Hey Woofa’s,

Happy Halloween!!

Wow who would’ve thought that this year would’ve played out like a scary Halloween movie??

Unfortunately, like a horror movie, I think we’ll be dealing with this for a while longer yet!!!!

Halloween in Australia is a bit of a mixed bag, some are all for it and  others are all, ‘it’s an American tradition, why are we doing it here’?

Then there’s those that are all about it being a commercialised holiday just to get more money out of us.  And again, others who wrought it by not even dressing up but still go trick or treating!!!!

Dean and I are happy for trick or treaters to come to our house.  I’m a bit of a horror movie fan, so that’s all as I see it as.  A reason to hang horror stuff everywhere and hand out lollies to kids, making them happy, so why not?

HOW HALLOWEEN BEGAN?

According to, history.com, the tradition of Halloween originated with the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, when people would light bonfires and wear costumes to ward off ghosts.

In the 8th Century Pope Gregory III designated November 1 as a time to honour all Saints.

Soon, All Saints Day incorporated some of the Samhain traditions – the evening before being known as All Hallows Eve, aka now Halloween.

A friend of mine explains it like this:

Samhain, pronounced “Sow-in” or “Soween” usually celebrated on October 31 in the Northern Hemisphere, is the Celtic new year and a time when the veil between the physical and spiritual worlds are thin.

It’s the end of the Harvest season and the beginning of the ‘darker side’ of the year – winter.  It is celebrated from sunset on 31 October to sunset on 1 November, which is nearly halfway between the autumn equinox and the winter solstice.

It is a time to commune with ancestors and loved ones that have passed over.  WE never summon or call back the dead, we just let them know that if they wish to speak to us we are more than willing to listen.

The tradition of going from door to door receiving food started in Great Britain and Ireland in the form of ‘souling’, where children and poor people would sing and say prayers for the dead in return for cakes.

They would ask for a treat, and if none was received they would play an idle trick on the homeowners – trick or treat!

HOW HALLOWEEN HAPPENS DOWN UNDER!

Not everyone loves Halloween in Australia!!

Kids can be traipsing all over the streets only to find a few houses actually participating.

So to save the kids from knocking on everyone’s door and getting no answer, or no treats, we put decorations in our front gardens to let the kids know which houses are Halloween friendly.

WHAT’S THIS GOT TO DO WITH DOGS?

Well it’s fun to get them involved too, if they want to of course.

Billy sits at the front door while Dean is on the veranda handing out the lollies.

I’m not sure who enjoys it more, Dean or Billy.  I do the decorating, one year I’m going to have a haunted house, now that would be cool.

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?

Happy Halloween!

Just enjoy it, whether you get involved or not.

If you do get involved, know how it started and get your dog a cool outfit.

IN THE COMMENTS BELOW – BILLY WOULD LIKE TO KNOW – HOW YOU CELEBRATE HALLOWEEN?