It’s October 31st

And you know what that means? Well, maybe you do depending on where in the world you are.  It’s Halloween, All Hallows Eve, All Saints Eve, Samhain, Dia de los Muertos…it’s the day when many from wee little ones to adults get dressed up in costumes that run the gamut from store bought to wonderfully and meticulously handmade.  Movies have been made surrounding the day (Halloween and all of its sequels comes immediately to mind and of course It’s the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown) and it is a multimillion dollar industry what with all of the costumes, materials for costumes, party items and yes! The candy!!!

I cannot recall what costumes I wore as a child but back then it was safe (safer?) for people to hand out handmade candy and even – gasp – fruit.  Sadly those days are long gone and now children and parents alike pour over their loot to see what candy to keep, what to toss, and who gets dibs on the really good stuff.  There is even a phone commercial out where Trick or Treating has gone high tech with a family syncing their candy route via cell phones.  “Don’t go to house #49 because a dentist lives there and he is handing out floss!” Seriously! That is one line from the commercial.

I didn’t buy costumes for my children when they were young (although the grands buy theirs), I cobbled them together from what we had already with buying just a few accessories.  I made the son a complete postman’s outfit with bits from his grandfathers real postal shirt and hat and the daughter was once the school lunch lady wearing my apron, some plastic gloves that I actually got from her cafeteria, a hairnet and one of my big ladles.

Where I live they have a huge party downtown where they actually close down part of the main street for a street party that I have heard is out of this world with contests and music and all manner of revelry.  I haven’t made it to one yet because it is just too cold and the parking is ridiculous.  Maybe next year.  Whatever you do this day be safe, have fun, and post pictures later 🙂

By the way: What are some of your best Halloween memories and what if anything are you doing tonight?

(All images below were converted to black and white using either a gradient map or a monochrome action/preset and then further enhanced by adding grungy textures using various blending modes for effect.  I never saw the movie Halloween; too scary for me.)

Ohio