Last night I got to take my daughter out for her first real-live Halloween. We had taken her to the houses of family her first two, and that was fun, but this time it was the real deal.
And she loved.
And we loved it.
It reminded me of why Halloween is so important culturally and emotionally.
It reminded me of the power of the holiday.
It’s funny how, as we get older, we downplay Halloween.
Sure, it’s great for US, for us to watch movies, and go to parties, and act fools but kids, well, that’s different.
We don’t want to be bothered handing out candy.
We don’t think they should be out that late.
We think they should just go to a trunk or treat.
And our kiddo did a trunk or treat, and it was fine, but it was different.
We should want to and NEED to keep our kids safe.
This has become a violent, crazy world and we need to make sure that these kids are safe.
That’s why it’s so important for us to go out with them, or to make sure they are safe and being safe.
That, sadly, may be why older kids won’t be able to go out as much anymore because as they get older the childish arguments and beefs are becoming more dangerous and more deadly. Kids not raised to respect or honor life are taking it without understanding the repercussions.
They can get their hands on a weapon and they are encouraged by peers that want a spectacle and some sort of respect and so kids act on an impulse and ruin several lives in the process.
In taking my daughter out last night I got to see our new neighborhood.
Got to see many of the kids from the area.
Got to see families out – in the snow – enjoying themselves.
I got to see the community doing what it should do – being kind to one another and supporting one another. The nearby church even had tents up and was giving out food and treats and had port-a-potties available.
It was great.
These sorts of events let folks show some of their personality. Let them get to know one another. Let them share in being a community.
And I get it, it’s an expensive night and not everyone can afford to get decorations and give out candy.
I TOTALLY get it.
And I throw no shade, because these are hard times, to be sure.
This is a – if you can afford it, do it – sort of night.
And I am glad we could.
When our daughter got done going around with me, she went around with mom. When they came home she wanted to hand out candy with me and it was amazing.
The other kids loved seeing her.
She loved handing out candy.
She even complimented one girl on her costume.
My almost three-year-old.
She loved it, and loved it just as much as she had loved going out and getting her own treats.
I think back to my own Halloweens and how it impacted me.
How those nights with my friends led to their own stories and tales of wonder and woe.
How you braved the weather and the neighbors that wanted a trick for your treat.
How you got to get yourself made up before going out.
How you shared laughs as you walked around to the houses.
It was a night that gave you a taste of freedom, as wonderful and scary as it is.
It’s not a night of demonism and faithlessness.
It’s a night meant to remind us that we control the night, even if it scares us.
That reminds us we’re still a community, once you stop talking about politics and social issues.
That not all teens are mean and selfish and have their faces in the phone at every moment like we think they do.
This is a night to celebrate the victory over our darker sides and to show them and laugh at them because the next day we’ll be back to normal once more.
It’s a time for scares and shivers and to overcome them because we know that monsters aren’t real.
We are trying desperately to drain the magic from the world because it’s messy and it’s not easy.
We want everything to be automated and ready to be delivered.
But in trunk or treating the world we’re taking the magic away.
We’re taking the community away.
We’re isolating ourselves further.
Maybe Halloween isn’t your thing, and if so, I am sorry for you.
It’s the one holiday that gets us all out of our houses and together in the community interacting as families without the falseness of the winter holidays and that fake joy.
That forced happiness.
Me, I love Halloween.
I always will.
…c…
The Spooky World of Chris Ringler 