It was very windy yesterday, and I was watching the oak trees blowing outside the window at work. We don't have oaks on our street. I was noticing how the leaves just dry and turn brown - no pretty color there.
Anyway, the wind was supposed to pick up overnight and we wondered if the trick-or-treaters would be put off by it. It really picked up sometime after seven fifteen, but we still had more kids than we've ever had since we started keeping track. The last record was 139, back in 2022.
We always give out candy, even though the exorcists all say there is more demonic activity on this day than any other. We enjoyed going around for free candy when we were young, and it seems hypocritical to refuse any participation now. (I don't remember any of my costumes, and I didn't enjoy going out in the cold - it was always about the chocolate for me!) But it's very disturbing to see how many young people have a fascination with darkness; they're drawn to it, but have no awareness of why, or that they need to acquaint themselves with some accurate knowledge of the supernatural world: that is exists, and is not neutral territory.
But today we had the commemoration of All Saints.
"All holiness flows from God's holiness. Jesus Christ, God's Only Begotten Son, is the wealth of his house; the Spirit pouring out upon the world through his Death and Resurrection is the stream of God's delight and the source of life. These gifts of God's love are what make human beings holy."
- Magnificat, November 2025
"Speak to the whole Israelite community and tell them: Be holy, for I, the Lord, your God, am holy."
- Leviticus, 19:2
"You therefore are to be perfect, even as your heavenly Father is perfect."
- Matthew, 6:48
"Wherefore, my beloved, obedient as you have always been, ...work out your salvation with fear and trembling."
- Philippians 2:12
Keep trying! Don't give up.
Trick-or-treating wasn't done here when I was a girl but by the time Alice was going to Primary school it was just coming in. Some people had always had Halloween parties but it was never as popular as Guy Fawkes Night on 5th November. Nowadays there are trick-or-treaters but mainly in the towns and cities. We don't get anyone calling at our house. You are right about the interest in dark things - the Occult, spirits etc. Most are quite ignorant of the dangers.
ReplyDeleteGuy Fawkes - it's tomorrow! (well, today where you are) Now you make me wonder how they celebrate it in your town, Clare.
DeleteThere used to be a town Firework Display in Harleston (one of the towns near us) but I don't think they do it any more. Since the pandemic we have fewer gatherings and there are many people who object to firework displays. Their objections are: 1. Animals are terrified by the noise and we have a lot of farm animals in fields in this area; 2. It is time we stopped celebrating something that happened over 400 years ago; 3. Fireworks are very expensive and dangerous and we shouldn't be spending money on explosives!
DeleteI don't know anyone who is having a party tonight though I heard a few explosions last night. I do think some fireworks are pretty and I used to enjoy going out on cold nights to wave sparklers about in muddy dark fields! :D
It is strange to me how different things are since the pandemic, since it is several years ago now. Not everything has returned to normal, mostly having to do with public groups. I do feel increasingly badly for the wildlife, hearing the loud bangs, but fireworks are always a treat to watch! One life's dilemmas.
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