Are you ready for Halloween?
By
Gerry Niskern
.
As early as August you could ask any child “What are you going to be for Halloween this year” and you would get a confident reply like, “I’m going to be Batman. Of course, that statement is always followed by “or maybe Spiderman, or if it’s a little girl, Elsa from Frozen” No sense in getting locked in too early when a better hero might come along. Of course, this last character switching drives the parents crazy; especially the moms who were planning to make the costumes this year.
Halloween, dating to when it officially started around A. D. 830, when Pope Gregory IV proclaimed Nov. 1 as All Saints Day, also known as Allhallows, has by tradition been a kid’s night for fun. It’s their one night to depict their favorite characters, act out their fantasies, and have a really creative good time.
This is the one holiday that the kids own. They don’t have to go to Grandma’s house and they don’t have to mind their manners, (well, maybe a little). Then, on October 31, when night falls, it’s trick-or-treat time. Adorable queens and courageous characters from Star Wars take to the streets, allowing mom or dad to come with, of course. Sometimes, grandparents tag along too.
I remember when I took my first child, just turned two, trick-or-treating. She had blue silk Chinese pajamas and I fashioned a coolie hat for her. The gregarious two-year-old practiced “trick-or-treat” until she could say it perfectly. But, at every house, she just held out her paper bag and gave the occupants the meanest look she could muster, refusing to utter a word. As I recall, my mute China Doll came home with quite a little sack of loot anyway.
Of course, times have changed. I’ll be the first to admit that times have gotten a lot scarier in recent years. Take the children to the houses where you know the occupants. It’s a little more trouble, but who can deny them the fun of being out after dark and passing shadows of ghosts and goblins on the way?
Caterers and restaurants say adult Halloween parties are increasing rapidly. That’s fine, but just don’t forget this one special holiday really has always belonged to the kids. They deserve this opportunity that comes so seldom in school these days to let their imagination run wild and act out their fantasies.