So Halloween will be here in just about 3 weeks and it’s got me thinking about my Halloween history. I am an adult, and last year I dressed up and went trick or treating for the first time in my 46 year old life. It was GREAT!!!! I’m about the height of my kids, (or more so they are now the height of me), so I fit right in. I added some childlike innocence to my voice, put a bit of spring in my step, and walked away with an impressive candy haul just for me; no more begging for the leftover candy that my kids didn’t like.
Growing up in the islands, trick or treating just didn’t happen. Houses were spaced differently than here in Canada; there weren't blocks where you could hit up one house after the next in rapid succession. Instead, there were hills and mountains in between that would turn a casual Halloween stroll into a tiresome ordeal. Adding darkness to the distance, and a healthy dash of Black Fear, trick or treating quickly became a bad idea. Jumbies lurking in the bushes, no thank you!
Black Fear, a term I heard once on a TV show and have added it to my vocabulary because of its accuracy. Black Fear is the reason I will always run first and then ask questions later. It’s the reason that if I hear a commotion outside I will only run to the door the make sure that its locked before retreated so a safe area where I can observe. On the other hand, my dear white husband will open that door, loudly, to find out what’s going on (true story).
My mother didn’t help either, and she was always content with telling us the stories of kids finding needles or other sharp objects in their candy. With her Christian background she firmly believed that Halloween was an evil holiday that should never be celebrated.
With the wisdom that comes with age and experience, and never once encountering a ghost or ghoul, I’ve decided that Halloween is ok. We don’t celebrate it in any religious fashion; there is no dancing naked in the moonlight or midnight conjuring. Instead, the kids take it as an opportunity to dress up, hang out with their friends, and score some sweets. We take the necessary precautions, like candy checking at the end of the night, and accompanying them to make sure they stay safe, but all in all if it doesn’t snow it’s another chance to make memories with your kids ❤️.
So happy Halloween!!
Have some fun with our Halloween t-shirts this season.