Remembering Halloween and Celebrating Traditions
THE EARLY YEARS
When I was a kid growing up in Michigan, Halloween was always a candy filled holiday, but without a lot of trick or treating.
I can remember two occasions where Halloween was celebrated outside of our home. There was one time when my dad took me into our tiny town dressed as an old lady (I made glasses out of copper wire and donned a wig out of a mop head). The only thing I really remember is that an old man flirted with me. Yuck, gross, now that is really scary! I am sure he was just playing along, but it was still a little strange.
Another time, there was a Halloween get together in town. My take away from that occasion was my love for waxed lips. Go figure, right? Leave it to the 70’s to craft a kids candy out of something used to make candles with.
Our lack of halloween celebrations was probably attributed to my mother’s continuous worry that played like a theme song throughout my childhood. My mom bought into what are now referred to as Urban Legends. She insisted on checking all of our candy for razor blades and poison. I guess now, as a parent and adult, I can see why going door to door to collect candy from strangers probably isn’t the safest thing to do. Actually, it’s quite crazy!
COLLEGE FUN
Halloween became fun for me in college. Maybe it was the alcohol??? Maybe it was the freedom, I don’t know it was just another reason to get your friends together and have loads of fun.
FAMILY TRADITIONS
Fast forward to me as an adult and celebrating how I wanted my family to celebrate. THE BEST OF ALL! My creative juices were at an all time best!
We dressed up in themes. Our first year as a family, it was just the 3 of us (our son Will wasn’t born yet), and we dressed up like characters of the Scooby-Do. I was Velma, Jim was Fred and Kenny was Scooby Do. A few years later, when Will came along, we did the Wizard of OZ. I was Dorothy, Jim was the Scarecrow, Kenny was the Tin Man and Will was a baby Cowardly Lion. SO MUCH FUN!
TODAY
Now today as nearly empty nesters? We usually buy candy that we don’t like. Chocolate is my favorite – milk chocolate. My absolute most hated? Candy corn.
Until next time, Tracey