List #517: My Least Favorite Holiday

I don't think there are too many children out there that feel relief when they finally hit the age where they become too old to trick-or-treat. But I definitely did. It's not that I have bad memories of Halloween, or that I dislike candy. Neither of those things are true. It's just that as I got older, I didn't understand why I had to dress up to get candy. And as an adult, well I just don't see the appeal. So there is a long list of things I normally don't do for Halloween:

• Visit haunted houses. Proudly since 1999.
• Host Halloween parties. 'I'd attend a good friends' if they asked nicely. 
• Pay for Halloween events. Maybe for charity.
• Put up Halloween decorations. Well, I don't really have kids either.
• Eat Candy Corn. It's kind of gross.
• Watch scary movies. This rule is enforced 12 months of the year actually.

But I'm not all Great Pumpkin-the-Grinch. I plan on wearing orange and black to the library tomorrow. I would pass out candy if I was going to be in town (on Saturday). And it's not like I think the holiday is the devil's holiday. So in evidence that there are some Halloween-related events that I enjoy, I give you the following.

Werewolf Bar Mitzvah

Completely beats the Monster Mash in the category of "Best Halloween Song" ever. I'll listen to it in a continuous loop this time of year. It makes me laugh, reminds me of funny family members, and cold days and sweaters walking in a city that was not my own. 

Halloween at the Library

It's a tradition at my library to host a yearly Halloween Storytime. The little kids dress in costume, I read a few stories and sing some songs, and then we all go trick-or-treating throughout the building. The kids ask for days leading up the event what my costume will be. There is no way I could possibly let those little ones down. 

Pumpkin Seeds

There is a pumpkin sitting on my dining room table right now that I'm using for decoration. But the thought of sitting down, cutting into it, gutting the insides of it's sticky goop, and toasting those seeds has crossed my mind. I can't really get into the spirit of carving a jack-o-lantern on my own. Plus, with no trick-or-treaters and no actual porch or yard to put it on display, who is really going to see my creation? This is one Halloween activity that is best experienced with others. So, maybe next year?

I guess because of Frankenstorm children aren't really celebrating Halloween until the weekend. And that's fine. I don't think you need to knock on doors on the 31st of October in order to get the feel of the holiday. But come Saturday, I don't think I'll be celebrating Halloween any differently that I will be tomorrow. Actually yes, I will. At least my outfit will be Halloween-inspired tomorrow. It will be college football-inspired on Saturday. But regardless, I hope however you enjoy the spooky, you do it well.

And next year, maybe I can find someone who wants to go with me to this.