Every year, I’ve written about Halloween, but never had the opportunity to send out an essay ON Halloween. As you know, this is a popular, and controversial,day. The word comes from the Celtic “Samhain” (pronounced Sa-ween). It was the Harvest festival and beginning of the new year in Ireland and surrounding regions; sort of like New Year’s Eve for us. The belief, at that time, was that on Samhain, the “curtain” between the here and the hereafter was very thin. Uneasy or angry souls could come back to admonish/ take vengeance on those who had caused them grief during life on earth. So, people carried candle-lit vegetables (lanterns were too expensive for many) at night, to feel safer, going from one place to another. And, of course, all sorts of spooky legends have grown up around this day, involving “eye of newt and toad spit,” ghosts, skeletons, headless horsemen, dressing up as someone else, bon fires, and Jack-o-lanterns.

Some people find this autumn celebration, at the very least, annoying, and others, totally unacceptable, feeling that it promotes Paganism and maybe, actual evil. Some just ignore it, pulling the curtains to avoid trick & treaters. Others find it fun to dress up, to go trick-or-treating, or to have parties with slightly spooky games and steaming punch. We probably fall into the latter category, for we have had several Halloween parties over the years, sewed costumes for our children and grandchildren, and carved many a Jack-o-lantern. Mostly our boys did not go trick or treating; we had the parties instead, that included skits, mazes, seasonal food, and campfires.  Our former house had a split-level attic with gables.  It was perfect for a Halloween maze. That was the same year we took the “Duck, Duck” skit from “The Electric Company” (or was it “Sesame Street”?) and reproduced it in our living room. Home-made costumes became pajamas or went into the dress-up box when Halloween was over.  One year a Mexican student was staying with us; he was part of an “Up With People” performance, and his group was having a Halloween party. From our capacious dress-up box, we outfitted him with my sister’s nurse’s cape and a fake moustache, until, with his dark, good looks, he made a convincing Dracula.  He only had to buy fake fangs!  Note: everyone needs a costume box, it’s not just for Halloween.

I do think that many lawn decorations observed in our recent travels, are too expensive, and of dubious taste - macabre even. The dancing circles of ghosts are kind of fun. Some amusing displays in several places this year are using the fake skeletons. On one lawn there were probably a dozen skeletons busily “working”; mowing, raking, pushing a cart!  And just down the road from us, a line of skeletons stands on guard, outside an old barn.  They really should be chicken skeletons; that barn was full of poultry when we moved here.  And ---- a warning about those cob-webby things that people drape over shrubbery; they create lethal traps for good insects (butterflies, moths, bees) and some small birds, so, not good. Thus far, I’m sticking to pumpkins, corn stalks and a scarecrow or two and a treat for any kid who makes it up our long driveway.

Some believe I’m too casual about Halloween. I do not dismiss the potential for evil in this world, and I know that on Halloween some misinformed individuals are involved in unpleasantness like a black mass and similar unsavory practices. I believe however, these are minimal and obvious when compared to the evils caused by greed and the worship of power and money. I think we find more real evil in respectable places; Congress, country clubs, business offices, yachts, and arenas; places we do not necessarily expect evil to be.  Wealth, status and glib language impress too many, and can create moral blindness!  This obtuseness allows us to shrug off daily practices of injustice, greed, abuse and hate-mongering. So, a fun celebration of Halloween seems relatively innocent in comparison.

There are other special days at about the same time.  When Christianity was introduced into the Celtic regions of Europe, the new religious leaders made a habit of “revising” pagan holidays, turning them into Christian celebrations.  Halloween became “All Soul’s (or All Hallows Eve) Eve” and the day after Halloween became “All Saints’ Day.”  These are times to remember the wonderful people in our lives; those still with us, and those who are no longer here, but who have impacted us in good way.

For our first Christmas together with family, Kerm’s Grandma Storm quietly asked me if we went to church.  I replied that we did --- but not every Sunday.  She nodded and said: “That’s good.  You’ll go more after a while.”  This turned out to be quite true.  When we moved to Pennsylvania, the pastor of the church we chose, and his wife, not only made us welcome, but made sure we had many opportunities to grow.   They convinced us we should teach Sunday school --- which guaranteed we’d be there every week and created so-o-o many learning experiences!    The pastor was new and we were new, and we shared some fine occasions.  In Livingston Manor, we became better acquainted with the Jewish faith and Catholicism via good friends and participation in Interfaith Marriage Encounter.  And in Spencer, we’ve found guidance and examples in good pastors and good people.  As we look backward, we are very grateful for all our grandmas, grandpas, aunts, pastors and wise friends who have blessed us in many ways.

Speaking of special days, the autumn time change is about to be inflicted upon us.  This very weekend, Daylight Savings Time will be whisked away, the clocks will be turned an hour backward, and, in another month, it be dark at 4:30, Standard Time. There is one friend in my life (I suppose there could possibly be more…) who rejoices over this day that gives her an extra hour. People who like this end of the time change, tend to get up early. I do not, so I don’t need morning light as much as I need late afternoon/evening light. As a result, that first weekend in November always leaves me a tad grumpy, even supposedly having had an extra hour of sleep.  I look forward, with eagerness, to the winter solstice in December. My motto is “bring back the light”!!

Life goes on, and as we come to the end of October (a most delightful month) and waltz into November (an iffy month), we have about three weeks to enjoy the month’s variations of time and weather before the holidays are upon us and we are caught up in the rushing hither and yon. I must bake fruitcakes (a new tradition begun after I retired).  I wait to bake them until I’m sure the bears have denned; I’d be upset should a hungry bear break into our porch for the fruit cakes he smells mellowing there. Now lest you try to tell me that even bears won’t eat fruit cake, I will inform you that my fruit cakes are yummy!  The spicy cake batter is full of raisins, glazed fruit, pear conserve, pecans, Brazil nuts, almonds, and a “touch” of B&B Liqueur. The cakes rest a while, and are basted again with B&B Liqueur, after which they are ready to share with other fruit cake lovers.  And my afternoon tea time becomes an especially a delightful experience.  (And a razz-berry or two, to my fruit-cake-denying sons and husband!)

Even more fun than fruitcakes was our recent pinochle night. We used to play frequently, but life has gotten more complicated, so a pinochle evening is nearly an annual event now.   Unfortunately, when there are long gaps between activities, some of us tend to forget what we are supposed to do.  Is there a right and left bower?  Nope, that’s euchre.  Oh, someone must open with a bid?  What makes meld again? “What do you mean a king of hearts can’t marry a queen of diamonds?  We managed to pull ourselves back up to speed after two or three hands so we could actually converse and play cards at the same time, and we were reminded of how much we enjoy each other.  We also observed that two or three people still should be sent to “Over bidders Anonymous!”  We aren’t serious about our card-playing but we are very serious about the good it brings into our days. I am convinced that the camaraderie and laughter build up our immune systems.  And the recall of our playing skills keeps our minds agile.  Friends and fun are undeniably as health-building as vitamins!!

On this day of ghosts, goblins and big, orange pumpkins, I hope you will be doing something good, fun or refreshing.  A line from this appropriate poem should challenge our senses: “….listen…..with faint, dry sound, like steps of passing ghosts, the leaves, frost-crisped,  break from the trees and fall….”* Look with kindly tolerance at costumed kiddies, having a fine time scuffling through those same dry leaves.  Think about old Ireland and the interesting Druid theology that led to many of our customs today.  And take time to appreciate daily life here and now.  Even with so many frightening things in our world (including the coming elections), there are stars in the sky, birds singing, puppies rolling on rugs and music waiting for the listening ear. And --- “October baptize me with leaves!  Swaddle m e in corduroy and nurse me with split pea soup.  October, tuck tiny candy bars in my pockets and carve my smile into a thousand pumpkins.  O Autumn! O teakettle! O grace!”**

And take responsibility!  We have good lives in this imperfect but fine land.  You may have grievances, but living here is still better than in most other countries of this world.   Be a good citizen and VOTE!!!  No excuses!

Carol Bossard writes from her home in Spencer. She may be reached at: carol42wilde@htva.net.

*from a poem (November Night) by Adelaide Crapsey --- American poet and writer from Rochester, NY.  1878-1914.

**Rainbow Rowell –American author known for young adult and contemporary adult novels.