Halloween!

It's that time of year again: the season of all things pumpkin flavored.  I live in the northwest U.S., and so it's also the time of year of changing colors in the trees. There is a chill in the air, which makes the afternoon sun feel even better.  It's time to start breaking out my sweaters... I don't love winter, but I do love sweaters. (This love contradicts my dislike of wearing socks, but that's a different conversation.)

That means it's almost Halloween! Halloween around here is an often secularly observed, fun, time of year. It's a 'holiday' because we do it every year, we have parties and rituals for it, and there is an air of excitement around it.  I still have to work on Tuesday, but that doesn't make Halloween feel less to me.

It's also a time of reflection; while Halloween and it's associated observances have long and varied histories, it's generally accepted as a time to reflect on the dead - those in our families who have passed. Some attend church, other light candles in graveyards, or at an altar in their home. 

At it's best, it is a time to remember, to celebrate, and also to be silly. It ignites the imagination and encourages having fun just to have fun. You dress up as something different from your everyday life, as something fanciful. Trick-or-treating is a fun trade of seeing children smile for candy, but it is also an act of generosity. It brings communities together, as we engage together in creating safe spaces for children to dress up as their heroes and aspirations and to run around their neighborhoods, getting candy in return for simply asking.  Haunted houses, carving pumpkins, backyard fires, apple bobbing, and around here, pulling on your long underwear underneath your costume. An indulgence of sugar and laughter.

• Invitation Round-Up •

If you love Halloween you may be having
a party, for your friends or your children.  

Start your celebration off right: with a fun, spooky, invitation.

A warning on parchment with a skull and bones for a haunted house or costume party.
Enter if you dare.  Have fun if you do.

Another Enter if you Dare invite.  A lit up house on a beautiful sky background, with a witch flying away from the house.  You know, like they do. Invite friends to your Fright Night with this bright, fun, invitation.

This scarecrow hanging in front of an orange moon is creepy, and makes the perfect invitation to your spooktacular party. That's a word: spooktacular.  Ok, if it's not, it should be.

Spooky spider web invitation is a simple, classic, design with a spooky design.  It's perfect for any kind of party you are going to throw.  Better yet, you can tell people what to expect - drinks, food, haunted house, BYOB, whatever.

I don't want to be biased, but this open house, spiderweb, halloween party invitation, is my favorite.  It includes the line "Drop in when you can. Hang around as long as you like." You know, like a spider. Drop in. Ha!

So, throw a party, have fun, eat candy, and smile a kid wearing a superhero costume.  That's what Tuesdays are for.  At least the 31st of this month anyway. And watch for this coming Tuesday - the Halloween free Printable art will be up!