Halloween Humbug

If you follow me with any regularity you likely know how I feel about Halloween which I don’t even consider a holiday. Here are ten reasons why I’ll be happy when October 31st is over:

1. Let’s start with the obvious. Only in Toms River and surrounding towns do we hold “trick or treating” not on Halloween but today (October 30). This is to allow the annual Toms River Halloween Parade to be held on the day itself which I continue to be opposed to. By the way if you’ve just moved to the area be prepared for little and big kids to ring your doorbell today, some of whom will be from out of the area as they “double dip.”

   There might be some hope on this front as there is a petition drive called the “Saturday Halloween Movement” which wants to move Halloween to the final Saturday of October so it can be a day-long celebration. They also cite safety and school concerns and I’m one who would be happy to sign it.

2. Halloween decorations are for the most part pretty ugly and gross.
3. I hate any Halloween-themed scary movies, especially ones that feature Freddy Krueger and Michael Myers.
4. Parents who send their child to your door with instructions to also get candy for a brother or sister who is home sick. Really?
5. Those same parents who allow their children to run on your grass instead of walking up the driveway.
6. Costumes, or should I say lack thereof. I like the little children who dress up as superheroes and princesses and things like that. However what about the older kids who won’t take the time to work on a costume so they throw on a hoodie and some face paint and thing that’s good enough. It’s not!
7. While on the subject, older kids trick or treating to begin with. If you’re old enough to drive a car than that’s too old to go around house to house. Stay home and hand out candy to others.
8. Adults who are really into Halloween and get kicks out of scaring others. Makes me wonder.
9. Large inflatables on the lawn.
10. Rotting pumpkins.

The good news is Halloween will be over soon and they I can focus on the Hallmark Channel’s “Countdown to Christmas” which begins Saturday with the first of 22 new movies.