Historical Romance

Historical Romance with an Inspirational Touch

Monday, October 04, 2010

Next Holiday is HALLOWEEN

There is a reason I feel the need to remind everyone of this. Today, while reading through blogs I read two, yes two, that were about Christmas.

Hold up, the trees are just beginning to change in my neck of the woods. I would like to enjoy Halloween, as I do every year, and fatten myself further on Thanksgiving, before I start addressing Christmas and all that is involved.

The first post was by Jerrica, http://ladyscribes.blogspot.com/2010/10/its-octoberdo-you-know-what-that-means.html, her main excitement had to do with the fact that it is now October and her husband is allowing her to listen to Christmas music. No doubt she is singing along with every single one of them given she was a singer/actress before she became an author. There is only one person, I think, that thought this was acceptable, and that was another critique partner's (Samantha Grace) daughter - who I believe is 9.

The second blog was more reasonable - http://onthewritepath.blogspot.com/2010/10/its-beginning-to-look-lot-like.html - because Erica signed a contract to write a Christma novella. If I had done that, perhaps I would be talking about Christmas too.

But, since I have not, and it is OCTOBER 4TH, I think we should talk about Halloween if we are going to discuss any upcoming holiday. In fact, I may just do a number of Haloween posts this month just to combate these Christmas blogs.

So, tell me. Do you have a favorite Halloween tradition, song, costume or movie?

26 comments:

  1. Ha! I will gladly align with a 9-year-old any day! It's way more fun than being an adult :)

    But I do love Halloween and Thanksgiving and I celebrate both with gusto...and with Christmas music in the background :)

    I always make a big pot of chili for Halloween and we usually curl up to watch a movie like The Others. We also go out to the country with all our friends from college to pick pumpkins and apples, go on hayrides and get lost in corn mazes. This year, Bella is going to dress up as Belle from Beauty and the Beast and we'll be co-hosting a baby Halloween party in our building. I can't wait!!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Oh, Amy ~ I have a NUMBER of Halloween blogs to write this month, so that should make you happy.

    I think I've always liked the original Halloween. Something very creepy about that movie. :)

    ReplyDelete
  3. Oh Amy! Thank you for posting this LOL. I have a ton of traditions, we have a place called Awe Shucks Farm here and we go on hayrides and pick pumpkins. Lots of fun. Lots of scary movies in the works. I can't believe how much Halloween has changed since I was a kid and now much its getting pushed aside for Christmas. It makes me a little sad because it was always my favorite holiday. The people in my community don't even do the traditional door to door trick or treat anymore, we have to go to designated areas like churches or malls to trick or treat. What happened to Halloween? =(

    ReplyDelete
  4. Hmm, not really a huge Halloween fan, but it does deserve its time in the sun, er, moon :)

    My very favorite holiday is definitely Thanksgiving. It is the only non-commercialized holiday left, it seems like, and it promotes spending happy time with the fam and giving thanks for all of our blessings. These days, it is completely railroaded by Christmas stuff, but I stage my own little protest and won't even acknowledge Christmas stuff until the day after Thanksgiving :)

    ReplyDelete
  5. I have nothing for Halloween or Christmas. But I have heard that writing Christmas stories is an excellent idea for an author's career. I wonder if it's true for Halloween too?

    ReplyDelete
  6. how about Columbus day? That's a holiday in October too...

    ReplyDelete
  7. - - - and Reformation Day - - on Oct 30. Martin Luther is one of my heroes. Can you imagine knowing your Scripture well enough to have confidence to tell the church they didn't have it all right?

    ReplyDelete
  8. LOL Two celebrations that do not make my calendar. The next big celebration is Christmas for us Aussies. With the reversal of the seasons Halloween doesn't really make sense in October. I'm with Jerrica - bring on Christmas!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Jerrica, I wouldn't be surprised if you had Christmas music at your wedding.

    Lydia, I will try and read every one of them :).

    Melissa, I haven't been on a hay ride in ages, but I am not a scary movie person. I am more a Hocus Pocus kinda gal. I love that movie, as did my daughter. We literally wore out 2 VHS tapes from her watching that show.

    Erin, I am with you. I love Thanksgiving. But at the huge family gatherings we can't get through it without more than a few talking about the great sales the next day *sigh*. I don't do any Christmas stuff until the day after either.

    Clarissa, I wrote a Halloween short story once. Maybe I should beef it up and turn it into a novel.

    Lin, I forgot about Columbus Day. Even though the schools get out, I never get the day off, which I think is very unfair.

    MissLynda, I can't imagine what it would have been like to be in Martin Luther's shoes, and stand up to the church and tell them they were wrong. We have it much easier now. If we don't agree with a pastor or church doctrine, we find one that speaks to our hearts. Back then, too many people did not have the Word to read for themselves, even if they could read, and to live in fear of the church. Beyond comprehension. I have to agree, he was a hero.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Heather, you can be forgiven being half way around the world and all. However, you don't have Halloween? That makes me very sad.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Even my daughter is in on the too-early, pre-Christmas conversation. She asked today whether we could purchase Taylor Swift's Christmas album.

    Sheesh!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Oh, Jennifer, so sorry. I didn't even know Taylor Swift had a Chrismtas album. Now that I think about it, a lot of artists come out with Christmas albums. What do they do, record them in June? I can't imagine singing Frosty the Snow Man with graduation music at the closest school. Just doesn't seem right to me. On the other hand, I did write a Christmas scene for a novel in the spring, so I guess I am just as guilty (but don't tell anyone).

    ReplyDelete
  13. Woah, now! Not ready to discuss Christmas yet. Halloween, Thanksgiving, sure, but not Christmas!

    ReplyDelete
  14. Hi, nice blog & good post. You have beautifully maintained it,Its really helpful for me, hope u have a wonderful day & awaiting for more new post. Keep Blogging!

    ReplyDelete
  15. Susan, I would even discuss Thanksgiving now, but too early for Christmas.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Paris, thanks for visiting my blog.

    ReplyDelete
  17. My memories are so old, you could sell them as antiques. Remembering feeling safe to trick or treat and get "home made" fudge and caramel apples. To be afraid of the poor, dear soul down the road who everyone thought was a witch cuz she didn't like kids (who would? they thought she was a witch) or to remember the smell of burning leaves and rotting pumpkins on Halloween night. Watching the "really" old Dracula and Frankenstein. Mmmm, memories!

    ReplyDelete
  18. Linda, I haven't seen the old Dracula and Frankenstin in ages. I may just have to rent it for that weekend. Those scary movies I don't really mind, mainly because they aren't all that scary in comparison to today and don't need all the unnecessary gore for a good story.

    ReplyDelete
  19. I don't mind seeing Christmas stuff start to go up at the end of October, but I do enjoy fall the best. Our Halloween tradition is going to the pumpkin patch to let the kids pick out their own pumpkins. We started this last year and had so much fun! Can't wait to do it again this year.

    ReplyDelete
  20. Due to what I heard about how satanists "celebrate" Oct. 31st, I do not acknowledge Halloween, but I love to decorate for fall. Oranges and browns are my favorite shades year round. I love candles, vibrant leaves, and happy, fat pumpkins. And this year I discovered asters! Bright purple flowers that last 'til next fall. I planted them in place of mums. We'll see...

    ReplyDelete
  21. Tara, I remember taking my kids to pick out their pumpkins. I have all kinds of pictures of them cleaning them out before their father carved into them. The got more than a little messy - lol.

    Jeanette, I just bought a cinnamon apple candle - I think it is going to be used up before the week is over. Fall smells are my favorite maybe because it signals the beginning of hte baking season again. Who wants to bake when it is in the 90s outside. Asters are beautiful. I have some in my garden. They are very hardy.

    ReplyDelete
  22. I love fall too much to rush into Christmas. We don't do a whole lot for Halloween- except for the kids trick or treating- I do love answering the door though for those little goblins and gouls. It makes me most sad that Thanksgiving is so easily overlooked. It is my favorite holiday and its as if it gets swept under the rug right away to make room for Santa and elves- not a Savior in a manger.

    ReplyDelete
  23. Hi Amy,

    I agree. It's Halloween people!! LOL
    I am putting up orange string lights with pumpkin heads along my walk so the kids can see their way to my door.
    Thanks for the great post.

    ReplyDelete
  24. I like the Charlie Brown movie and I'm a sucker for any candy!

    ReplyDelete
  25. We have a hot dog cookout in our front yard before it gets dark and invite our street. It's amazing how many neighbors we meet or reconnect with.

    ReplyDelete
  26. Alicia, I completely agree. Not only has Thanksgiving turned into a football holiday, but the reason for Christmas is lost. Heaven forbid a manger be put in a public place. Excuse, what is Christmas celebrating again? It blows my mind sometimes.

    Thanks, Nancy. I haven't strung Halloween lights. Maybe I should pick some up. But sadly, we don't get many tricker or treaters, but I always buy a ton of candy :).

    Jill, I completely forgot about Charlie Brown. Maybe the Great Pumpkin will show up this year.

    Sharrinda, that sounds like a wonderful way to celebrate and hang with the neighbors.

    ReplyDelete