Thoughts on Halloween 2024

I'm going as Dionysus. I like the kaftan thawbs I got for the costume so much I have not stopped wearing one of them since they arrived. My wife thinks its just a phase, so she is not worried, but I think she may be wrong.

Quote from Kalosyni

Please post any thoughts, plans, activities?

I thought about playing a benign trick on the kids – after all, who made the rule it has to be one-sided? To that end, I remembered someone wrapping Brussels sprouts in golden candy paper, and while I thought that was funny, most kids who will ring at my door bell live below the official poverty line, which just makes it mean…

I'll probably do the same as every year: Mute the doorbell, write a letter to lost loved ones, and watch a heartwarming show with a side of comfort food. That doesn't perpetuate supernatural believes, and yet it doesn't leave unused a "special day", as I enjoy having the year structured, having recurring events, and self-chosen symbolic behaviours, and in that process, it often helps me to recycle dates that already exist: The stores get redecorated, society talks about the upcoming event, and even though for them these signs mean "hand out or collect candy" and for me they mean something else, even though that is the case, it still allows me to experience all the same anticipation – I enjoy that quite a bit! (With Easter, Christmas, New Year's and three other dates, I am happier to pretend they don't exist, happier to keep them out of my mind, as much as I possibly can.)

I've always enjoyed Halloween, and never considered the supernatural implications as anything more than silliness. This year, I've been thinking of it as a secular Dia de los Muertos: a time to remember and to honor our deceased loved ones. I've been thinking of making a display of photos to add a bit of ceremony....

In that vein,

Quote from Julia

write a letter to lost loved ones

sounds to me like an excellent practice!

Pretty "bah, humbug" about halloween. Dislike the skelingtons everyone puts in their yards. Dislike the classist logic inherent in parents deciding where to go for free candy. Feels gross to me being of modest means, and I'd wish people would use the opportunity to meet people in their own neighborhoods rather than sally off to the richer neighborhoods or in a church parking lot for candy and some Jesus.

Anyway, my neighbor and I have plotted for November 1st to be a big neighborhood party in our backyards. Inviting all these next door strangers over and get to know them better. I do have a cauldron I will be doing a vegetarian soup in and the Texas transplant 2 houses over will open his yard too for some sliders. It should be interesting and I hope it goes over well.