween Eve 2006 is upon us...this is definitely one of my kids' favorite times of the fall. These are actually photos from Halloween 2005, when my son was a precious little spider and my daughter a sweet black kitty. It is also a time for me as a Mommy to think back on some very fond memories and traditions from the Halloweens of my childhood. I cherish memories of things like special trips to both grandparents' houses for the special candy bags they always saved for us grandkids; annual costume photos; making sure to trick or treat at Devere and Charlene's house, because they always gave away full candbars or packs of gum; running into friends and neighbors while trick-or-treating in our little town; watching all the little kids come to our door and ask for candy; the creativity of coming up with the most unique costumes (that usually involved the use of trash bags, incidentally!); in later years, running on main street to do simple pranks a.k.a eggs and toilet paper....Mom and dad always said do what you need to do, but you pay the consequences if you get caught (we never did!); dumping our candy in huge mounds on the living room floor to "trade" with brothers and sisters for our favorites; even inventorying the candy to make sure no sticky fingers got into our stash! Some Christians are against Halloween, saying it is completely of the devil. Some even go so far as to keep their children home from school on party days. Certainly, we need to be cautious and I think that everyone should arrive at their own decision that is in line with their convictions on this issue....but to me, let the kids have their fun and make their own memories to pass on to their own kids. There is something special about choosing a costume, dressing up, parading through the school classrooms, and rounding the neighborhood asking for treats--it's about connection, candy and costumes. We always emphasize that like every special day, everyone has their own version of what the day means and represents, and that we need to be selective about certain practices and costumes that may differ from our values. Carving pumpkins, bobbing for apples, choosing and making costumes, buying our candy to give out to trick or treaters, lighting the candles in our pumpkins on Halloween night, decorating pumpkin cookies, walking the lit streets of our neighborhood with my little kids as they excitedly look to see what each person will throw into their candy bags...I love the homespun and almost magical (in a good way) touches of this season and hope that tomorrow is a very festive and fun time for you and your family, no matter your age!
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