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It’s that time of
year when we dress little ones up in costumes and parade them around the
neighborhood. Each year the little ones in my neighborhood knock on my door and
hold out their plastic pumpkins, or paper bags to receive whatever “goodies” I
hand out. I went through a phase of considering handing out healthy treats,
until I realized its not safe to even hand out apples, granola bars or home
made cookies. So, now I just buy a bag of pre-packed treats and
let them take what they want. I figure their parents can discern what they want them to eat. My head understands the need to be cautious, while my heart feels
saddened we have to hesitate for a moment to consider if someone has done
something to the “treat.”
Personally, I enjoy
watching the little ones dress up in all sorts of costumes. It reminds me of
the years my children were excited about dressing up and collecting candy – to
them it was the one time of the year they could consume so many sweets. And the
costumes, how they enjoyed figuring out how to create an outfit … as I recall
we never bought a costume, they were all homemade.
There has been much
ado about the meaning of Halloween. To me, much like the other holidays
we celebrate, the meaning has been lost from all the debate, dissection, and interpretations.
From my observation, the fun comes from the excitement and the anticipation of
the event. Halloween gives communities the opportunity to knock on a neighbor’s
door, to see how much the kids haven grown and to maybe meet a new one that’s
grown enough to walk to your door. It’s really very precious to see an older
brother or sister accompany their younger sibling to the door. It’s an
opportunity to witness the spirit of sharing, of assisting a younger one with
finding their way in the dark, as Mom and/or Dad sit in the car or stand at the
edge of the yard and carefully watch.
Like everything else
in life, it’s one’s perspective that defines an event, and I choose to see the sweetness
of the grand tradition of Halloween. It is an opportunity to be reminded
someone is always willing to share old traditions, open their doors to their
neighbors, and hand out a treat. The balance is made with the gift received
from watching the young ones grow each year. If you live in a neighborhood long
enough, you get to see generations of kids bring their kids. What a grand
opportunity to witness the continuation of life unfold! So, here’s to Halloween
and all the spooky, beautiful, characters that show up at your door! May your
heart be full!