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Halloween:
A Time of Commemoration and Celebration

The rich red sky of October is soon upon us giving birth to a fall moon. It is a time of celebration and commemoration of our ancestors, our heritage and the youngsters in our lives now. Halloween is a pagan yet richly religious festival and deserves its place in our favorite place to be, our home. Signs of fall are probably already there, some throws, some rich fall colors and maybe new pillows, dishware and accessories that speak to this time of year. Now it's time to add a touch of Halloween to that strong autumnal background.

My childhood Halloweens were in the 50s when the only way to decorate for the holiday was to buy a few goodies at the five & dime and rob the garden patch. The dime store didn't have much so you had to make some things of your own like ghosts out of stretched out marshmallows with red painted mouths. Now, the consumer can start buying an array of Halloween decorations in August and can spend a good sum doing up not only the house but surrounding yard and outside trees. In those "old days" my Aunt Bonnie decorated every surface in her, admittedly small, house for every holiday. At this time of year, witches made from her kids' old costumes hung from the ceiling lights and pumpkins relaxed in every corner on beds of wheat. There were acorn cups and little witch figurines on the tables and a special long black curtain that was tattered and torn hung over the hallway door. Wow! It was like Disneyland's Haunted House to all of us kids in the neighborhood. Never mind! We didn't have Disneyland then.

Now, though, we can keep it simple and just pay attention to two areas. Perhaps the entry porch and one area in the family living space are best. Build a scene or tablescape in these areas with a backdrop, maybe of burlap, raffia, a leaf runner or some special cloth material like Aunt Bonnie's curtain. Then place your collection of favorite Halloween goodies on and around the backdrop. Add some metal or shine to the whole scene to contrast the dull complexion of things. Garlands of maple leaves are not expensive and they can wrap and wind around and become very dramatic adding flair to the whole scene. You can also very simply make wreaths for the door with two or three garlands tied together with a wild bow. These do not, of course, have to be round. This will be perfect - not too much but enough to set the scene.

I hope you turn your porch light on October 31 from about 6-9 p.m. and welcome little kids to your door with a treat. It is the kids' night to dress like those they admire or fear and gather goodies to stave off the winter chill. That is what they used to do anyway. This tradition should continue so we can recall our nights on the cold dark streets with one neighborhood parent lagging behind watching over all of us. It saddens me to see many houses in our neighborhood as dark as caves with the kids walking on by them while the folks who live there have gone to the movies. Halloween, like every day we live on Earth, needs to be celebrated!

Have a howling one!