Halloween... to treat, or not to treat?

If you'd asked me a few years back if I was going to participate in this trick or treating business, I would have given you a swift 'Hell no'. Like so many people I know, I hated the idea of it... I guess I didn't see the point. It wasn't something that was generally done here in Oz, and I didn't see the point in starting now. There's alway some kind of debate over the origin, and why it doesn't belong here. I am in no way a religious person, but I still celebrate Christmas and Easter, because for me they've developed far beyond their religious beginnings. For me those holidays are about family and coming together. So how is Halloween any different? Now, after having experienced a good old fashioned American-style Halloween for myself though, I have a new found appreciation for it all.

Nathan, my knight in plastic armour... (Actually I think he was meant to be a gladiator), out the front of our modestly decorated Californian home.

​We had been living in the US, in our comfy Californian mansion for approximately 11 months, we hadn't yet met any of our neighbours. Like everyone else in the street, we would exit our house via the garage, head off to complete our daily tasks, and return much the same way, closing the garage door behind us, shutting out the rest of the world. This didn't make for a very 'neighbourly' type situation, and people very much kept to themselves. Except on Halloween. I was amazed at how a formerly quiet neighbourhood came alive, practically buzzing with happy, excited children, all dressed up ready to go house to house (of course under the watchful eye of protective parents) to collect their candy. On this night, for the first time, we met our neighbours. I suddenly realised that there could be so much more to this tradition than what I had previously thought. It could be a great opportunity for a community to come together.

I was 'Harriet Potter' for the night.

The last few years though, we have opted out, we've chosen not to participate. Since returning from the States, the last three Halloweens have seen me either suffering terrible morning sickness (the smell of chocolate NOT my favourite thing), having a little baby to care for, or like last year, literally being the size of a whale... I could have probably dressed myself as a pumpkin, but, in the end the couch won. This year we are all able bodied (sort of) and excited to hit the pavement for a little Trick or Treat action. Our current neighbourhood is a regular military married patch... Everyone knows everyone, and if you don't, you know someone that does. So it's a great opportunity to dust off the old social skills, and get amongst it.

It's pretty safe to say that Halloween has officially hit Australian shores, and it's only going to get bigger. The reality is, it's here, it's happening, and whether you like it or not, people are getting into Halloween. If you're not into it, that's fine, keep your porch light off and sit back for a quiet night... But maybe it's time we stop fighting against it. What's so bad about opening up to it all and finding the fun?

So we're planning on getting out and about this October 31st... Will you?