tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-640846201971673514.post1878820072262977954..comments2023-05-03T05:22:30.162-04:00Comments on Mary Haseltine: On Celebrating the Saints (or why I don't think Halloween is evil but we still won't celebrate it)Mary @ Better Than Edenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05409924891343767874noreply@blogger.comBlogger24125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-640846201971673514.post-75513592240441547632013-11-03T06:51:57.620-05:002013-11-03T06:51:57.620-05:00Congratulations! Your family is beautiful! How a...Congratulations! Your family is beautiful! How awesome would it be if we could get our boys together?!Mary @ Better Than Edenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05409924891343767874noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-640846201971673514.post-90957250811915562212013-11-02T20:26:28.462-04:002013-11-02T20:26:28.462-04:00ps....love seeing all your boys. I'm expectin...ps....love seeing all your boys. I'm expecting our 4th boy this Christmas! www.knitinmywomb.blogspot.com.Laurenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05608518495409104594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-640846201971673514.post-81904868667052576612013-11-02T20:25:48.439-04:002013-11-02T20:25:48.439-04:00So beautifully said....feel like you took it right...So beautifully said....feel like you took it right out of my mouth. Thanks.Laurenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05608518495409104594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-640846201971673514.post-63415080829045105902013-11-01T16:55:55.310-04:002013-11-01T16:55:55.310-04:00I had a friend in college tell me that where he gr...I had a friend in college tell me that where he grew up, trick or treating was always on the last Saturday of October. He was sincerely shocked to hear that was not typical. At the time, I didn't understand how that might be a good idea. As a mom of three so far... I totally get it! :)Tamarahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16587525500082410908noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-640846201971673514.post-57540030417178369202013-11-01T13:08:08.631-04:002013-11-01T13:08:08.631-04:00Ha! I remember wearing the snow suit over a costu...Ha! I remember wearing the snow suit over a costume one year, too! We don't trick-or-treat here. I try and focus it on the ACTUAL "reason for the season" and leave All Hallows' Eve for pumpkins/the story of Stingy Jack, things "autumn" and the anticipation of Hallowmas feasting the next day. We keep it simple - books, coloring, prayers, cemetery visiting (Mass goes without saying)... Just try and touch all the bases and get in some religious education.<br /><br />LOVE your house! How gorgeous in the autumn! Kristanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-640846201971673514.post-13493156684096163682013-11-01T11:54:45.614-04:002013-11-01T11:54:45.614-04:00Oh, we've totally had to deal with the store s...Oh, we've totally had to deal with the store situation as well. I had to complain at a few stores years ago because it was over the top creepy. The grocery store we used to go to had this horrible display right at the entrance that you couldn't get around without seeing. It seems like it's toned down a bit around here. Either that or I just go shopping way less now that there are four kids in tow and don't notice it as much :) Mary @ Better Than Edenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05409924891343767874noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-640846201971673514.post-79544306293577345842013-11-01T11:51:42.692-04:002013-11-01T11:51:42.692-04:00We Americans are cuh-razy sometimes. Really, this...We Americans are cuh-razy sometimes. Really, this time of year is so beautiful but so so tough.Mary @ Better Than Edenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05409924891343767874noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-640846201971673514.post-11667668059074420552013-10-31T17:48:20.845-04:002013-10-31T17:48:20.845-04:00Hi Mary! Came across you at LMLD. I am totally wit...Hi Mary! Came across you at LMLD. I am totally with you on not needing the scary stuff in life. We have tried trick or treat and invariably the youngest (5yo last time we did it) is terrified by that one kid with the scary mask and it is all ruined. This time of year we have to avoid certain stores--or certain sections of the stores too! This year (and last--as well as the years we lived in the UK) we have focused on All Saints Day and they have just as much fun playing saints (and no more candy that I am willing to let them have!) <br />And I love your beautiful house and fall leaves ---here in Texas we don't get much of that fall stuff! ;)Carol Kennedyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04458688713563779254noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-640846201971673514.post-31072273388882470172013-10-31T17:46:42.375-04:002013-10-31T17:46:42.375-04:00I don't know if all Mennonites do or not...I j...I don't know if all Mennonites do or not...I just know we did and it was our alternative to Halloween.Jill Foleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15919221814694982320noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-640846201971673514.post-50495137693713971662013-10-31T17:10:24.246-04:002013-10-31T17:10:24.246-04:00Halloween is not really big here in Australia and ...Halloween is not really big here in Australia and I have often thought this<br /><br />>>•I can't do it all. My time and energy is limited and I just can't give All Saints' Day the energy and focus I believe it deserves. I know myself and any amount of energy spent preparing for and focusing on Halloween would be energy not spent on the solemnity. Either that or I would do both and burn out. For me as a Catholic, the solemnity of the Church calendar takes precedence.<<<br /><br />How you wouldn't burn out I often wonder, and then in America you have Thanksgiving coming up and Christmas after that! Erinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04448595911801738792noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-640846201971673514.post-46518336416130624582013-10-31T13:20:48.810-04:002013-10-31T13:20:48.810-04:00As someone who celebrates Halloween, I found this ...As someone who celebrates Halloween, I found this super offensive. Or not. :) Well done.Mary Wilkersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08895931413075965922noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-640846201971673514.post-89434718774604199442013-10-31T12:46:32.908-04:002013-10-31T12:46:32.908-04:00Of course, that's only the "good" hi...Of course, that's only the "good" historical figures! I wouldn't say that applies to all. :-) I am pretty sure all three boys went as St. Longinus at one point (but to people who asked "what are you dressed as?" -- duh, a leather skirt, armor and a Roman helmet? -- they just responded, "A Roman soldier" to quickly make their escape).Barbarahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00747308009364094199noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-640846201971673514.post-83591418609930306262013-10-31T12:33:02.302-04:002013-10-31T12:33:02.302-04:00It was so sad, right? I remember being a cat with...It was so sad, right? I remember being a cat with my little leotard and tights and then having to bundle up in a winter coat because it was so cold out and no one could see my beloved costume anyway!Mary @ Better Than Edenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05409924891343767874noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-640846201971673514.post-13209563941834769102013-10-31T12:30:39.780-04:002013-10-31T12:30:39.780-04:00Oh no, no, no. I WANTED to be a French maid. Tha...Oh no, no, no. I WANTED to be a French maid. Thankfully, I knew that there was a limit to what my mother would allow me to get away with. But how sad is it that that's what I wanted to be? Sigh. I think I ended up a pirate that year... Mary @ Better Than Edenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05409924891343767874noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-640846201971673514.post-56607702219639628902013-10-31T12:29:04.254-04:002013-10-31T12:29:04.254-04:00I didn't know Mennonites observed All Saints&#...I didn't know Mennonites observed All Saints'! That is really neat!Mary @ Better Than Edenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05409924891343767874noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-640846201971673514.post-34195442084022399612013-10-31T12:28:04.967-04:002013-10-31T12:28:04.967-04:00See, I think it would be great to do that because ...See, I think it would be great to do that because I do think it would be lots of fun...but maybe in August or September :) Mary @ Better Than Edenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05409924891343767874noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-640846201971673514.post-72333066579485652712013-10-31T12:26:41.641-04:002013-10-31T12:26:41.641-04:00I think you may be right! I love the idea of hist...I think you may be right! I love the idea of historical figures also representing the saints! I've never heard it put that way before.Mary @ Better Than Edenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05409924891343767874noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-640846201971673514.post-26802188509851523032013-10-31T12:25:54.839-04:002013-10-31T12:25:54.839-04:00Ha, I love your kids' imaginations!Ha, I love your kids' imaginations!Mary @ Better Than Edenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05409924891343767874noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-640846201971673514.post-25326700476879558292013-10-31T11:42:08.508-04:002013-10-31T11:42:08.508-04:00Love it, Mary!!! Hoping to celebrate both holiday...Love it, Mary!!! Hoping to celebrate both holidays this year as well. Can't wait to see the pictures! You really dressed up as a French maid?!?! - that is a story I would love to hear! Happy All Saint's Day to you!!!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07037300765670839439noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-640846201971673514.post-83382988111046186822013-10-31T10:29:24.064-04:002013-10-31T10:29:24.064-04:00What a gorgeous tree with beautiful leaves! I love...What a gorgeous tree with beautiful leaves! I love your first few photos.<br /><br />I also love this..."What is important to us becomes important to them, right?" so true!<br /><br />I grew up going to an All Saint's party at my Mennonite church and it was a favorite and much-anticipated event. We would dress up as saints and then write clues about who we were - there was a panel of judges and we would try to stump them. <br /><br />I love your reason about it being the last day in October in Buffalo! The year we lived in the UP, we were out in the snow - not fun.Jill Foleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15919221814694982320noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-640846201971673514.post-89923860942299019322013-10-31T10:23:55.886-04:002013-10-31T10:23:55.886-04:00I think your ideas on All Saint's and All Soul...I think your ideas on All Saint's and All Soul's is just lovely. You know what's best for your family so you keep doing it. We live in a small, conservative community and we do trick-or-treat. However, with the exception of this year because the 31st has landed on the last Thursday of the month, we usually do have a separation of days between trick or treat and the All Saint's/All Souls celebrations. Where we live, trick or treat is always the last Thursday of Oct which is rare for it to land on the 31st. It makes it a little easier to separate the American custom from the Holy Day celebrations. Luckily, our town is very family and kid oriented so there is no gruesome displays. Mostly, mums, cornstalks, orange lights, and pumpkins.<br /><br />Two last comments. 1) I love old houses and yours is perfectly dreamy. My house will be 100 years old in 2016. 2) Love Pope Cantalope. He's a sweet old fellow!Mrs. C.http://thisourtask.wordpress.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-640846201971673514.post-42454025047055434872013-10-31T09:45:47.211-04:002013-10-31T09:45:47.211-04:00I am starting to wonder if Halloween varies from r...I am starting to wonder if Halloween varies from region to region because we have a lot less of the gruesome than I have read about recently. Lots of super heroes, soldiers, princesses, and fairies. My kids have always trick-or-treated as Roman soldiers, Minutemen, other historical figures, or saints. I do believe they represent the saints and that's the way Halloween should be. Last year Faith was Joan of Arc and this year she is a Musketeer -- in a dress. She had a hard time deciding between that and a colonial girl. The boys are too big to trick or treat, but one of the boys is coming home from campus with his fiancee to hand out candy. It's good, happy fun for us. My mom comes and brings a pot of chili. Every once in a while we get a grim reaper at the door but I always tell them dead people don't eat candy (I do still give a treat). We don't have an alternative All Saints event. I wish we did, so this is as close as it gets and I make it as close as I can. Tomorrow we feast with the saints in spirit, and then on Saturday we pray for the poor souls. I do think it can be tied together, but I am lucky to live in an area that keeps it all pretty light.Barbarahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00747308009364094199noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-640846201971673514.post-87168197144513784232013-10-31T08:28:27.574-04:002013-10-31T08:28:27.574-04:00Totally with you on the sadness over wearing a coa...Totally with you on the sadness over wearing a coat over a labor-of-love costume :( Agree with everything! And the pictures are absolutely gorgeous!!!! Theresahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09440812661317797011noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-640846201971673514.post-50628267695730730172013-10-31T08:15:33.252-04:002013-10-31T08:15:33.252-04:00This is really lovely and honest, thank you.
P.S...This is really lovely and honest, thank you. <br /><br />P.S. pretty sure you wouldn't enjoy my blog today!Rebekah Eshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07405354417859464849noreply@blogger.com