Halloween Candy Corniness
October 31, 2008 · Print This Article
Why do people go so crazy with the Halloweeniness? Which is a word I just made up but am now rethinking?
Is it because we can say “Happy Halloween!” with no compunction about having perhaps offended someone who doesn’t celebrate Halloween? Someone who hates candy corn and all it stands for? Someone who has bizarre, grotesquely horrific nightmares because her delicate constitution can’t handle the horror flicks everyone else seems so fond of and everyone mocks her and stops inviting her to their stupid scary movie parties? (Hey! “The Shining” is freaking SCARY! Blood in the elevator shaft?! Totally clingy ghost twins?! And– oh, dear lord!– REDRUM?! Well that’s just great. Now I’m going to have NIGHTMARES. Thanks, Halloween!)
Sorry. My issues. Shut up or I will CUT YOU.
Or perhaps someone who maybe doesn’t believe in spooks, thank you very much? Like the Cowardly Lion? Although I would argue that Mr. C. Lion was in fact deathly afraid of spooks, but that is neither here nor there. Or here. Or over thataway. So whatever.
Because if that is the case, then whoa there, Nelly! Because Halloween? Hello Samhain meets All Saints’ Day meets All Souls’ Day! Hello, crazy jumbled pagan-meets-Christianity holiday celebration!
And let’s be honest… Putting aside the not-so-subtle undertones of religious syncretism, I can’t be the only person who sees that the so-called “holiday” totally promotes begging as a valid lifestyle choice, with parents actually ENCOURAGING their children to disguise themselves and importune the neighbors for candy! Right?! Shaking ‘em down, right there at their very own door! I mean, what the..?!
And I’m not just saying this because a bag of Halloween candy costs just short of seven dollars. For ONE MEASLY BAG! Or because my kids come home with enough candy to keep them in sugar well through the new year. Nope. No, indeedy.
It’s the principle of the thing, is all.
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Cat,
Are you writing a book in November? Because I want to. I asked you on my blog and my over sensative feelings are hurt thinking maybe you didn’t read it. But that’s okay, if you read it now. And join me. Okay?
What about the Tricks part huh? Thats what I always say….People just do the treats..no tricks. Shame really.
And Pagan holiday meets Christianity…ummm hullo Christmas?..Trees? That was part of a pagan holiday.
I read that, it’s how I learned about NaNoWriMo, but you seemed torn between writing greatness and tv greatness…so I needed to be sure. And now I am. Wow. I can’t wait.
Okay, can we be forgiven on the Halloween craziness thing? I totally love the dress-up part of it – it just sings to that drama-queen bit of me (Just a teeny-tiny bit of me, honest. Okay – just don’t ask my parents. Or husband. Or friends. Whatever…).
Anyhoo, we took the Little Dude out for trick-or-treating, but for us, there were no treats to be gathered. We totally did it to go out and say “howdy-doo” to the neighbors. And check on some sad neighbors. And show-off Little Dude to other parents. And giggle at cute kids.
We actually TURNED DOWN candy. Like good chocolate stuff!
I just like the kids out and about in all cuteness part.