I used to scoff at Halloween and dismiss it as an American Hallmark tradition. What's it all about anyway? Kids dressing up and wandering about scaring each other, laughing madly, meeting their neighbours and getting lots of hyperactivity-inducing sweeties... hang on a minute... what have I been missing out on all these years?
Where we live now, Halloween is getting bigger and bigger. Maxi-Taxi participated last year when he was at his first ever sleepover at a mate's place. The mate's mum slapped a sheet on their backs, drew on teeth, called them vampires and took them out. Maxi-Taxi got scared out of his wits, loved it enormously at the time and then called us at around 10pm saying (and I quote) "I don't think this sleepover thing is working for me".
First ever sleepover + Halloween = not very good timing.
This year, the Tsunamis were kitted out in '$2 Shop With Mum Modifications' outfits. The 'buy and modify' approach to homemade is what it's all about here in Maxabellaland. Cappers was a Warty Witch, Maxi-Taxi a Debonair Vampire and The Badoo was a Scary Dummy-Sucking Bat.
After much preening we made it out the door and had the best time harassing the neighbours (well, those with a gold ribbon on their mailboxes* anyway), racing around like mad things with 15 other kids from the neighbourhood.
"Just because we're scary vampires and witches and bats and goblins and skeltetons and zombies and dead pirates, doesn't mean we should forget our manners... say thank you!" I called over the general din. The pumpkin buckets filled with sweets and then... buckets and buckets of rain. We got drenched in a massive thunderstorm and, of course, Maxi-Taxi went nuts with anxiety when the thunder came. Talk about a Halloween fright night!
All in all, my first Halloween experience was the best kind of fun. Wherever the 'tradition' came from or what the actual point of the whole exercise was, I cannot tell you. And don't ask me what I'm going to do with three pumpkin buckets full of lollies. But I do know that family togetherness is the key and I'll take that where ever I find it.
What was Halloween like at your place?
* Some clever mum sent out a note with a piece of gold-curling ribbon attached earlier in the week. If you wanted to participate, put the ribbon on your mailbox. It worked so well!___________________________________________
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Happy day to you all!
