The town of
Jericho in its small-town wisdom has taken efforts to revitalize the sadly
worn out and nearly diminished Halloween holiday and the sweet tradition it
represents.
Local
residents were concerned children had become frightened off from celebrating
the holiday, choosing to remain inside for Halloween parties. Energy conscious homes
were not turning on their porch lights for trick-or-treaters, single-use
plastic pumpkins soured environmental minded folks, and orthodontic offices
were capturing most of the sweetness gathered during the hallowed event.
Kids need to
go outside even in at twilight once and a while, one mom reasoned. Some have
never seen real stars, only the storied ones of Hollywood fame. They need to
see where candy comes from other than the kitchen cupboard. Kids need to be
more aware of the diversity in their neighborhood – get out and meet some of
the other goblins and ghouls!
And, did you
know that pumpkins can be used for something other than pumpkin pie?
Did you
know that at the end of the harvest and beginning of winter, spirits walk the
Earth? What a great time for the living and the dead to mingle. Or at least the
living and those in costume that look like they are dead.
After years
of indoor Halloween parties and few outdoor revelers, the ghosts are now
concentrated outdoors. Now more than ever, we need folks to don costumes
outside to ward off the ghosts that have moved out of doors. In addition, we
need many carved-out pumpkins with frightening faces to scare off evil spirits.
We can’t let the famed Cilley Hill Pumpkin Glow get ALL the fame.
Perhaps we
can even give hope to the bats decimated by white-nosed-syndrome by showing our
support on their anniversary night. Too
bad bats eat insects instead of candy. There are fewer and fewer insects around
for bats to eat. Perhaps we might start
an add-on tradition to Halloween by planting native plants on the eve of Hallow
to support the web of life from insects to bats, birds, and other of our nature
friends.
OK, so now
you are convinced we need to get out on Halloween night. You have pumpkins carved,
costumes made. Now you need to find a small reusable pillowcase to go
to local homes and collect apples (candy apples please) or candy, preferably
the latter in return for some authentic howling, scary face making, perhaps a
good Halloween joke, and maybe even a trick. (That is why it’s called
Trick-or-Treat!)
BTW, if you
laid out all of your bones end-to-end, what would you be? See the end of this
article for the answer.
For you
older folks, stick with the more ancient tradition of bobbing for apples –
better to keep your remaining teeth in place. Alternatively, you could try
pretending to be a tall and perhaps slightly balding kid, as I do, and beg
for toys, coins, fruits, and nuts, and especially CANDY. However, in a pinch, I
would gladly accept Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream.
Definitely
do not settle for just “Chicken Feed” (aka candy corn). BTW I am still accepting donations of leaves –
especially bags of leaves with one or two pieces of candy atop. Read more at
Oh, and don’t
forget to ask those answering the door to guess your identity. If they can’t
guess who or what you are, guess what, you get more candy!
Word of
caution: be aware of white cats on Halloween night. You see, the black cats are
witches' companions. They have gotten a bad rap, so now just before Halloween, all
the black cats tear up the bags of white flour in the pantry and roll in it to
become white cats during Halloween.
Public
notice: The Jericho Country Store and most homes do not accept returns on
candy. What to do with the selection of candy in your pillowcase from your
outdoor Halloween trick-or-treat haul that you do not like? Bring them to me –
I find them all to be as sweet as cherry pie!
No sweeter tradition is there than Halloween. See you out there. I will be dressed in my bones and capturing photos of all ye ghosts and goblins.
Halloween in
the great outdoors of Jericho Center – how sweet it is.
Answer to
the riddle, if you laid out all of your bones end-to-end, what would you be? You’d be dead!
I will always believe caring, and sharing plus contribution (and a wee bit of humor/fun) equals community.
Bernie
Trick or Treat in Jericho Center
Andrea Hook • Browns Trace,
Jericho
Announcement
Announcement
Are you
looking for a fun place to celebrate Halloween? Come to Jericho Center, 5:30 -
7:30, where there will be great fun supplied by the Jericho Town Library, J/U
Fire department, Jericho Center Store, and the Community Center. Candy,
Halloween decorations, parking & restrooms at the Community Center. Candy
and fire truck at the library and more candy at the store!---------------------------------------------------------------------
Curse the weatherman, yesterday was warm and dry, today (Halloween) is warm but raining.
Trick-or-Treaters will offer the refrain "Trick-or-Treat, give me something good to eat".
While I, when they come to the door sopping wet with costumes melting in the rain, will refrain,
"Blow your nose and wipe your feet, come on in and get something good to eat".
For a more adult and a bit scary Halloween Story read my "Drop of a Spoon" tale @
https://litterwithastorytotell.blogspot.com/2011/10/at-drop-of-spoon.html
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