Halloween plans

Doug Nelson · #1 10-08-2005, 01:09 AM

Halloween is my favorite holiday

I used to love handing out treats to all the little kids, but they're getting older (or at least more cynical) and now I seem to get more complaints (why'd you give her a Mounds and I got a 3 Musketeers when Mounds is MY favorite? Can I get a Mounds, too? PLEEEEEEEZE?) than I'm comfortable with. So last year I went to a local mall and watched the merchants hand out candy to the really tiny kids (those are the cute ones, my favorite are the ones that are just gape-mouthed amazed at what's going on).

Do you have any Halloween plans?

Gary Richardson · #2 10-08-2005, 01:31 AM

Bah humbug! I put the dogs out in the garden, that keeps the little perishers at bay.

Only kidding, we don't celebrate Halloween really over here, we get the odd few kids round, but a few sweets and biscuits keep them content.

Caitlin · #3 10-08-2005, 01:46 AM

This tradition seems to have crept into Australian culture slightly in the last 5 years through the influence of American TV, with the odd sugar-crazed child risking life and limb knocking on strangers doors in the local streets, but it's still an oddity.

Lorraine · #4 10-08-2005, 03:49 AM

I'm not really a fan of Halloween, especially costume parties for adults.

About all I do is hand out candy to the little kids. I buy a few different kinds of candy and put everything into one basket and let them pick their favorite.

The "Trick or Treat" hours in my town are limited from 5:00 - 8:00 pm. Most of the young kids come around between 5:00 and 7:00. Usually I turn out the lights after that.

Lorraine

Lorraine · #5 10-08-2005, 03:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Caitlin

.... with the odd sugar-crazed child risking life and limb knocking on strangers doors in the local streets...

I couldn't have described Halloween better. LOL!!!!

Lorraine

grafx · #6 10-10-2005, 01:29 PM

My FAVORITE thing to do is to camp out on a friends porch (one who lives in a subdivision) as a scarecrow. I have a berlap "mask" that I made and stitched all up, stuff hubby's pants with straw, big over sized gloves and a hat. I sit and wait patiently for the little munchkins to come up on the porch, get their goodies and turn-around to leave. At that point, I jump up and scream, they scream, we all scream....its such good fun!

raniday · #7 10-12-2005, 07:11 PM

Grafx, you seem to be having the most fun of anybody. I don't care much for Halloween, but the little ones are sweet and funny. Maybe I should do what Doug does and go to a mall and watch them get candy.

twinkissed · #8 10-13-2005, 04:35 PM

I used to love Halloween, it used to be fun, safe, and accepted. Now between the overpriced costumes and candy, the safety issues, trick or treating at the mall with Christmas decorations up, sometimes having the night changed to a different night, you can only go between certain times sometimes and they don't really let you know exactly what they are, and all the other ways it's been messed up. Grrrrr... Funny... we have time limits on Halloween but not Fourth of July and neighbors can throw fire crackers until 1 in the morning. Plus, now kids can't even wear costumes to school anymore so you pay or take time to make a costume that they wear for about 3 hours. And even if they could, there's too much, you can dress up but not as this or that because it's evil, etc. I tried throwing a Halloween party once for my boys because it was safe and I wanted Halloween to be fun again for them... sooooo many parents asked me to change the name from a Halloween party to a Fall Celebration and not let children dress as certain things. And I had to send an invite to everyone in my child's class to make it fair so that's why I got all these phone calls about it. Then my kids got upset because they couldn't understand why some of their friends weren't allowed to come. It's just not the same but somehow, I have to try and have a good time for the kids sake like always. Wow do I sound bitter today or what ????LOL.

Really I'm not usually this bad

Caitlin · #9 10-13-2005, 04:45 PM

What are the certain things they can't dress as??

twinkissed · #10 10-13-2005, 06:04 PM

witches, little devils

, zombies, vampires, basically anything that is creepy or scary. If it's not a cartoon character or a pumpkin or bunny rabbit, lol. I mean luckily my kids don't even want to be those things so I don't have to see them dissapointed that way, they like being video game characters. Still, it made it so hard to have a Halloween party and for some of the younger kids at school. I ended up having three little witches at the party anyways. They were really cute actually, little first graders. I love seeing the kids all dressed up. That year I was Cruella De Ville and my babies dressed like puppies. Note, never wear a costume that requires heels if you will be in the grass... a lot...

Oh and please don't get me wrong, I completely understand people have their own beliefs and I respect that, I just hate seeing kids from different families disappointed because they really just don't understand.

Gary Richardson · #11 10-14-2005, 02:30 AM

I just can't believe this. It would never even occur to people over here to not send their kid to a party because someone else may be dressed as a witch or a goblin etc.

Tell these people to get a life. OK, some kids may get a little frightened, but they'll get over it. What kind of message are you giving your kids if you think they should be protected from absolutely everything that might upset them. Life just doesn't always suit you in every possible way, live with it.

I think you should keep having the parties, and let the kids dress however they want, and if some neurotic parent doesn't want to send their kids, then it's their loss. Don't pander to these idiots, you'll only make them worse.

Rant over.

Gary

grafx · #12 10-14-2005, 07:22 AM

You know kids dressed up as little scary things are not scary at all especially to other kids their age. I think it might actually be a little theraputic. Its really odd. We live in a VERY religious town (the Baptist run a good portion of it) and every time a new Harry Potter book comes out there are protests and the like. I'm a Christian and I've read MANY books, watched MANY movies, live on the History & Discovery Channels, but I just don't understand why some folks are so closed minded. I really enjoy Halloween (and no I don't scare the wee little kids - just the older ones) not for the candy or anything like that. I like to see children dressed up, using their imaginations, pretending - having fun. Its another opportunity to enjoy your family and friends in a festive atmosphere. We need to enjoy these times, life is too short.

Gary Richardson · #13 10-14-2005, 09:35 AM

What's to protest about in a Harry Potter book ?

twinkissed · #14 10-14-2005, 09:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gary Richardson

I just can't believe this. It would never even occur to people over here to not send their kid to a party because someone else may be dressed as a witch or a goblin etc.

Tell these people to get a life. OK, some kids may get a little frightened, but they'll get over it. What kind of message are you giving your kids if you think they should be protected from absolutely everything that might upset them. Life just doesn't always suit you in every possible way, live with it.

I think you should keep having the parties, and let the kids dress however they want, and if some neurotic parent doesn't want to send their kids, then it's their loss. Don't pander to these idiots, you'll only make them worse.

Rant over.

Gary

LOL aren't rants fun though??? Anyhoos, as for the parties, I think we may invite a few close friends over and do more of a halloween slumber party this year. The other way was way too expensive anyways and you're right some of these parents are just horrible. My son went to his dance class yesterday and the one lady went off on how children shouldn't be allowed to dress up like those things.. (my sons little girlfriend is going to be a devil and that's what started the conversation) and I didn't say anything to her. Didn't have to. She said that where she lives the children are encouraged to even dress up as biblical characters, and some other lady said, well they do talk about the devil. Ummm... I didn't stay for the rest because my diet coke almost went out my nose. I wasn't ready for that. Anyways, like I said I completely respect others beliefs and feelings... it's when they make a big deal or ruin things for others that it bothers me.

So about my halloween plans, .. like I said I decided last night to do a slumber party thing but we're going to go trick or treating first by my kids grandmother's house. Then we are going to make homemade doughnuts and caramel popcorn to eat while watching "It's the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown" and then an old tape of DTV Halloween. It was taped in the 80's and it was Disney TV. They used to show that on Sundays a lot and it's where they put songs on and have the cartoons go to it. Love it, plus I left the commercials in and it brings back so many memories. That's when most commercials were tolerable. I also have a few Holloween kid books and I thought we could read one before the kiddies crash. I think the kids will have fun. It's supposed to be nice weather too WOOHOO!!!!! Last year it was really hot with 99% chance of mosquito bites.

grafx · #15 10-14-2005, 09:44 AM

"Witchcraft is evil"
At least that is what is thought of the book even though it is completely fictional. Its funny. People go off on Harry Potter, but not C.S. Lewis's "Chronicals of Narnia" or Tolkin's "Lord of the Rings" I wonder if its because the later are considered classics. To me, Harry Potter, is a modern classic. I LOVE them! I'm so pleased that fantasy and scifi is making a come back. I'm a nerd.