Halloween is my favorite holiday.
As a kid I liked the creepy stuff. Give me a dark shaded wood along the edge of a cemetery and I was the first one out of the car.
All Hallows Eve always fired my imagination – the idea that a special day of the year blurred the edges between the world of the living and those not, had vast appeal.
It’s also my wedding anniversary. Uh huh.
The weather is perfect, warm during the day, a little drizzly in the afternoon and then wind whips the hair, electric particles in the air charge your scalp and lift the barriers that….you get the idea.
It’s a time of possibility.
And it’s one of those times of the year when I think about endings and beginnings. Fall is my favorite time – a point of waking up when the summer has lasted too long and the heat become oppressive.
All Hallow’s Eve is a moment when the boundaries between what-is and what-might-be blur. I like that idea. It is also a celebration of summer’s end, the advent of autumn and harvest. All good things too, and there are plenty of links to ancient activities and origins that connect today’s Halloween events to the past.
Halloween is also one of the BIG holidays in my family.
My most diabolical aunt (that’s a compliment), delights in hiding the life-size zombie doll (don’t ask) in various parts of her house, in anticipation of one of her adult children arriving late. Blood curdling screams have ripped the silence of the night more than once when the zombie has been discovered in the bath, the bed, and in the closet.
Which is your favorite holiday and why? Do the passing of the seasons spark your creativity or throw you into a tailspin? Have any special torments you plot for family around the holidays?
Tags: Halloween, All Hallow’s Eve, intertwilight, veil time, changing seasons, autumn, pumpkins, fall leaves, weddings
Lesann Berry 
#1 by Annalise Green on October 31, 2011 - 3:38 pm
I think Christmas is my favorite holiday because I like curling up with my family and hot cocoa on a cold morning. And opening presents! But Halloween is pretty fantastic too! Sounds like you have some great reasons to love Halloween. Especially with the diabolical aunt!
#2 by MISH on October 31, 2011 - 7:00 pm
In the Southern Hemisphere, we have hot weather in December, ideal for the beach, so Christmas is definitely my favourite holiday!
#3 by Angela Orlowski-Peart on November 2, 2011 - 4:27 am
I like both, Halloween and Christmas. Each is amazing and there is so much fun assosiated with both of these holidays. Hope you had a fantastic anniversary! I love the zombie act your auntie does. She must be a riot!
#4 by Lesann Berry on November 2, 2011 - 9:03 pm
I've always thought it would be fun to put together a calendar of holidays from around the world. I'm sure someone's done this because most calendars have a variety of events noted, but wouldn't it be fun to celebrate a new holiday every day? Especially the lesser known ones like National Artichoke Day, International Naked Day, or Adopt-a-Seagull Day. My aunt is a total riot – and also a writer. You can check out her work at http://www.tammysetzerdenton.com/ and if someone left a comment, she'd "squee" SO loud!
#5 by Tammy on November 5, 2011 - 9:37 pm
This is your diabolical aunt speaking. Halloween was a huge success. Three children were too afraid to come up to the house. Saturday night, I attended a party in full Día de Los Muertos makeup and Monday night, I wore the Bride of Frankenstein wig. The cemetery was "enchanting" and next year, I'm building the Gates of Hell. On a side note, the word verification I had to type in order to post this was: gi spot.Are you trying to tell me something?
#6 by Lesann Berry on November 8, 2011 - 3:49 pm
Tammy! So glad Halloween was a success – we got our little pirate out for the evening. Post some picture so I can see the Dia de Los Muertos makeup, and the wig too, of course.No comment on the word verification – that karma telling you it's time.