Kitchen

[beach-mom]

I posted on another thread about the Halloween parties DS used to have. I've always decorated for Halloween, but only "cute" Halloween. I don't do skeletons, coffins,  mummies, etc. Ghosts, cute witches, and other characters are OK.

 I don't have any Boofetti pieces, but I do have the "older" version of Harvest in some serving pieces.

The only Halloween decoration on my table is a set of white candlesticks trimmed in amber beads (that were my mom's) topped with white tapers from Yankee that drip red wax! 

I have Longaberger dishes in fall colors, including purple and black. I try to get Halloween napkins. This year I bought Valerie's mason jars in the Halloween colors. I might use those on the table somehow too. 

I'll start putting Halloween out in October, and try to put it away shortly after October 31.   

[LindaSal]

For me Halloween is my least favorite holiday.  Though I do love Fall and decorate for that.  Never cared for anything scary at all.   I also wouldn't bother getting a specific theme of dishes for any holiday.  I have pretty serving platters/bowls for  Thanksgiving and Christmas and that's good enough for me.

Of course those who indulge in Halloween, have lots of fun!

[BlueFinch]

In my area, there's somewhat of a merging of Halloween and Dia De Los Muertos (the day of the dead). Los Muertos is officially Nov 1-2, but activities often begin Oct 29th in my city. It's a very special time to celebrate those who have passed. It's beautiful.  

I'm sure many have seen the day of the dead skulls in artwork. Between Halloween and Los Muertos, there are lots of activities occurring at the same time, having special decorative items and keepsakes. Some can be interchangeable. 

Again, enough is enough, don't need skull tableware for Dia De Los Muertos, but I love this annual experience, as well as Halloween. 

[Skyegirl21]

I know... While the stuff is adorable, who wants so much stuff to buy, clean and store or every specific holiday (not just Halloween, but 4th July, etc)?? I mean at least for Christmas/ Hanukah, there are often lots of parties and stuff stays out a while.  No offense, but not for me!

[wagirl]

not a fan of helloween at all--worked in a party store for 12 years and that holiday started coming on July 5th and was put out on the floor ASAP--so went thru 4 months of it each year!! I do, however, have a few pieces of Fiestaware snack plates are don't make me crazy--

[aroc3435]

@house_cat   My recollection is that this trend started at some point in the 1980s. 

When my daughter was a freshman in high school in autumn, 1993 she wanted to have a Halloween party instead of a birthday party.  (Her birthday falls at the end of May.)

I went all out, despite my money situation as a single mother being VERY tight, in our tiny apartment that we had just moved into that September and she learned a lot about the character and maturity of some of her friends due to their behavior/attitude during the festivities.

So not only is it one of her happiest memories from that time but also was a real learning experience for her.  By the middle of the next semester she found the REAL best friends (some from the aforementioned group and some new, nicer ones) who have remained so to this day, even though some are not physically anywhere nearby each other.

Some of the best money I ever spent on something she REALLY wanted.

aroc34

Washington, DC

[ECBG]

@aroc3435 

Very sweet story.

[lynnie61]

I have a few seasonal entertaining pieces for fall and Christmas.  4th of July I use a blue or red platter.  Maybe the same red platter for Valentine’s Day. Other than that, festive paper plates and napkins will do.  I know I don’t have ANY Halloween pieces.  No place to store multiple holiday sets of tableware.  I do have 8 Winterberry glasses.  Use my Corelle all year.  From 1990!

To those that buy it and use it, enjoy! 

[house_cat]

@aroc3435 

Thanks for sharing that poignant story.💞 

My son was born on October 27th, so for the first few years we had Halloween themed birthday parties for the family and eventually for a few of his buddies. When he was 7 years old I heard him telling a friend that he'd never had a birthday party and always wanted one. Well, needless to say we dropped the Halloween theme after that.