A confession

I have a confession to make:
I don’t like Halloween.

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No, I mean it. I would even venture to say that I’m a Halloween grinch.
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 The only pumpkin we have right now is one of those cute tiny ones, but only because it’s my way of celebrating fall. I also have a fall wreath hanging on my door that I decorated at a Relief Society activity. But no ghosts, no witches, no goblins, skeletons, or any of that stuff at my house...because I don’t like Halloween.
Oh sure, I loved it as a kid because it was a holiday devoted to dressing up and getting free candy, but since I’m well past trick-or-treating age...I’m not a fan.


The older I get, the more cynical I've become about the over-commercialism of the holidays. Thanksgiving seems to be devoted to binge eating, watching football, and getting ready for Black Friday. Christmas is all about getting lots of presents, and Easter is just about candy and bunnies.
Yeah, I know, the Christmas baby being cynical about Christmas. The irony.


I have been trying to combat this cynicism by focusing on the true meaning of these holidays--being thankful at Thanksgiving, remembering the birth of Christ at Christmas, and the Resurrection at Easter. I’ve also been trying to focus on the symbols in these holidays as well.
I have not been able to do this with Halloween. Yeah yeah, scare off demons, whatever. But honestly, it’s just a holiday devoted to going around begging for free candy. As someone who has had a lifelong battle with anxiety, I also really don’t like the scary aspects of Halloween. I mean, REALLY don’t like. Especially zombies. I don’t understand the recent obsession with them.
I realize that my feelings are not popular and that people will truthfully think I’m a Halloween grinch, but I don’t really care.


Also, since I have a child with a peanut allergy (not severe, but an allergy nonetheless), Halloween now adds extra stress. Until she’s old enough to understand her peanut allergy, I will have to sift through her Halloween candy and remove Reese’s, Butterfingers, Snickers, etc. so she doesn’t break out in hives or throw up.


Will I stop participating? For now, no. I’ll participate in the fun, non-scary parts. Dressing up is fun, when convenient. Seeing my little girl dressed up as Eeyore from Winnie the Pooh is adorable. I will never understand some people’s obsession with the holiday, but then, there are many things about people I won’t ever understand, so that’s just life.
If Halloween is your favorite holiday, I do not hold it against you. I’m glad you can find joy in a holiday I have come to dislike. I won’t rain on your parade, but forgive me if my house isn’t decked out for the holiday. I’m saving that for Christmas.

Recently, Stephan and I have been learning about Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead), and I think THAT is a great holiday! A holiday devoted to remembering our dead. My fellow LDS friends, I think this should be a holiday we celebrate because of our love for family history and genealogy. Who's with me?

Comments

  1. MarciOctober 29, 2013 at 12:16 PM

    I'm not anti Halloween, but I'm not a huge fan either. Kate may just grow out of her peanut allergy. Lucas did! And I think a holiday devoted to family history is a great idea!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Laura A.October 29, 2013 at 1:22 PM

    It would be lovely if she does, but I have accepted that it very well might not be. I'm just glad her allergy isn't severe.

    ReplyDelete

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