Halloween, humbug?

[Rogar]

I find the general premise of candy collecting to be a fun event, but like other holidays it seems to be getting a little carried away with materialism. It common in my neighborhood to use outdoor decorations as much and often elaborate as Christmas decorating. It seems like a waste of cheap chinese plastics that will eventually end up in a land fill. A local bird organization has warned against the fake spider webs that could snare birds or trap other wildlife. As a kid, I don't recall needing the extra stimulation to get amped up to an ectreme over the candy free for all and the costume fun. It must then be for the pleasure of adults?

[Simplemind]

There are many in our neighborhoods who started putting up big displays about mid-September. Adult parties are pretty common. Last weekend there was a big Harry Potter one next door. I'm with you on the cheap China crap (hopefully they will get several years use from it) but Lordy, don't we need some fun after the last several years? I do mourn the fact that Thanksgiving, my favorite holiday and time of year, gets squeezed out by Halloween and Christmas.

[Tradd]

Not doing anything, as usual. I live in apartment off a central hallway, so no outside door of my own. Not sure if any kids go door to door in the townhouse part of my complex. Work brings in some candy. I eat what I like. That’s the extent. But I enjoy seeing everyone’s photos on FB and the decorated houses I see on the commute.

[JaneV2.0]

Nix on the little traveling goblins, but friends of mine go all out on the decorations and Halloween/Day of the Dead parties. I think DoD may be my favorite holiday theme.

[iris lilies]

I’m intrigued by the witchy-ness and scariness of Halloween but I tire of all the unimaginative cheap plastic decorations. Our neighbors across the street have a nice display in their picture window with pumpkins sitting inside and the window lined with orange lights. It’s simple and effective. They are design professionals.

The hideous blowup things for yards that are getting bigger and bigger.

In my area “Witch nights “are popular as a night to sell alcohol to women walking around in witchy outfits. I think that’s a fun concept. So of course in my tourist town Witch Night was pretty popular and they sold a bunch of alcohol, ca ching.

I’m doing a table display for this year’s annual Christmas Tablescapes show in Hermann, and my theme is “Christmas with the Addams family. “I’m taking ideas from Halloween decorated tables for my dark theme.

oh, and to address the candy issue: we will turn iff lights and be” not present” for the candy grabbing hordes. It’s just not something I want to participate in because it’s boring. I do like going out and about, though, and seeing some little kids and some of their costumes.

[ApatheticNoMore]

I'm with you on the cheap China crap (hopefully they will get several years use from it) but Lordy, don't we need some fun after the last several years? I do mourn the fact that Thanksgiving, my favorite holiday and time of year, gets squeezed out by Halloween and Christmas.

Agreed. Fall/Halloween is the only holiday I decorate for because I like the season. If anyone thinks it's a bunch of cheap Chinese crap, the reality: I found some of the decorations in the apartment dumpster one year, and the rest at the thrift. None of it was new. And have used them ever since.

But when I was a kid, oh I TOTALLY decorated the house for Halloween. The decorations then were just paper cutouts on the widow, some bought, some made as a kid. Oh and some fake spiders. None of the ridiculous blow up nonsense you see now.

[pinkytoe]

I wonder how much these giant skeletons cost and where does one store such a thing.

[Tradd]

I’ve seen someone say on FB they’re $200-$300.

[early morning]

Here's why Halloween is my favorite holiday:
1. I don't have to have family over for dinner, with the food prep and housecleaning that Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter call for.
2. I don't have to buy any gifts (candy does not count - we live at the edge of a tiny village and seldom get beggars, so I buy only a little, and generally get to eat it all!)
3. I get to act like a witch, and nobody cares!

As always, YMMV. :~)

[ToomuchStuff]

Dress as a pedo and turn out the lights.

[Teacher Terry]

When I lived in a house I loved to decorate and all the dogs had Halloween costumes. They wore the same ones every year. Back then I had 4 little dogs and would borrow my son’s 2 big dogs and had costumes for them. Then I would put up a baby gate so the kids could enjoy the dogs without them escaping. The kids really enjoyed it.

[catherine]

Like Tradd, I also saw stuff on the news/FB that showed those expensive skeletons that people were buying. From my old person perspective, what I used to love/hate about Halloween was the DIY stuff. I made all my kids' costumes from the time they were born until they were into their 20s. Now, people just get costumes for their kids on Amazon.

We are in such a remote area, we just don't get trick-or-treaters. The local school hosts Trunk-or-Treat. We try to connect with the grandkids and what they're doing, but it's not a holiday that we spend a lot of time on for sure.

[ApatheticNoMore]

I wonder how much these giant skeletons cost and where does one store such a thing.

the closet

one jams it in the closet and hopes noone finds out. "What? I don't know what you are talking about, I don't have any skeletons in my closet"

[ToomuchStuff]

I thought that was why people were seen digging 6' holes in their yards.

[JaneV2.0]

the closet

one jams it in the closet and hopes noone finds out. "What? I don't know what you are talking about, I don't have any skeletons in my closet"

Hahaha. My friends have several skeletons; I have no idea where they store them.

This is an article on Portland neighborhoods--most of which have housed various members of my friends and family. I grew up in Irvington.

https://www.pdxmonthly.com/travel-and-outdoors/2022/10/portland-halloween-decorations-trick-or-treat-neighborhoods

[Rogar]

Hahaha. My friends have several skeletons; I have no idea where they store them.

This is an article on Portland neighborhoods--most of which have housed various members of my friends and family. I grew up in Irvington.

https://www.pdxmonthly.com/travel-and-outdoors/2022/10/portland-halloween-decorations-trick-or-treat-neighborhoods

Those actually look like very nice places to live. I'm not sure about skeletons, but when the moon is full I have had glimpses of a monster that lives in my closet.

[iris lilies]

Hahaha. My friends have several skeletons; I have no idea where they store them.

This is an article on Portland neighborhoods--most of which have housed various members of my friends and family. I grew up in Irvington.

https://www.pdxmonthly.com/travel-and-outdoors/2022/10/portland-halloween-decorations-trick-or-treat-neighborhoods

I like the witches in Mount Tabor.


Big yard blowups were technically not allowed in our neighborhood because our historic code forbade yard sculptures.


Few knew that of course because no one bothers to read the historic code which is a city ordinance. But generally, most people stay away from those dumb blowups because they’re tacky.

My favorite Halloween decor of recent years in my old neighborhood was a long black mourning ribbon on the front door of a Victorian house. Also they had a scary figure who looked like death peeking out from an upstairs window. If you didn’t know about the Victorian tradition of mourning ribbons on your front door, you wouldn’t know what it was.

[JaneV2.0]

I like the witches in Mount Tabor.


Big yard blowups were technically not allowed in our neighborhood because our historic code forbade yard sculptures.


Few knew that of course because no one bothers to read the historic code which is a city ordinance. But generally, most people stay away from those dumb blowups because they’re tacky.

My favorite Halloween decor of recent years in my old neighborhood was a long black mourning ribbon on the front door of a Victorian house. Also they had a scary figure who looked like death peeking out from an upstairs window. If you didn’t know about the Victorian tradition of mourning ribbons on your front door, you wouldn’t know what it was.

The Mt.Tabor neighborhood surrounds an inactive volcano. My aunt and uncle lived there in a lovely old quasi-Victorian with a carriage house for awhile.

[KayLR]

We have this guy.
https://www.kptv.com/2022/10/15/vancouver-home-providing-halloween-thrills-37-years/ (https://www.kptv.com/2022/10/15/vancouver-home-providing-halloween-thrills-37-years/)

Twice a week I do a bus nanny job for a friend, making sure her little one gets fed, dressed and on the school bus. Their yard is super-tacky with every conceivable blow-up and plastic tombstone. Their interior is replete with every fall Hobby Lobby decor item (think those calligraphed message signs, ugh). It is just.....tacky. Same thing for Christmas. And Easter.