Panic Stations: It’s Time For Halloween
It’s October and Halloween season will soon be in full swing. No doubt there’ll be:
- Witches costumes
- Spider webs
- Spooky stories
- Pumpkins
- Halloween parties
Halloween is big business these days!
But here’s my big confession: I hate Halloween!
Do you want to know why?
I Hate Halloween
I’ve got loads of friends who love Halloween, but I hate it!
I don’t understand it. Isn’t it just a celebration of evil? Darkness, witchcraft, violence – no thank you! When did these things become worthy of a party?
The Waking Nightmare
My daughter is intuitively sensitive; she picks up on other people’s feelings so easily and is heartbroken if she sees others in distress. I have to be very careful what I say when I tell her off because she feels things so strongly. She is deeply moved by storybooks and films.
When she feels joy, it is an all-consuming elation. When she feels fear, it is a debilitating terror.
October is literally a waking nightmare for her!
Should I Toughen Her Up?
When so many other children lap this stuff up, should I be encouraging Jenny to join in? Maybe taking part would show her that it’s not so frightening.
But actually, I’m not sure I want her to join in.
- I don’t want her to think it’s okay to go around frightening people. That’s bullying.
- I don’t want her to think it’s okay to issue a punishment if she isn’t given sweets. That’s threatening.
- I don’t want her to dress up as a nurse splattered with blood. That’s violent.
I don’t think I want her to learn these things.
But more it’s than that:
I never want her to think that it is okay for somebody to bully her, or threaten her, or be violent towards her.
You’re Perfect As You Are, Jenny
You don’t have to embrace any of this nastiness, Jenny. You are perfect, just as you are. I totally understand why you want nothing to do with it all, and I am proud of you for it.
I love my beautifully empathetic, caring child. I love her sensitive, thoughtful nature. She is delicate and loving and perceptive. She is exactly how I want her to be.
We will strive to bring light and happiness and love to the world.
.
I agree 100% with you! We never ‘celebrated’ Halloween when we were younger (not sure why it is something to celebrate?!) and I don’t feel like I missed out, but then it seems to have got bigger and bigger since we were little. I really want to join in some of the fab events, but it goes against everything I dislike about Halloween. I know when he’s at nursery, my son will be getting involved in halloween themed activites! I totally get for you it must be even harder with your daughter’s feelings to consider as well. #MarvMondays
It’s a huge season now, isn’t it! As soon as the back-to-school stuff has left the shelves, Halloween hits. I imagine it’s just another season that retailers can use to make more money out of us (so cynical!) Thank you for commenting (I totally thought I was going to be the only one who felt this way so it’s nice to have a bit of backup!). L
the kids here always want a big Halloween party but I always make it not to scary for the little ones, it can be quite terrifying otherwise #MarvMondays
Yes I wonder if she’ll be less scared by it when she gets older… Thank you for commenting, Fiona. L
This was really thought provoking. As a child I loved Halloween, this was long before it was big business in the UK, my parents encouraged me to have an “autumn’ party which I did every year. I still love it now and do celebrate but not really with any of the things you have listed. I was never encouraged to trick or treat and wouldn’t encourage my child (plus, I live in the middle of nowhere), I’ve never done ghastly or ghoulish costumes but I do find some joy in the season, in the event and in doing something. this definitely made me think more about people’s perceptions of Halloween though. a really great blog post. Ceri
Thanks, Ceri. To be honest, I think one of the reasons I don’t understand Halloween is because we never did it as children so, for me, it doesn’t have the same childish, magical memories as other seasons. We tended to focus on Bonfire Night more (which is another odd celebration when you think about the history of it!) Thank you for leaving such a thoughtful comment. L
I don’t know if I hate it, but I don’t love it. Not like I did as a kid and into my twenties before kids when it was REALLY fun. I think my kids just hit the age where they don’t need me to take them out, they’ll want to go by themselves and I really don’t know if I am going to decorate because last year when I was in the bushes a bug bit me and now I resent Halloween.
A bug bit you?! Oh no! You certainly don’t want to get bitten on Halloween night – who knows what it might be! 😉 Haha. Thank you for commenting. L
I don’t get Halloween at all. Though obviously kids like it – sweets and dressing up is a dream day for them isn’t it! My daughter loves it so I will buy her a costume and decorate the house a little bit – but I still have no idea why it’s such a big deal! #MarvMondays
Yes when you put it that way, it’s no wonder kids like it! My daughters both love dressing up. Thank you for leaving a comment, Sarah. L
I get really anxious on Halloween too! We get absolutely loads of trick or treaters and one year I ran out of sweets. Had to actually hide in my own house with all the lights off! Crazy! It’s very Americanised now over here isn’t it, I don’t remember it being quite such a big deal when I was little #twinklytuesday
I know the panic when you’ve run out of sweets! Aargh! My father in law always tells the story of when they ran out so he gave the kid some money, and then the word spread and they had hundreds of kids knocking on the door wanting cash! Haha!
I’m totally with you on this one, I’m not a fan of Halloween. As a kid I was never allowed to go trick or treating and would never allow it now unless it was a group of families that it had been pre-agreed with. How is it a good thing to dress as something sinister and go knocking on doors scaring and threatening people. Safe to say our doorbell will be unplugged!! Thanks for joining us for #marvmondays
No I never did it as a kid. That’s probably a big reason why I don’t understand it now. We generally just hide in the back room with the curtains shut! We have had a couple of stink bombs through the letter box in the past, though! Horrid!
I’m not overly fussed about halloween either, we used to get alot of trick or treaters where we lived but not now, I like seeing the little ones all dressed up but not seen keen on the teens. I get where you are coming from. Popping over from #marvmondays
I know there are some really cute Halloween costumes (black cats, pumpkins, etc) but there are some really horrific ones too. My kids love dressing (and sweets) so I understand why kids like that bit! Thank you for commenting. L
I like autumn and actually enjoy Halloween as it’s one of the only holiday were nobody epects presents. That said I can understand why it’s not a holiday everybody wants to celebrate.
Oh I love Autumn too. I think the colours are amazing, and I love the coziness of being inside as it’s getting colder outside. I think that’s a nice point about Halloween being the only celebration where people don’t expect presents!
We’re big fans of Autumn activities, Harvest celebrations and Bonfire night and sometimes that involves carving pumpkins and Apple bobbing too. With Halloween being big business in the states it’s come across this side of the pond and there’s no escaping it now! We’ve just seen a ‘Halloween’ store open up in Basingstoke! We don’t mind it too much and the kids love it. Everything in moderation. Light and dark. #TwinklyTuesday
Halloween is such a big thing, now isn’t it! I love Autumn too, especially bonfire night. And I love watching the kids’ school harvest festival. Thank you for commenting. L
I have to agree about some of the costumes. A friend of mine dressed her 6 year old as a blood-splattered zombie bride last year and I was a bit shocked. As kids I remember making witches capes out of bin bags and decorating them with silver pens, and playing duck apple. There was no trick or treating, it was a bit more wholesome fun
Yes it’s changed a lot recently I think. I definitely don’t remember it being as big a deal when I was a kid. I duck apple the same as apple bobbing? I used to love that!