To Stay or Go: Halloween

This year we're playing the part of nonbelievers of the Great Pumpkin (sorry Linus) and escaping the hubbub of Halloween festivities for the peace and quiet of the desert for an architectural destination. It's not that we dislike Halloween at all; we grew up in the suburbs where Halloween was greeted with a passionate revelry and a community spirit that always made the night a good, if not a cavity inducing one. We still love seeing front door decorations all around Los Angeles...

But this year we join the percentage of Halloween non-participants who turn off the interior lights, leave a bowl of candy and a note asking people abide by the honour system and are escaping away from a night that can admittedly get pretty crazy in our part of town. Some of our friends escape every year, while others seem to really welcome the holiday as a favourite, enjoying meeting their neighbors dressed up in costume, hosting spooky themed parties, and making the effort to open their doors to strangers on this most peculiar of evenings each year. If anything, Halloween is a unique community based holiday, despite its supposed dark reputation. How do you feel about Halloween? Is it something you eagerly await or is it a day in the year which causes you to flee your own abode?

(Image: Flickr member ehavir licensed for use under Creative Commons)

Comments (10)

I adore halloween. If I ever did go away, I'd still do it in costume. I'm actually kind of sad: I work from home, so I didn't have an excuse to dress up on Friday AND Saturday.

posted by deliriumsama on October 30th 2009 at 9:37pm
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My family and I stay in and watch movies like The Changeling,The Haunting and The Devil and Daniel Webster and eat lots of candy.

posted by Laucus116 on October 30th 2009 at 9:48pm
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we're going Trick-or-treating with our daughter, so there's just nobody to stay home and give out the candy.

And I went to her school today wearing a pirate hat, and that felt GREAT!

posted by Nudik on October 30th 2009 at 11:18pm
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I'm not sure I understand the two options above. Another viable option is simply to not celebrate and to just continue doing everything normally. I plan to have a typical Saturday night tonight.

posted by fabframes on October 31st 2009 at 9:48am
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halloween & dia de los muertos! On the blog www.laeastside.com there is a big list of Sunday events. Don't diss day of the dead!

posted by SydneyBristow on October 31st 2009 at 12:14pm
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I've never understood Halloween party-poopers. What's wrong with one night filled with harmless mischief, silly costumes, and community-oriented events? Not to mention candy! It's the one night of the year I feel like a hyper kid again, and not some stodgy old stick-in-the-mud adult who has to pay bills and go to work.

Happy Halloween to all!

posted by kellylc on October 31st 2009 at 1:03pm
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Somewhere between the above options--we're staying in for a quiet night with friends, but will hand out candy.

posted by brittanykate on October 31st 2009 at 1:50pm
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I always used to "do" Halloween until last year. I started to have mainly older teenagers come to my door, and, unfortunately, as a single female, I just didn't feel safe opening the door anymore.

posted by sheri on October 31st 2009 at 2:41pm
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I'm always in costume, even if at home. We don't get any trick-or-treaters, so we'll probably stay in and watch crappy movies... mst3k is the best ;)

posted by dunklekatze on October 31st 2009 at 5:50pm
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I tend to stay in and watch reruns of the old Halloween movies with the fiance - with enough popcorn and candy to kill an army. We just don't hand out candy.

posted by ChrisGal on November 1st 2009 at 9:02am
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