Does any single adult over 40 still celebrate halloween?

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   moneyfairyposted 11 years ago

   I know parents with children and familys at home and school age still celebrate but I was just wondering if anyone else still celebrates Halloween and if so what do you do to celebrate? Haunted houses? haloweened themed parties? Just curious

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      moneyfairyposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Do you still leave your lights on to dole out candy to tricker treaters? If so do you make home made treats anymore or just packaged candy?

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         bodyleviveposted 11 years agoin reply to this

         There aren't any kids left in the neighborhood now and I think that's what prompted many to host Halloween parties, barn fires and haunted house tours. I enjoyed the children coming but they are adults now. I've lived in the same neighborhood for 24 years now.

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      bodyleviveposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Yes, I don't know about other places but in Alabama we have hay rides, barn fires and tours in old houses set and decorated for Halloween. Adults are in costumes, no children are allowed. Some have adult parties and you must be in costume, again no children are allowed.

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         moneyfairyposted 11 years agoin reply to this

         Sounds like great fun!!! Glad you enjoy Halloween:)

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   Greekgeekposted 11 years ago

   I decorate the front of the house with some silly-scary decorations and a hand-carved pumpkin (usually a Cheshire cat) to attract trick-or-treaters, hand out candy, and usually put on a black  cloak from my college days -- which is why my neighbor's young son gave me the best compliment I have ever received, "You look like Darth Vader, only girly."
   
   I have to be careful to keep the decorations cute-scary and not scary-scary because I get a lot of trick or treaters in the 4 to 8 age group. Poor little tykes: I had found a mask version of Edvard Munch's "The Scream" painting which I thought was a wonderfully easy costume to wear with that black cloak, but I had to stop wearing it when I moved to a "high school students trying to get candy" neighborhood to a "little tykes that come up to your knee" neighborhood. I'm afraid that mask traumatized a teeny weenie Princess Leia!
   
   After all the kiddlybeans have gone I put away the secular holiday stuff and have a quiet Samhain, lighting candles for granddad and grandma and my Nana and departed family members. Behind all the modern commercialism, I know the old Celtic holiday was about connections to the dead, so I treat it as a sort of Shinto-ish holiday for honoring the ancestors.

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      moneyfairyposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      What a great idea Greek Geek, lighting candles for the ancestoral departed.  I think I may try that!!! and that is nice that you still have little ones in your neighborhood!!! Have fun!!!

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   brimancandyposted 11 years ago

   I'm glad you asked this question.
   
   I did the "trick or treat" thing when I was a kid, and in my late teens and 20's I stopped caring about it. I figured it was just like Valentines day. Just another way for candy companies and retailers to make more money, until I discovered the more fun side of Halloween, and that is the one for the big kids! That being big parties and events themed toward the over 21 crowd. So, now I not only love Halloween, I mark it off on my schedule early, so I don't miss any of the events.
   
   The campground I belong to has a big Halloween celebration, as well as building a haunted house for it's members. I have been volunteering with set up, and being in costume for the haunt now for the last several years. This years haunted trail was one of the best yet! And, the after party was even better! Lots of great costumes, and a well decorated party building, with several hundred there.
   
   But, the best part of Halloween in my neck of the woods, is the Halloween Parade in Douglas, MI. It's just a small resort town. But, the Halloween parade brings in people by the thousands. It's a great party atmosphere, with some really fun and inventive costumes. One of my favorite this year was someone dressed up as Obama with Mitt Romney as a dog on a chain, a large group of men in drag as cheer leaders. But, the best part of the evening is the after parties, where the masses pack into the local bars for more Halloween fun.
   
   If you would like to see some of the Halloween fun in Douglas, you can find it on Youtube. Just do a search for "Halloween Parade Douglas Michigan." I know there are a few of the "Thriller Dance." from a few years ago. That was a really wild one.

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      moneyfairyposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Glad you had fun partying!!! and costume watching!!! I'll check it out on you tube!

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   WriteAngledposted 11 years ago

   I conducted a Samhain ritual on my own last night.
   
   I do not take part in all the fancy dress and pumpkin stuff. Fortunately, where I live in Wales, there is very little trick or treating, but had anyone knocked on my door, I would not have opened it.

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      A Troubled Nurseposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      What is Samhain ritual? Is that similar to Wicca?

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   WriteAngledposted 11 years ago

   Wicca was established by Gerald Gardner in the 20th century. Samhain goes back to pre-Christian times, possibly dating as far back as the Neolithic period.
   
   Wiccans do indeed celebrate Samhain, but so do Druids, followers of the Celtic mysteries and many others, who prefer to follow a pagan path of spirituality.

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      moneyfairyposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Very interesting!!! Thanks for the history!!

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      bodyleviveposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      That is very interesting. Do you have a hub on that? I read quite a bit of celtic as I enjoy mysteries of the unknown.

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   WriteAngledposted 11 years ago

   Samhain marks the start of the pagan New Year. Samhain rituals may include remembering and honouring the dead, bringing things to a close, cleaning up (physically, psychologically, spiritually) and preparing for a fresh start.

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      moneyfairyposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Well happy New year to you!!! All the best clearing out the past and inviting the new!!! Yeah You !!! Awesome!!

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   Dame Scribeposted 11 years ago

   My sons and I hang decorations, play spooky and fun music and love giving out candy

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      moneyfairyposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      How fun!! Glad you have a howaling good time
      Was the monster mash one of the songs?

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   Disappearingheadposted 11 years ago

   My Father-in-law gets all worked up about Halloween as he thinks its all real. So I made the video on the link below to wind him up a bit.
   
   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hWscZTfa5cw

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      moneyfairyposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      LOL

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   Dame Scribeposted 11 years ago

   well, yes! I love that song even if my sons think it's silly

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      moneyfairyposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Great whatever makes you laugh and enjoy life!!! Silliness is what makes life fun!!!

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