topic Re: Traditional Fall Items in Home

Traditional Fall Items

Puzzle Piece — Wed, 13 Aug 2014 23:29:20 GMT

I grew up with Fall Items and Halloween was a one day deal and it was for children. Now, Fall is primarily the ghoulish items put up and out early for that one day.

I enjoy all the Fall colors of leaves, the acorns, the Harvest/Indian Corn, Squirrels putting up their bounty, the Fall flowers and foliage, the many colors and tastes of apples, walnuts, the Hay bales, Happy Scarecrows, stalks of corn plants, acorns, certain breads and cakes were baked, etc. All of it leading up to a meaningful holiday - Thanksgiving.

I really could care less about Halloween as I find it a children's outing for a few hours on one night. We dressed in costumes that were not monstrous - doctors, nurses, firemen, police officers, teachers/librarians, and some were animals (pets). I enjoyed that part of growing up. I don't see it today and I just don't participate in handing out a treat to what I've seen roaming around the neighborhood.

Re: Traditional Fall Items

Another new name Sue — Sat, 16 Aug 2014 19:40:43 GMT

Ignore the previous poster. Grumpy, I guess.

I agree with you mostly. Summer is not an enjoyable season for me, so I welcome fall and put out fall décor. Halloween is fun, but I don't want to decorate for just one day, so I too stick with the hay bales, autumn garland, scarecrows, pumpkins which I've grown, etc.

Things change, Love Roses. It's true, some costumes are inappropriate in our opinions, but not all are, so don't be a "scrooge," leave your lights on and be a good neighbor for an hour or so. It means a lot to the young children.

The trick or treaters have dwindled in our neighborhood, fewer and fewer each year.

Re: Traditional Fall Items

rustysmom — Sat, 16 Aug 2014 19:42:58 GMT

I am with the OP. I also love Fall, all the colors, smells, the cool crisp air, pumpkin everything, tastes of Fall, love it all. But Fall and Halloween are not the same. As a child we went out trick or treating and our costumes were not evil like they are these days. As a Christian, we do not celebrate Halloween, it is an evil holiday. There is too much evil in this world these days to celebrate Halloween. I may sound like a prude, but this is how I feel. love love love Fall, but you can keep Halloween.

Re: Traditional Fall Items

~moxie~ — Sat, 16 Aug 2014 19:43:28 GMT

I enjoy putting out Halloween decor it is part of fall. I don't go over board just a few touches of whimsy. I remove the Halloween decor when it starts to approach further into November. The crows I purchased are a primitive type and I know a lot of people that integrate them in their decor all year long. I won't only because it is not my style of decorating. For me my home is my sanctuary and to decorate for the holidays fills my heart.

Re: Traditional Fall Items

champagnepoodle — Sat, 16 Aug 2014 19:54:21 GMT

I love Halloween parties and masquerade parties. Since a lot of kids don't go door to door on Halloween there are more at home parties, so decorating the house in a Halloween decor has started a "ghoulish" trend. Sooo much fun and safe!

Re: Traditional Fall Items

Puzzle Piece — Sat, 16 Aug 2014 19:54:33 GMT

Happy Gal - Not to worry, I got a laugh out of the first poster. Don't know why folks do an assessment from a paragraph that is written and make an overall diagnosis about another. I like Fall and the decors, just not what is offered as what one should look forward to today. As for the children, most are gone and the one's that show up are not that little. They drive around various areas and neighborhoods and stop at the homes that have a light shining on. As we were 'the target house' for passing out the treats, we noticed others didn't do the same though they had children. They would not make the effort. So, we just don't practice the tradition at all. One Halloween we got home 1/2 hour into the trick or treat activity and so the older ones trashed our decorations and tore down a banner flag along with the fascia board where it was attached. It was an expense we didn't count on so we just stopped completely. The older 18+ participators were scary and the police were advising residents not to open their doors as invasion robberies could occur.

Rusty's Mom - I understand your belief. We have had neighbors who don't get into Halloween for your reasons, but they enjoy the Fall season and the traditional items. It can be just as enjoyable if not more so.

Moxie - Thanks for your sharing. We too like crows and have rescued several. Our interest if for nature when it comes to crows - the most intelligent of all birds and they have seven different crow languages from what studies have found.

Re: Traditional Fall Items

Mominohio — Sun, 17 Aug 2014 01:47:15 GMT

I don't care for Halloween decor at all, inside or outside. I stick to fall things for the entire season.

I don't have a religious objection to Halloween or Trick or Treating, but living in the country, we don't get any beggars here. If we lived in town I'd love to participate, and we used to take my son into town with friends for trick or treating when he was little.

I appreciate the folks who go all out with their yard and porch decorations for the kiddos to have fun that night.

Re: Traditional Fall Items

lovesrecess — Sun, 17 Aug 2014 02:06:20 GMT

On 8/16/2014 Rustys mom said:
I am with the OP. I also love Fall, all the colors, smells, the cool crisp air, pumpkin everything, tastes of Fall, love it all. But Fall and Halloween are not the same. As a child we went out trick or treating and our costumes were not evil like they are these days. As a Christian, we do not celebrate Halloween, it is an evil holiday. There is too much evil in this world these days to celebrate Halloween. I may sound like a prude, but this is how I feel. love love love Fall, but you can keep Halloween.

ITA! the grandkids go to our church for a harvest festival; you dress up as a favorite hero or community helper (fireman, nurse, football player, Noah (so cute with pairs of stuffed animals!), etc. and games and lots of fun&food a few days before Halloween. We truly celebrate fall because it means the long, hot summer is coming to an end. That is a reason to celebrate. Pumpkins, scarecrows, beautiful mums.....just love autumn but the pagan aspect isn't for us.

Re: Traditional Fall Items

ILUVChristmas — Sun, 17 Aug 2014 03:54:57 GMT

On 8/16/2014 lovesrecess said:
On 8/16/2014 Rustys mom said:
I am with the OP. I also love Fall, all the colors, smells, the cool crisp air, pumpkin everything, tastes of Fall, love it all. But Fall and Halloween are not the same. As a child we went out trick or treating and our costumes were not evil like they are these days. As a Christian, we do not celebrate Halloween, it is an evil holiday. There is too much evil in this world these days to celebrate Halloween. I may sound like a prude, but this is how I feel. love love love Fall, but you can keep Halloween.

ITA! the grandkids go to our church for a harvest festival; you dress up as a favorite hero or community helper (fireman, nurse, football player, Noah (so cute with pairs of stuffed animals!), etc. and games and lots of fun&food a few days before Halloween. We truly celebrate fall because it means the long, hot summer is coming to an end. That is a reason to celebrate. Pumpkins, scarecrows, beautiful mums.....just love autumn but the pagan aspect isn't for us.

Do you celebrate Christmas and Easter? They originally were pagan but have been Christianized ( thank goodness). Also research "All Hallow's Eve" Note the word * Hallow*. There's nothing evil about it. Making fun of "imaginary" spooky things that scare you is not evil. Ancient Christians celebrated wearing masks and making fun of the devil because Christ conquered death and h e double sticks. This activity was similar to Halloween. Look it up.

Re: Traditional Fall Items

ILUVChristmas — Sun, 17 Aug 2014 05:34:06 GMT

On 8/16/2014 happygal said:
Ignore the previous poster. Grumpy, I guess.

I agree with you mostly. Summer is not an enjoyable season for me, so I welcome fall and put out fall décor. Halloween is fun, but I don't want to decorate for just one day, so I too stick with the hay bales, autumn garland, scarecrows, pumpkins which I've grown, etc.

Things change, Love Roses. It's true, some costumes are inappropriate in our opinions, but not all are, so don't be a "scrooge," leave your lights on and be a good neighbor for an hour or so. It means a lot to the young children.

The trick or treaters have dwindled in our neighborhood, fewer and fewer each year.

Calling me grumpy?? You just told the OP not to be a scrooge. Ha ha the pot calling the kettle black But really after reading what she says down below. Doesn't seem like a friendly neighborhood. I'd be looking to move where I could have fun in a safe manner. So in a way I was correct in saying some fun and excitement are needed. It's a shame that others in her neighborhood spoil it for others.

Re: Traditional Fall Items

cater — Sun, 17 Aug 2014 05:55:53 GMT

I have never considered Halloween as a evil celebration I do decorate for fall and Halloween I go all out some of the family also dresses up to hand out candy to the little ones. In years past we have had families come with their little ones and they could see inside it was all decorated and lite up. These little ones would come to the door and they were given their treats some of them would be trying to see inside so I would open the door wider and they would walk in and they were so excited to see all the different decorations, the parents would thank us for letting the little ones in. there is a lot more evil out in this world then cute Halloween decorations.

Re: Traditional Fall Items

ILUVChristmas — Sun, 17 Aug 2014 08:01:22 GMT

On 8/16/2014 cater said:
I have never considered Halloween as a evil celebration I do decorate for fall and Halloween I go all out some of the family also dresses up to hand out candy to the little ones. In years past we have had families come with their little ones and they could see inside it was all decorated and lite up. These little ones would come to the door and they were given their treats some of them would be trying to see inside so I would open the door wider and they would walk in and they were so excited to see all the different decorations, the parents would thank us for letting the little ones in. there is a lot more evil out in this world then cute Halloween decorations.

Yeah evil happens everyday and its not because of costumes/masks, decorations, trick or treating, bobbing for apples, black cats or old pagan beliefs... well they did it to scare away evil . Doesn't come from imaginary superstitious nonsense. Not ever been any evidence of people being sacrificed on Halloween or demons possessing people while celebrating it. It's what is in the heart and minds of Human beings walking around in normal attire and having a Christian or other religious background... well pretending to have one I guess, or at least being exposed to a religion. Just seemingly normal. Of course something goes wrong and that's a whole other discussion. There's a whole lot of folks that are scary everyday of the year. Oddly though it seems that more evil things happen around Christmas time when you think about it.

Re: Traditional Fall Items

Puzzle Piece — Sun, 17 Aug 2014 10:08:03 GMT

christmasnut - Don't know why you turned this into a sparring thread. Those kids who misbehave are from other areas and neighborhoods. Most are from so-called 'nice' families' but somehow they think that Halloween is a night to go out and bust up the place and trash things. If others want to post an opinion or viewpoint why do you jump in to battle?

I expressed my observations, experiences, and how I was raised to view the Fall season. Halloween was not the paramount event of that season. It is just not all that important to me.

Re: Traditional Fall Items

memyselfandI — Sun, 17 Aug 2014 12:38:24 GMT

I do start my fall decorating after labor day. Like many, I love the color of the mums. I even bought mine yesterday so those will be planted tomorrow. They will be a nice touch to the end of season plants that are starting to see the end of the season. I grow my own pumpkins so when ready they will be placed around the outside of the house with gourds and corn shocks. I even add lights. I found solar lights last year at Target so I can get to areas without extension cords!

Inside everything gets changed too. Kohls has had nice seasonal items for years so I add those to my VPH.

During Halloween I do add my Halloween things. I understand that it may not be important to some. But as the wife of a minister I can tell you that Halloween is NOT an evil holiday. It is actually "all hallows eve" which is a Christian holiday with pagan, not satanic, roots. Now? like parts of Christmas/Easter it is really all about fun and candy!!! Mostly candy. Most (no, of course not all, but most) of the kids are about dressing up and getting candy. That has been part of the scene since the 40's. I certainly grew up with trick or treating. We even had monster, ghoul and witch costumes in those days. Hate to tell anyone this but if you are having a harvest festival at churches with kids in costumes, even if they are helpers, you are also celebrating Halloween. Just in a friendly costume form but it is celebrating that whole costume thing. Anyway, we carve all those pumpkins and line the driveway and sidewalk. All my grown kids and their spouses and now the grandchildren come home the weekend before Halloween and we carve! We set out about 25-30 jack-o-lanterns! I light them with strings of Christmas lights on a timer. So much easier than lighting candles! I don't wear a costume for trick or treat but I do have several Quacker factory things to pick from. I also add ghosts and a cemetery to the outside decorations.

Then in November I take away the Halloween things and add more turkey,s pilgrims and cornucopias to the inside decorations and I have a great inflatable turkey for outside!

The day after thanksgiving it all goes to Christmas but September until then it is all about my favorite season - Autumn!!!

Re: Traditional Fall Items

151949 — Sun, 17 Aug 2014 13:18:13 GMT

4 years ago we retired to a gated all adult community. I really miss the kids at Halloween and wish we still had that, but the grinches like the OP in my community refuse to let the gates be open so we can get trick or treaters.

Re: Traditional Fall Items

AuntG — Sun, 17 Aug 2014 13:47:37 GMT

I love it all. Halloween does seem to get over played on TV shows. In my neighborhood, it starts after school around 4pm and wraps up about two hours later. Costumes are cute but not elaborate and the kids aren't running wild; there are parents who walk with them.

Re: Traditional Fall Items

JannyRee — Sun, 17 Aug 2014 17:02:36 GMT

Love Roses, It made me smile to read all the things you love about fall. It is my favorite season and I enjoy all those things, too. Thank you for posting this thread.

Re: Traditional Fall Items

GinaV24 — Sun, 17 Aug 2014 17:28:34 GMT

Each to their own, decorate your home as you want to and others will do as they choose. Last I looked it was a free country.

Since I like both, I put up a lot of fall decorations starting in mid-September and then mix Halloween items in from the middle of October and take them down once Halloween is over and leave the fall items until Thanksgiving.

Re: Traditional Fall Items

memyselfandI — Sun, 17 Aug 2014 17:37:06 GMT

Our church actually hands out candy on trick or treat. We get lots of kids because I guess parents see us as a "safe" place. At my house we have 60-100 kids. (I live in a smaller community). I have actually kept track, since so many complain on rude children, of the thank yous I receive. In the last three years there have only been 4 that have not said thank you. In a couple of cases, it is because they are so overwhelmed by the decorations I honestly think they forgot. The middle schoolers have never forgotten. Ever. I really can't think that our youth is any more stellar than other Midwest youth.
I get that some people don't want to "celebrate" Halloween. But as I have heard and now believe myself - I will believe that everyone who celebrates Halloween is satanic as soon as I believe that everyone who celebrates Christmas is Christian. It is a candy holiday. Oh wait - that is why I can not get my Halloween candy early unless I give it to a friend. Otherwise I eat it!!!!

Re: Traditional Fall Items

Oostende — Sun, 17 Aug 2014 17:38:02 GMT

Love Roses, I love your sentiments!

I live high in the mountains and Autumn brings the first light dusting of snow on the peaks. That contrasts beautifully with the foliage below.

The fall fragrances are my favorites, when it comes to candles and so forth, and I love all the colors of fall.

I don't care for Halloween. My daughter was scared of the inflatable Grim Reapers and enormous spiders that decorated other people's houses. Sometimes people would even hang fake bodies from trees. It's just gruesome.

We'd take her trick or treating, and without fail, someone would jump out and scare her. It wasn't fun for her. She was genuinely frightened.

Lots of churches have trunk or treats here, like you described above. Also our mall and Old Town businesses will hand out candy to the kids. We still hand out candy at our house but we get inundated with teenagers as the night progresses. I prefer the little kids.

I guess I love everything about Autumn except Halloween!