I don’t want this to turn into a rant, so I will try to be concise (not my strong suit) but we are a week away from my least favourite day of the year – Halloween.
Halloween is just not for me - and this is why:
I hate Horror movies. I’m sure I don’t need to spell this out but basically I scare really easily. And given horror movies are a pre-requisite for Halloween…I am terrified at the mere thought, You can keep your copies of Carrie, The Omen and all “The Nightmare of Elm Street” movies to yourself… I do remember being made to watch “Rosemary’s Baby” years ago by a boyfriend, which totally sealed Halloween’s fate. I had nightmares for months…
I’m scared of the dark too. To be clear I am ok if it there is very dim lighting, but I need some source of light. Pitch black sends me into a tailspin. And I suppose, as a major premise of Halloween is all manner of creatures jumping out at you in the dark, to scare you –this doesn’t work for me.
“Trick or treating” is unpredictable. I would even say it’s little bit stressful. I used to go trick or treating with my kids when they were small. They used to love dressing up and knocking on neighbour’s doors, and I would take them and mask my fear. I did not want to pass my “scaredy cat” issues onto my kids. But knocking on a door and being greeted by someone screaming at you who has blood dripping from somewhere or handing out treats to someone dressed as a demonic zombie is really not my bag. Also, just on a practical level I always worry about having enough sweets and treats because I don’t want to run out. When push comes to shove, I can deal with the “treat” part of Halloween but the “trick” part is wide open for interpretation and that worries me…
I hate food that resembles body parts. I’m not sure this needs much more explanation – edible eyeballs, monster’s fingers, spaghetti made to look like intestines – just keep it all away from me.
I don’t like fancy dress. I realise I’m sounding like I am no fun right now…but I AM fun – on any other day of the year! I can turn any old Tuesday into a party...unless it’s 31st October. Of course if I am invited to a fancy dress Halloween party I will make an effort - but designing a costume that is disgusting and gory is not going to happen.
Having said this, I am perfectly happy for everyone else to dive right in, I really don’t want to be all “Bah, Humbug” about this particular day. After all, it is only one day. Although – is it really worthy of celebration?!
I'm really happy to go to a Halloween party that revolves around food, drink, music and nice people. But as for transforming my house into somewhere Freddy Krueger might live, and embracing the dark and deadly…. well, I’d rather have an early night and wake up fresh as a daisy on the 1st November… and that’s probably what I’ll be doing this year! How about you? x