Straddling the line between Fall and Winter, plenty and paucity, life and death, Halloween is a time of celebration and superstition. It is thought to have originated with the ancient Celtic Festival of Samhain, when people would light bonfires and wear costumes to ward off roaming ghosts.

Ooo-kay, so just where did this holiday sneak up on me from???

Here I am off enjoying the glory of the arrival of Spring, (F I N A L L Y!) when my friend, CB, mentions the upcoming All Hollow’s Eve celebration that is about to happen this weekend. Say What!!!

And okay, admittedly I am in the wrong hemisphere for the cold weather goosebumps of the spooky season but, no matter where, it is still an occasion that has mini ghosts and goblins storming the streets, dry ice wafting eerily through sweet smelling roses and Monster Mash cranked on the Bose. Oh, and of course, lots of Morticia and Gomez lookalikes handing out trick-or-treats from the verandah, champagne in hand

Despite beginning with the Celts who lived some 2,000 years ago in the area that is now Ireland, the UK and northern France and who celebrated their new year on November 1, this holiday is H U G E in the States. And mostly due to this enormity of the festivities in the US, it is popularly thought of as being American. So I find it interesting that it actually wafts with all its fabulous playful drama from across the pond. Maybe it is the movies and Hollywood influence that is responsible for making Hallowmas America’s own??? (Absolutely no research has gone into that; just an educated guess ) Tinerate, does anyone know about that??? Mmm, anyone…

Anyhoo, no biggie…just another great excuse to have a party and trim the table…

Last year I was lucky enough to join all the other witches, skeletons and vampires roaming the streets of downtown Manhattan. Well, okay, not all the streets…from 4.00pm-ish to 7.00pm-ish, the roads from 8th to 10th are quadroned off for a huge scary street party and every resident and their diamond collared dog, fussy feline, singing budgie (I know you get it) comes out to play. Even Alec Baldwin, who when not dressed as The Donald, is a pirate (with a nanny, wife and kids in tow to boot!)

Anyhoo, all T.o.o M.u.c.h F.u.n

Till  next time.

Tipsy Pipsy xo