http://www.bakersfieldvoice.com/home/Blog/aaramark/16786 Is there anything more strange than the Halloween holiday? I mean really how many times do we encourage our kids to dress up to scare people and send them out to beg strangers for candy? Isn't that odd? To me it's the strangest holiday ever. What do tou think? Is there anything more strange than the Halloween holiday? I mean really how many times do we encourage our kids to dress up to scare people and send them out to beg strangers for candy? Isn't that odd? To me it's the strangest holiday ever. What do tou think? en-us Wed, 31 Oct 2007 16:47:42 PDT I'm not a fan of scaring people or being scared - but there are people I know, like and respect who enjoy scary movies and that whole genre. Dressing up once a year is fun. It's exciting to plan and make a costume. Going door-to-door fosters a sense of community and generosity - these days it could be the only time during the year to see and speak to neighbors. I was disappointed (but not surprised) when my son's school didn't allow kids to dress up for Halloween. Many Americana traditions are evaporating. http://www.bakersfieldvoice.com/home/Blog/aaramark/16786/#c_158813 http://www.bakersfieldvoice.com/home/Blog/aaramark/16786/#c_158813 I'm not a fan of scaring people or being scared - but there are people I know, like and respect who enjoy scary movies and that whole genre. Dressing up once a year is fun. It's exciting to plan and make a costume. Going door-to-door fosters a sense of community and generosity - these days it could be the only time during the year to see and speak to neighbors. I was disappointed (but not surprised) when my son's school didn't allow kids to dress up for Halloween. Many Americana traditions are evaporating. I don't like dressing up as anything scary. But I like dressing up and costumes. It can be so much fun. One of my favorite pictures in our home right now is of a small gathering of friends for our pirate party last Halloween. Everyone dressed up and it was so great. <br /> <br /> I also can't wait until I have kids of my own and I can go around to our neighbors to trick-or-treat with them. From other accounts I have read and heard from parents it can really be a lot of fun. My favorite account this year was this one: http://www.dooce.com/archives/daily/11_01_2007.html http://www.bakersfieldvoice.com/home/Blog/aaramark/16786/#c_160731 http://www.bakersfieldvoice.com/home/Blog/aaramark/16786/#c_160731 I don't like dressing up as anything scary. But I like dressing up and costumes. It can be so much fun. One of my favorite pictures in our home right now is of a small gathering of friends for our pirate party last Halloween. Everyone dressed up and it was so great. <br /> <br /> I also can't wait until I have kids of my own and I can go around to our neighbors to trick-or-treat with them. From other accounts I have read and heard from parents it can really be a lot of fun. My favorite account this year was this one: http://www.dooce.com/archives/daily/11_01_2007.html <p>I just find it strange we teach our kids not to talk to strangers, except one time a year when we encourage them to dress up and beg for candy! Notice I am using the we pro-noun here because I did it too. I took my two year old out this year in the neighborhood for some of the same reasons you all mentioned... community is a good thing and I really hardly know my neighbors well enough so this seemed like a good excuse to get out and at least say hi to some of them. Anyway, at two years old, my daughter had no idea what she was supposed to do but it was still fun to watch her try to figure it out. </p> http://www.bakersfieldvoice.com/home/Blog/aaramark/16786/#c_178683 http://www.bakersfieldvoice.com/home/Blog/aaramark/16786/#c_178683 <p>I just find it strange we teach our kids not to talk to strangers, except one time a year when we encourage them to dress up and beg for candy! Notice I am using the we pro-noun here because I did it too. I took my two year old out this year in the neighborhood for some of the same reasons you all mentioned... community is a good thing and I really hardly know my neighbors well enough so this seemed like a good excuse to get out and at least say hi to some of them. Anyway, at two years old, my daughter had no idea what she was supposed to do but it was still fun to watch her try to figure it out. </p>