So every year it seems Halloween, All Hallow’s Eve, Reformation Day, or Harvest (depending on your particular theological bend) seems to sneak up on me. This year I’m patting myself on the back for at least working with the sewing grandmother so that two of the three children can wear fabulous costumes.
I, on the other hand, have never been much in the spirit this time of year. I’m not one to celebrate a holiday when I have to work with the colors of black and orange! And I’ve struggled with the whole line of what’s evil, why scare ourselves, I’m forever traumatized by sneaking off and watching The Shining when I was sixteen, etc.
But each year, this day shows up and the older I get, the more I want to participate. Today as I walked around our downtown amidst all the costumes and festivities, I thought, “You know? I think I want to play! A day to poke fun at all our fears and dress up outlandishly might be just what the doctor would order, even for a tea party girl.”
And come to think of it~that’s one of the reasons I love to blog. I want to play along! There are so many fun, funny, and fearless people I’ve met through hanging around the Internet and this extroverted writer can’t bear to not be a part of it. Meeting “ordinary” folks like Scribbit, Alison, and Shannon help me (at least through communicating online!) a little more fun, funny, and fearless, too.
So I think I will really go all out next year and dress up, especially for the last Halloween of my 30s. This year, the best I can do is help us all play with carnivals online. This week you can find Tea Party Girl:
- with the creative Spirittibee. She’s put together a themed homeschooling carnival based on an 80s yearbook~so fun.
- in Dewey’s Treehouse with other Charlotte Mason fans.
- a part of booklore’s Carnival of the Recipes-A Trick or Treat Edition
Two children who will transform into a fairy and a Jedi just pulled in. It’s time to scramble and prep for the night’s festivities.
So, how good are you at laughing in the face of fear? How do you celebrate this day? I’d love to hear all about it in the comments below.
Oh I agree, I love meeting great women online, it’s the best part of the job.
I don’t go ‘all out’ for Halloween, no decorations beyond a couple of pumpkins. But I have fun getting the kids dressed up and taking them out. The last couple years we’ve gone to harvest festivals but this year we went trick or treating and had a Halloween party earlier in the day. I like to have fun with it but pass on the scary stuff.
We love to dress up and eat candy and have a great time, but choose not to be involved in any of it on Halloween. This, however, is not out of fear. We have made a conscious choice after having looked into origins and current happenings on Halloween night across the country and nation. I agree, black and orange is revolting! LOL
I’m a huge fan of black and orange (and purple, red, yellow and royal blue), and Halloween has always been my hubby’s favorite holiday. We throw a huge costume party every year, with a different theme each time, and decorate *everything*, inside and out, like some people decorate for Christmas. We go for both the scary and the cute, but lean more towards the macabre…but we tend to have a different perspective on death/dying/the dead than many people we know too. We have a lot of fun, and go all out…it’s our biggest holiday of the year. I do love Halloween…
And yes, we dressed up for the party, as we do every year. This year, we were June and Ward Cleaver, zombified with scars and blood. 🙂
Hello dear! I posted my Halloween thoughts on my blog yesterday. Happy All Saints Day.
So, Jamie, any pictures on the web for us all to see?
I have a few pics of some decor at my “daily” blog you can check out if you’re so inclined: My Life As I Know It. Our skeletal mascot made an appearance on my tea blog (linked to my name) as well. No pictures of our costumes though, I’m afraid…we don’t have them back from those who took them yet.
Sorry, this link goes to the direct post (3 days past):
Decor pictures
Halloween (etc.) is one of my favorite holidays. I love the mystery and whimsy it provokes in the young and old. I also love celebrating the seasons, and the harvist is just so full of meaning for me – it reminds me of the many, many blessings I have. 🙂
I look forward to reading about your costume next year!