Well...the people have spoken, and the results have been tabulated. The Aarrrrghs have it! The Pirate costume is the winner. We will be trick-or-treating with Lawless Lucy the Scurvy Dog.
You internet blog-reader types are just plain rotten. I really think you did this just to torture me. I mean, how am I supposed to keep an eye patch on that miserable animal?? She eats the harness off of her chest! She is demolishing our back deck with her own little, tiny, mouse-sized teeth. However, I love my bloggy friends, and I will persevere. You shall have pictures of Lucy dressed in her Pirate costume on Halloween, no matter what it takes!
Now...on to bigger and better things. I'm interested to see what y'all think about the subject of Halloween. Do you let your kids dress up and go trick-or-treating? Do you join them in dressing up? Do you turn your house or yard into a gloomy, scary, exciting haunted Halloween space? Or are you more laid back? Let the kids have fun, but no big deal? Or, do you choose not to participate in anything related to Halloween because it celebrates evil?
You see, our family lives in the heart of the Bible Belt. I grew up going out on Halloween and gathering candy until I couldn't walk anymore. My sister and I filled our plastic pumpkins to the brim, dumped the contents on our beds and headed back out for round two! We never gave a single thought to what Halloween may represent. My kids have enjoyed parties and haunted houses and knocking on doors since they were small. We don't let them dress up as demons...princesses, pirates and such will do...but we have fun on October 31st. However...through the years, the kids have known friends and fa miles who are absolutely adamant about NOT celebrating Halloween in any way. Because any acknowledgement is a nod toward Satan.
To each his own. It doesn't matter to me if your family goes trick-or-treating or not. It's entirely up to you. (Although last year, all the parents in our church got notes from one mom with instructions to tell our children NOT to mention Halloween or candy grubbing to her kids because it put them in a awkward position. What?) This year, though, a couple of my kids have made their own decisions regarding Halloween. Quatro informed me that he thinks the creepy decorations, bloody skulls and such are not a good idea. (We don't decorate beyond a pumpkin flag, mainly because I'm lazy.) He told me that he thinks Christians shouldn't have zombies crawling out of the ground in front of their homes. It gives the wrong impression. And then his sister informed me that when she grows up she won't be taking her kids out to trick-or-treat because she isn't having them beg from the neighbors and celebrating evil. Hmmm. Let them form their own opinions. It's healthy.
So, I want to know what your opinions are. If you would participate in the poll to the right, I would be forever grateful. And leave me a comment with your thoughts. I want to know what you think.
Monday, October 6, 2008
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4 comments:
We are of the participate, but no scary stuff camp. Most of our neighbors, however, seem to go all out with the evil, scary stuff. It makes it difficult since we've moved into this neighborhood. The neighbors have ALREADY put up the zombies and such on their lawns.
We've taken the kids trick-or-treating and we've abstained. Both of us grew up the same as you-we trick-or-treated and my grandmother held an annual Halloween party for her grandchildren and neighbors that everyone loved. It included a haunted house in her back shed, lots of games and "trick-or-treating" in the yard. We've also seen the same transformation down here in the "Holy City". Many families choose not to participate in festivities, especially in the homeschool sector! Through the years we have alternated, trick-or-treating with going to the county fair on the 31st, or partaking in a church festival. Last year we trick-or-treated in a neighborhood with some friends. An adult dressed as a "horror" series character (Michael) was laying in the yard of one house and as my then six year old walked by, he sprung up and growled or something. It startled me, but Isabel held up her little fist and yelled "Oh, Don't make me come over there!" Apparently she was not traumatized, but I was disgruntled. His prank should have been reserved for the 6 foot middle schoolers that were tramping around the neighborhood. What if she had been scared? We didn't see him in the grass at first or I think we would have skipped that house. Anyway, we have opted to go camping with friends for 5 days and will skip the Halloween issue all together this year. But, I will bring a large bag of candy-because, really, that's all my kids were worried about missing!
Halloween has had a luke warm reception in France, with the next day being a religious holiday: Toussaint..all saints day. But if you're going to get dressed up here, it better be something horrific, cute disney characters just don't cut it, they would be more for carnaval in february.
Okay...I have mixed emotions about Halloween. We love it. It's fun to get all dressed up and go out trick-or-treating. We've done all sorts of costumes - from being Dorothy to Sabrina the Teenage Witch (had to be a book character for school). I think that it's important to explain the holiday to your child(ren). The Doodlebug knows that some people take it all in the wrong way. She understands that we aren't throwing our religious beliefs out the door. Halloween is a rite of passage. Like believing in Santa and Tooth Fairy.
The Bible Belt can really make it difficult at times though.
I decorate, if I have time, for the kids in the neighborhood. One year, I did do a cemetary in the front yard...with comical names. It was a hit with the entire neighborhood. We had grandparents and parents and kids walking through the yard reading the different names and just laughing and having a good time. Nothing too spooky.
I guess it's best to sum it up that it's a personal choice. The Doodlebug enjoys the dressing up and social aspect of it all. I enjoy making her costumes (don't tell her that though!).
Very good thought provoking question :)
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