My Haunted Halloween Hub

Straddling the line between fall and winter, plenty and paucity, life and death, Halloween is a time of celebration and superstition. It is thought to have originated with the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, when people would light bonfires and wear costumes to ward off roaming ghosts. In the eighth century, Pope Gregory III designated November 1 as a time to honor all saints and martyrs; the holiday, All Saints’ Day, incorporated some of the traditions of Samhain. The evening before was known as All Hallows’ Eve and later Halloween. Over time, Halloween evolved into a secular, community-based event characterized by child-friendly activities such as trick-or-treating. In a number of countries around the world, as the days grow shorter and the nights get colder, people continue to usher in the winter season with gatherings, costumes and sweet treats. Source: History.com

Enter at your Own Risk

This enchanting haunted house in a Minnetonka, Minnesota neighborhood, takes Halloween decorating to a new level. They start creating the haunted house on October 1st and continue adding ghoulish decorations every day until Halloween. It's a common occurrence to see cars pulling up to the house to get pictures and admire the work that goes into it. It's also the popular 'must see 'trick or treat' destination for children in the area.

Halloween has always been one of my favorite holidays. Mom and Dad made this such a memorable celebration, that as an adult, I get excited like I'm still a child. I remember like it was yesterday, the great halloween parties we had at our childhood home. We would bob for apples, have costume contests, eat lots of candy and hang out with our friends. The kids in the neighborhood always looked forward to the Rogers' tradition of Halloween and fun.

Nowadays, we are the house on the block that goes crazy with Halloween decorations. Even the little kids know that it is the fun house to check out. We have scary music blaring as the kids dare to enter our front doorstep. Monsters and goblins of many types are there to greet the children with blinking eyes and blood curdling sounds. If they want some great treats, they have to be brave enough to reach into the witches basket. Healing Touch, aka Mom, will eventually creep into the night streets with her kids and the rest of the neighborhood children and parents. Minnetonka Twin, aka auntie mom, will stay home and give out candy and make the traditional baked pumpkin seeds. The children will gather lots of goodies in their bags, only to come home later and count the treats. There will be candy exchanging going on and scary movies to watch late into the night. The smell of lit jackolanterns fill the night air and beckon the ghouls that run rampant in the darkness.