A Review of "Trick-or Treat!"

November 1, 2005

I took my littlest one trick-or-treating last night and I actually had a great time! If you'll indulge me, I want to tell you why!

Good or Bad?

I'll start by saying up front that I have long had mixed feelings about the holiday called Halloween. I don't take well to evil-looking costumes when they are combined with real pranks. A bit of "scary" show for the sake of children who want to be scared, I can handle. Thus, part of me wants to shun the holiday and part of me still likes getting dressed up like a ghost or a princess or a hobo!

Does Your Town Do It Up?

Now, a little history about where I live. It's a very historic town, with many houses being 200 years old. In fact, my own house is nearly 100 years old! Around here, Halloween has turned into a time to get out and greet others. Many homeowners go "all out," playing scary music, placing grave markers on their lawns, plugging in the fog makers they bought at Wal-Mart, and dressing in their own great costumes to greet and hand out candy to the onslaught of trick-or-treaters. The very bones of our old town (pun intended) lend themselves to setting the perfect scene for an eerie All Hallow's Eve. Many of the old homes are tall, strong-looking, and forboding in the sense that one knows they have weathered wars and storms alike but have come through intact. Even if the houses seem slightly uneven, in a way that the mind can discern when climbing the stairs to the high-up porches, the houses seem alive with the spirit of long-ago days when lanterns lit men's ways through the streets at night.

Getting Dressed Up

This year, I decided to put my uncertainty about the holiday aside and just enjoy myself. I hushed for a moment my concerns about celtic and pagan origins. I felt the need to go out with my child and see for myself what was going on, and to also experience something with her that she was so longing to do. It would give us some "girl time" together and let us talk about the things we encountered. My daughter dressed as a "witch," but don't let that fool you. She is just as sweet as she can be! I clearly remember being a witch myself one year! I decided this year, at age 42, to dress in a totally different style. I dressed in colonial costume, with a long white cotton petticoat over which I had a black cotton dress. I wore my heavy tights and lace-up boots. I put my apron with pockets on over the dress and topped the outfit off with my black shawl. My hair was up, so I was set to go!

Walking The Streets

My daughter and I set out walking toward the lights and sounds of the houses in town. We were greeted with "Happy Halloween" from various groups of adults and children we passed. I found myself feeling awkward saying "Happy Halloween." I try to practice being happy every day, and Halloween is not a day I revere, just a day that kids seem to look forward to. I would have felt more appropriate saying "Happy Monday Evening," but I mostly just said, "Hello!"

I have to admit that last evening was a wonderful time of reflection for me. The very act of what we were doing (being out in the cool night air, walking, holding hands, talking, laughing) , embodied something I embrace in my heart and soul--simply living and enjoying being alive. I particularly enjoyed being dressed in a fashion that would have been prevalent 150 years ago. My clothes were plain, warm, and functional. When my daughter felt chilly, my shawl was big enough to wrap around us both. There was an ease along the streets that I rarely see in the morning and evening "rush-hour" traffic.

Appreciating Our Town

A couple of stretches of sidewalk were really dark, with no street lights or houses--just empty lots. The houses that stood once on these big, beautiful lots were long gone. The woody borders still stood, however--monstrously large boxwoods reaching out to us as we walked in the darkness. I could almost hear the voices of men and women of long ago whispering, "there's safety here," or "don't go there," and I imagined the sounds of the horses' hooves that cantered through the dusty streets over 200 years ago, carrying the uniformed men who had been fighting to make us free from England. I could envision the horses' foggy breath from tired, flaring nostrils as it disappeared into the chilly air.

Far from being disappointed by my night out trick-or-treating, I was cheered to see the kindly attitudes of those who answered the doors and handed candy to my child. At one house we visited, the owners were out, guitars and banjos in hand, accompanied by many friends putting on a veritable bluegress show for the children who came by. I wanted to hang out for a while!

A Few Final Thoughts

As far as I can see, Halloween has become a tradition that children look forward to, that doesn't have to be wrapped up in paganism or evil. I would be hardpressed to try to even explain to my 7-year-old why we would shun Halloween because of its pagan origins, when my own extended family abounds with sayings and eccentricities that I know have filtered down from our celtic origins. As long as I am actively doing things with my children--activities, talking, walking, reading--there will be ample time for me to help my daughter learn to discern whether or not the spirit of a given thing seems appropriate to her. I am certainly not telling you to go trick-or-treating next year. Follow your own heart. I just wanted to share the details of what turned out to be a delightful evening with my 7-year-old daughter.

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