Celebration, FL
October 20, 2009
HI, Sammy,
Can you tell that that is Zak in his front pack on Pops' lap? I think he likes taking walks this way more than anyone else including you! He's not smiling now because we're resting and he wants to move.
We walked downtown to pick out our pumpkins for making Jack O'Lanterns next week at Aunt Jen's. It was a busy Sunday at the Pumpkin Patch because the cold weather (see we're wearing sweatshirts) reminded everyone they only have two weeks to decorate before the trick-or-treaters come.
When Mommy was little we would carve happy Jack O'Lanterns, but when she was old enough to rake leaves, we'd make scarecrows and ghosts. Our house would be just scary enough to make people laugh. That is the point of Halloween you know. Way, way back in time, people believed ghosts came out on Halloween to punish people who were mean to them. Christians knew there were no ghosts, that people go straight to Heaven when they die, and so they'd dress up in silly costumes to pretend to scare each other. On the day after Halloween, they would go to church to pray to all the people in Heaven to help them be good people here on earth. The next day, they would go to church to pray for all the people who had died – to say they were missed, and to remember they were with God.
In some countries today, people have picnics in their family's cemetery on the day after Halloween. That is not a tradition your mother was taught, but we did and do go to church.
Here's a traditional song that your Great-Grandmother Earls sang when she was a little girl almost 100 years ago!
"First you take a pumpkin, large and round and fat.
Then you cut the top off – that makes the hat.
Next you chisel out the mouth and nose and eyes.
Put a little candle in…. AH… a Halloween Surprise."
Love,
Marmee
1 comment:
What a great picture of you and Art and Zak. Nano just loves running and playing in this weather, I however, like to stay in bed in the morning. The cold is not so good on my back. I'm remembering all the times that Alex, Nik, Bill and I would go to the Orchard and pick up apples and pumpkins... Alex's job would be to pick out the pumpkins. What a great time of year... I hope Sammy has as many wonderful memories as you and your girls do. Such a great letter for your little one. Thanks for sharing them with me.
{{{Hugs}}}
Post a Comment