“Black cats and goblins and broomsticks and ghosts
Pumpkins of witches are there to roast
You may think they scare me; you’re probably right
Black cats and goblins on Halloween night!—TRICK OR TREAT!”
Ok all you ghosts and goblins, it’s that time of year again when the air turns cool, the leaves turn orange, and the creatures of the night roam the streets looking for treats and perhaps playing some tricks.
Halloween originated with the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, when people would light bonfires and wear costumes to ward off ghosts. In the eighth century, Pope Gregory III designated November 1 as a time to honor all saints. Soon, All Saints’ Day incorporated some traditions of Samhain. The evening before was known as All Hallows’ Eve, and later Halloween. Over time, Halloween evolved into a day of activities like trick-or-treating, carving jack-o’-lanterns, festive gatherings, donning costumes, and eating candy.
I’ve always loved Halloween. Next to Christmas, it’s probably my favorite holiday of the year. The crisp fall air filled with mischief and fallen leaves has always appealed to me. (The abundance of candy doesn’t hurt either.) These days, I usually fill my Halloween season with watching my kids getting dressed up in different costumes to attend various parties and ultimately, trick-or-treating through the neighborhood. I’ve also found myself enjoying decorating our yard and giving out candy to kids even more than I enjoy getting candy myself. That’s probably a built-in requirement when becoming a parent, but I’ll have to check the handbook later.
I’m especially looking forward to Halloween this year because I feel for the first time in a few years, it will truly, and fully, be Halloween. In 2020, everyone was still so unsure of what could happen with COVID that trick-or-treating was largely absent. Last year was better but still not like the days of yore. So this year, let’s live it up. Let’s have fun. Let’s make Halloween great again! I’m going to be giving out a lot of candy, so swing by the Vogler house as you begin your evening of trick-or-treating. We’d love to see you.
What are your favorite Halloween memories? Drop me a line at: lee@showcasemagazine.com