Maintaining the Halloween spirit
I'm a bit of a traditionalist when it comes to Halloween.
And when I say traditionalist, I mean I like to pretend that I am still ten years old.
I don't like Halloween for "adult" reasons, like having an excuse to sluttify everyday careers and show off my goods in a socially appropriate context, or to dance in said underdressed state under a blacklight at an overpriced club.
I like it for the kid reasons- creativity, haunted houses with cold spaghetti as brains, finding ways to put on a winter jacket while still keeping your costume intact, face painting, jack-o-lanterns. Oh, and CANDY.
I am convinced that my love of candy corn will lead to my downfall in some way or another.
(As a side note, when I went to the epic grocery store last, their bulk section had about five different varieties of candy corn. I felt like a small town girl who had just set foot into downtown NYC-- my eyes are now open!!)
My love for Halloween is such that I continued trick or treating until an absurdly late age-- well through high school, in all actuality. We weren't those teenagers who just put on a hat and sneered at those opening the doors in a misguided attempt to get free candy, later egging the houses of those who denied us. We still went all out in our costumes, but were respectful of those who denied us candy due to our age (although we may have pouted a little when they closed the door). Perhaps it was a small town thing, but it was actually quite standard to keep shouting "Trick or treat!" well into adolescent.
Despite my small stature, I have now ceased my knocking on people's doors in a request for candy. Sadly, though, I have still not had the opportunity to be on the other side of the door, handing out candy. All my life, I've lived in seemingly inaccessible locations-- down long driveways, in back lanes locals didn't know existed, in basements suites and apartments. The year the Duke and I started dating, I eagerly bought bags full of assorted candy and headed to his place on Halloween, as he had a front door out onto a main street-- apparently too main and busy of a street, as not a single ghost or witch knocked on his door. I may have been a little crushed.
This year, Hallowe'en is looking to be a bit of a bust, in all honestly. I live in an apartment, so no trick or treaters. For some reason, I have been invited to three parties on Saturday the 1st, when Halloween is on Friday. Furthermore, the party I am most obligated to go to is a non-Halloween bridal shower, meaning I will have to forego the two costume parties-- though I may insist on showing up in costume. On Friday, everyone seems to be wrapped up in going to overpriced club events, and I flat out refuse to pay $50 to listen to a bad DJ merely because it is the 31st and there are some fake cobwebs hung in the bathroom. I want a *real* costume party, dammit, with creepy punch and Monster Mash playing over the stereo!
At least my Halloween spirit hasn't been totally crushed, though, as yesterday did involve a surprise birthday party at a pumpkin patch...
A pumpkin in a pumpkin... can you handle it?
Our various jack-o-lanterns...
My jack-o-lantern. He looked like a pretty evil demon until I added whiskers, though I still think there is the slight possibility he may watch me while I sleep.
So at least the kid in me was able to cling to Halloween a little longer this weekend...
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34 comments:
I am soooooo exactly with you on this - and disappointed that our new apt building is all studios and 1 bedrooms - no kids :(
Also - I Trick or Treated in college. For real. And it was great, up until one lady thought my friend was my babysitter and I was in middle school (when, in fact, I am a few months older than her - and we were both sophmores in college!) But still - the candy was totally worth it ;)
First, you are welcome to attend Shorty and my party on the 31st. She insisted that it be on Friday since the 1st would be too late.
Second, the pumkin looks like it ate a pumpkin.
Third, do you recommend any halloween party foods? I am in charge of the menu for item one above.
Man, I can't remember the last time I dressed up and went around the houses. Probably it was before I was "officially" a teen anyway!
Dude, I get this. I get this so much I had to check to make sure that I hadn't written it. I'm with you on being a Halloween traditionalist (and I just remembered your comment about the paper bag costume- I love that it worked out. I remember that post!). This year will be the first year that I'm not dressing up. Ever. We were going to, and then not and then realized all the parties were going to be lame and so instead a few of us are going to a friends house to hand out candy to kids.
If you want to swing into Alberta, you are more than welcome to attend the handing out of candy. The house is on a busy street so I'm thinking they are going to get a load of kids. You can even wear a costume.
I am so with you on this! I don't think I've EVER been a "slutty" anything. Wait, i totally lie there was one year. But only one! in a long line of non-slutty options.
In Vancouver I got a few trick-or-treaters each year, but only a few despite carving pumpkins and decorating the house. I think it was because we were the "college house" and parents didn't want their kids going to it.
Alas, there is NO halloween here! and I am SO disappointed that I may just have my own festivities all by my self.
Yeah, I hate those slutty adult Halloween costumes. When I dress up (usually for the annual party at the local bar), I put creativity in it. It's like what Brandy at "It's like I'm...Magic" says, about people thinking just going half-naked is a good costume.
And I, too, have a candy corn addiction.
I have to be honest, I'm not a huge Halloween fan. I don't really like to dress up, but I do love doing trick or treating at my parents house, where we go all out. I hand out the candy and scare the kids. It's awesome.
I love Halloween! I dont get all slutty and go out to overpriced clubs. My best bud and her bf have a party at their house every year and its a fun time.
Being a teacher is kinda cool when it comes to Halloween because I get to be a kid about it and not look like a damn fool. I decorated my class for my 13 year olds too as though I were still teaching grade 1. I don't care.
omg that pumpkin had a baby!
If it means anything, i feel the same way as you do about being a kd on halloween. But 21 is tacky to keep trick or treating, i cant wait until I have a youngen to take trick or treating.
I too hate sluttify-day. It's silly. Especially given the origin. I will be a cartoon character, but grown up. So I can wear a mini skirt since I can't find a bright blue skirt, nor do I want to spend any money.
Also. Um. *is trying to remember what she forgot...* OH! So my housemates went Christmas caroling on Halloween one year. I was amused. They wore red and green and santa hats and sang songs.
Love the pics!! And FIVE different types of candy corn?
You are a very lucky girl.
wow, great pumpkins!! i don't like it when every girl at every party is dressed as a slutty this or a slutty that. I usually go for something gross or scary. ha ha! since I live on a ground floor of a building in a very family friendly town, I'm so hoping for trick or treaters!
I have the groundfloor flat so I'm expecting the doorbell to be rung a lot...
Mind you, I never answer it.
I think its probably bigger in North America than it is here, though that does seem to be changing. When I was little Bonfire Night was still the main event this time of year, though I refuse to observe that too, as a Catholic.
That last picture is so cool.
I, much like you, love Halloween for the child in me - every year I gork out on all things candy corn and kiddie treat while passing out candy to the litle ones who look so freakin adorable!Love the pumpkin pics!
Don't you hate growing up? The kid's holidays just don't seem to be as enjoyable, but knowing you, you'll try to find a way to make it so. Nice patterns on the pumpkins by the way - you are smooth.
While I live in an apt building, mine has the option of registering for trick or treat. You can tell the concierge that you want to give candy away and the kids will come knocking! Of course, they might also ask for candy if they catch you in the elevator. Nuttiness!
Carving pumpkins? Lightsaber must you have!!
I wish you could come to my Halloween party! You'd have a blast :)
I love halloween too! I made J carve pumpkins last week...neither of us had done it in so long.
But then they rotted within 3 days! Somehow my halloween education failed me. I guess I thought they were more like christmas trees...you know, lasting a month and all.
I looooovvvveeeee Halloween. I'll be dressing up for my daughter's Halloween parade.
Oh no, I'm not in it, I'm just using it as an excuse....
holy pumpkins!
sadly we don't get many trickortreaters either -- i hear they all head out to the burbs b/c we're too scary here. ok, maybe i shouldn't have dressed as death of the american empire last year.
I've always wanted a real american hallowe'en but it's not taken that seriously in England, let alone Paris! But we expatters ARE dressing up on Friday night and I for one plan to blindfold everyone and make then put their hands in my peeled grapes. And the Colonel is coming as a ratcatcher for reasons only known to himself.
I adore Halloween! Our house doesn't get a ton of trick-or-treaters, but we'll be prepared with candy just the same.
I found little kids to take trick or treating until I had to leave for college. Then my roommates and I gave out candy, with a lot of delight.
I've had 3 trick-o-treaters in the last 5 years. Halloween has died on my doorstep. Or, maybe I am Boo Radley.
I'm going to a pumpkin patch on Thursday!!
no. no i cannot handle a pumpkin in a pumpkin.
I would never sleep with that pumpkin in the same room as me.
Or maybe even house.
I love candy. So much so that I avoid like the plague this time of year- like an alcoholic avoiding the firewater.........
it- I avoid candy.
These are such great pictures! I'm falling in love with the fall all over again.
I really miss the spaghetti-as-brains halloweens, and the parties the room-moms would throw back when we were in school.
I live in apartment building with very few kids, so I'm not counting on trick-or-treaters. When I have a real house, I swear, that'll be one of my favorite parts : )
I too loooove Halloween! Though here in the big city the parties tend to err more on the "let's wear our underwear on the outside" side of celebration, I take what I can get :)
Also, I am obsessed with candy corn, to the point where the year I was living in the UK I had my friends mail it to me! In my defense, my Brit friends all thought it was fabulous :)
I am right there with you. I LOVE Halloween... and not just to dress slutty. (Although that is kind of fun.) I love the candy and the trick-or-treaters, and the cheesy decorations and the Halloween music and carving pumpkins and bobbing for apples, etc, etc, etc. I just feel like we are kind of a stage of our life where that stuff might not all happen at Halloween. We have to wait until we have kids or something because I haven't bobbed for apples in like 8 years. Sad story.
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