Thirteen Days of Halloween when you Don’t Like Halloween

If you don’t like it, why would you ever celebrate with thirteen days of Halloween?

Well, around here we pretty much function from one holiday to the next. Simple translation–we always have reasons to be grateful and to celebrate. Both fine American institutions.

This time of year we take it one step further and formally celebrate Thirteen days of Halloween!

Before you start thinking exactly HOW much time do I have on my hands?? And WHY?? Allow me to explain…

My Kid was Scared of Halloween

This tradition of ours came about when our eldest was pretty young. I didn’t want her to be afraid of Halloween…and for a short time there, she was.

She was in elementary school and some of the kids were watching Friday the 13th and other scary movies. We were still watching The Great Pumpkin and Elmo says Boo. She was a little torn because she wanted to stay up with the cool kids but she simply wasn’t in to the super scary and the gore.

Personally, I was happy to relive the ‘punny’ jokes of Elmo and recite Charlie Brown lines every year but I knew this wouldn’t fly unless somehow it was deemed ‘Cool’. Growing up is tough yo.

The other reason is that it made me to carve out family time in our schedules and find festive things to do that reflected the season…

In short, it was a forced exercise to spend time together. In a life that was becoming increasingly busy, this seemed like a great idea…and it WAS!

New Halloween Tradition Born

SO the annual tradition of Thirteen Days of Halloween was born!

Here’s how it works: We always know Day One would be decorating the house and we always know Day 13 will be actual Halloween and involve Trick or Treating. (because even when they outgrow it, we’ll still be giving out candy at the front door)

The remainder of the days we change each year depending on where we are and what festivities are around us. We are also influenced by budget and of course, age appropriateness.

Honestly, I get spooked pretty easily so I’m really happy doing Harry Potter and Spookley type events. There’s always a movie night at home too…usually Hocus Pocus. I mean, you gotta watch the Sanderson Sisters!

Uniquely American Halloween

As we do, Americans have a history of taking something and building upon it and making it grandiose. The Halloween of Colonial Times is much much different than the Halloween of modern days.

colonial girl fall — Colonial Sage is already a treat

Halloween has morphed as a blending of cultural traditions of immigrants. Every culture, including Native American tribes have their own version of ghost stories. They are usually cautionary tales meant as a lesson to youth. Isn’t that really the premise of our modern horror films too?

As with most American traditions, it is what you make it. We choose to make it a time of celebration and memory making.

Spooktacular Family Memories

Over the years we’ve created amazing memories! One of my favorite experiences was The Headless Horseman at Connor’s Prairie. We went on a hayride and were chased by the Headless Horseman himself! We made it across the bridge JUST in time!!!

We’ve also been to a pumpkin patch where Spookley the Square Pumpkin told us his story. Sage LOVED that!

We’ve ridden haunted trains, visited Boney Island, gone to yard haunts, Harry Potter World and much much more. Along the way we’ve laughed, jumped, screamed, held each other close, and laughed some more. Every year it’s a little different and every year I am so happy for our time together!

13 Days of Halloween Begins

Today we started our Thirteen days by decorating the house. The fall candles perfumed the air. We played Children’s Halloween music on Pandora. Sage donned a witch hat and put up our annual pumpkin patch on the mantle. Josh was unfortunately out of town today working but we got to send photos via text and he’ll be around for more of the thirteen days! Even Madison Bella, who is currently in school getting smart, dropped in via FaceTime to be a part of things.

Thirteen days of consciously spending time together, thirteen opportunities to make a memory and to stay connected. Thirteen days of festive fun with my favorite people… This Family!!