It's a beautiful day here for Halloween. How about where you live?

What's everyone doing?

We are having some family here for pizza and salad. We have two local, little ones in the family now so I can't wait to see them all dressed up. This holiday is all about them.

I'll definitely miss the kids tonight. They always had friends in and out on Halloween. After everyone Trick or Treated, they would come back here and dump their bags and swap favorites. Do you remember doing that? Sorting candy was so much fun.

What are you doing?

The kids in our neighborhood walk through the retirement home after the residents have dinner, then they go to our church for pizza and entertainment, then they are set free to go trick or treating in the neighborhood. There were days when we were involved in all that, but not any more...

It seems around here the kids go trick or treating very early, which I suppose is a good thing. But during Dr. Phil? Hello? Is nothing sacred?

Anyway, I look forward to seeing what my two grandbeauties will be dressed as. Look for pic's tomorrow. JJ

The weather is cool and wet here - a mix of rain, maybe snow and high winds. Around here, kids get used to picking costumes that fit over heavy jackets! I can remember taking mine around in a blizzard - so you never know what the weather will be like

My youngest is all excited today about school. His first "job" as Social Convenor for Student's Council (he's in Grade 8) - they're putting on a haunted house and sock hop for the younger grades!

It's cool and crisp here, just like it should be for Halloween. My little mountain community has a "Safe Trick or Treat" for the kids in town. They all dress up and walk around the village and get treats from the businesses.

Then, if they are older, or can convince their parents to take them out, they tromp around the neighborhoods for treats. This town has many "weekender" homes, so not every house is occupied for Halloween, so you might have to walk far for a few treats. It's not like bouncing from door-to-door in the suburbs. I rarely get more than 15 kids.

My older son is working, but my youngest (15) may go walk around with his friends, just to see what's going on in the village.

Kathy

Halloween hasn't caught on like it should in Germany. Usually the bars are full, and people go in costumes. It's very rare to see children trick or treating. I keep some candy, just in case...and in case they don't come, Hubby hides them from me. LOL

It's beautiful here today. Can't wait to see the little goblins when they come around to trick or treat.

I know I will sound like a party pooper (every party has one, right??)but I just don't like Halloween. I don't mind the kids dressing up and getting candy, but I hate all the images of death and witchcraft which go with it. It originally was celebrated as the eve of All St.'s Day, a time to honor the dead in Christ. All the honor is gone and it has become a day of horror and gruesomeness. I know people say it's all in fun, but why do we want to bombard the children we love and protect with images of death?
I have been downplaying it a little more each year and we will finally do what I've been trying to get the kids to want to do for years. We will stay home and rent a fun movie, have pizza and soda (they rarely get soda!), popcorn and a big bowl of candy. They can wear costumes that we've accumulated (nothing scary) and hang out where it's warm and safe.
Tomorrow, we will go to mass for All Saints Day and focus on what death really means for those who leave this world in God's friendship.

I have to agree with you Jackie. I think Halloween has turned into more of an adult thing. When I visited my brother in Mass. I was amazed how people decorate their homes, and some of them really frightening, with gigantic spiders crawling up to the roof. I think I'd have a hard time with that if I had a fragile little girl, who just wants to play princess.

Chilly, damp, and looking like rain here Dotsie. My Grands and I did the Trick or Treating over the past weekend, in their community. More and more neighborhoods seem to be doing this, when Halloween falls on a school night. They choose the weekend before Halloween to celebrate. I'm home tonight, and will be answering the door and handing out the goodies to the young-uns in our neighborhood. We usually see a good turnout, so hopefully, the weather will cooperate.

It's Halloween!

It's Halloween! It's Halloween!
The moon is full and bright
And we shall see what can't be seen
On any other night.

Skeletons and ghosts and ghouls,
Grinning goblins fighting duels,
Werewolves rising from their tombs,
Witches on their magic brooms.

In masks and gowns
we haunt the street
And knock on doors
for trick or treat.

Tonight we are
the king and queen,
For oh tonight
it's Halloween!
-Jack Prelutsky

I'm running over to the safe neighborhood tonight where two full blocks decorate and give out goodies. The town and merchants pay for the residents to do this. Its safe for the kids and they usually go all out. This afternoon I took several boxes of homemade pet treats to the shelter for the animals there.....I normaly go to the nursing home with goodies for the elders but they have a new administrator and she is a real B-witch, warts and all, and she has curtailed all our past activities with the old folks. So sad too because we were all some of them had to look forward to. The weather here is 72* and sunny.
HAPPY HALLOWEEN