How & Why to Re-focus Halloween as a "Fall Festival"

GTBE email ^ | 10/07/05 | self

[Horatio Gates]

LOL...I wish. The zipper is stuck.

[ShadowDancer]

I'm going to send the two of them halfway down the block like that and then I'm going to come running after them waving a bible and screaming 'Heretics!!' at them. Bet you wished you trick or treated with me, don't you?

[Chena]

I survived my youth without turning to the occult just because we enjoyed the silliness and fun of Halloween. Some folks just take things way too seriously, IMHO.

[cj2a]

Another scary halloween ghoul.

And the candidates from last year's state fair...notice anything funny about the base mask used for Kerry?

[Chena]

Look, Halloween is fun. It's this sort of Jack Chick-ian view that gives Christianity a bad, prudish name.

Exactly.

[HuntsvilleTxVeteran]

http://www.craftown.com/hallow.htm

Free halloween projects.

Note: Halloween Craft Projects with * have photos
Say Boo Pumpkin * Pumpkin Tree Craft * Raffia Bow Scarecrow Craft * Grave Ghoulies Crafts *
Halloween Pins * Witch Apple Dolls * Goblin Party Favors * Wine Glass Pumpkin Candle *
Trick or Treat Bags * Oh No Pumpkin * Treat Keeper * Kettle and Fire *
Gravestones * Fall Pumpkin Centerpiece * Tombstones * Cat Noisemakers *
Fabric Pumpkins * Hanging Ghost Crafts * Papier-Mâché Mask Craft * Halloween Yarn Wig *
Halloween Hand Goblins * Wooden Scarecrow * Pumpkin Display * Pumpkin Sucker Centerpiece
Magician's Cape * Mummy Costume Craft * Jack-O'-Lantern * Trick-or-Treat Bags *
Napkin Holders * Window Frights Party Place Cards Bird Costume * Glow Ghost Bleach Bottle Cat * Pumpkin Favors * Scarecrow Jars
Potato Head Pumpkin Cat Favors Crafts * Mini Gourd Wreath * Halloween Game
Scary Silhouettes Clown Costume * Scary Halloween Game * Pumpkin Jars
Basic Dress for Costumes Costume Skeletons Scarecrow Costume Spider & Pumpkin Bottle Caps
Baked Pumpkin Seeds Pumpkin Bread Spider Web Sacs Witchy Hats
Lollipop Ghosts Glowing Ghosts Witch Dish Craft Graveyard Feet Scary Cauldron

If you have an original Halloween craft project that you would like to share, please contribute and we will post it on our site. Enjoy and happy crafting.

[MineralMan]

"I just want to know why I should buy candy for other peoples' children."

Nobody's forcing you to do so. For myself, I find it a really good way to meet some of the kids in my neighborhood, and often their parents, as well. Besides, I always buy way too much candy, so there's plenty for me for several days afterwards.

[MineralMan]

"I remember our church substituting the "Senior Banquet" for the "Senior Ball" at the high school. "

Blech! Served by the church ladies in the basement?

[dakine]

dark...by your definition....

[old and tired]

You're taking a lot of abuse here and I think some folks are being a little cavalier. Although I've always loved Halloween myself, these last few years I have noticed a darker side to it, which I'd never seen before. Last year I brought one of my grandsons to a Halloween store to buy his costume and was a little freaked out by the place. I know this sounds weird, but the place just felt evil to me.

Of course, I've still got a huge inflatable tarantula on my front lawn. And he's surrounded by wooden ghosts staked into the ground. The only holiday we do more decorating for is Christmas. We love seeing the kids costumes every year. Very few of them are anything resembling evil. Lots of Bob the Builders and Power Rangers. Princesses, butterflies and dogs. Halloween is just a fun holiday. And our kids could always eat themselves silly on candy because they had off the next day for All Saints' Day.

[Zionist Conspirator]

There's already a fall festival. It's called Sukkot.

Ever notice how the ACLU never demands equal time for the Jewish fall holidays with "halloween?" I think if any school tried to ban "halloween" they'd probably sue them!

[k2blader]

No need to try to put down Blurblogger just because you feel your special day is being threatened.

[Overtaxed]

Think I'll give out carrots and celery.

[Antoninus]

Anyone else notice that the stores are starting to push the Halloween stuff back earlier and earlier? This year, I saw stuff at the end of August! I guess they're trying to make more money, but for me, it's a turn-off. Halloween is just not a major holiday.

[Chena]

When my kids were little we started having fall parties at the church every Halloween. The kids and most of the adults all dressed up in non-ghoulish costumes. We played a bunch of party games and had a costume contest. Each family brought enough hotdogs and buns for their family and another sidedish or dessert. A bunch of the men took the hotdogs outside and grilled them. We had a table set up with big paper bags and lots of arts and crafty things and let the kids take turns making their own treat bags. At the end of the night the adults lined up with bags of goodies and the kids took their bags and went down the line and ended up with a full bag of safe treats. It was always a lot of fun.

That sounds like a lot of fun too. When I was a kid, our church had Halloween parties and they even invited us little ghouls, ghosts and witches too!

[MineralMan]

"Think I'll give out carrots and celery."

Not a good idea, unless you can get them in some sort of sealed packages from the store. Most parents won't let their kids have any home-made goodies. Too bad, too, because I make some really good cookies.

It's candy all the way for me.

[The Spirit Of Allegiance]

Clemenza, your little picture both takes the name of Jesus in vain and shows your lack of couth.

Your post is indeed a disgrace to this thread and to the credo of FreeRepublic.

The Lord rebuke thee, Ma'am.

[corlorde]

I love Halloween, the ghouls, ghosts, and kids in costumes. In fact, it's just about my favorite time of year.

[PeteB570]

Ok, the church lady made me do it.

The closest holy book I have to my computer is a copy of the Quran. Will that work?

All my bibles are spread out around the house.

[Corin Stormhands]

It's your civic duty.