I know Halloween is probably your favorite holiday. So many people tell me this. I must admit, besides the excuse to have mini-Snickers in my house, I’m not a big Halloween fan. Usually, I smile and pass out candy and never say, “Honey, let’s just take one.” In fact, the number of pieces that each ghoul, goblin, or Taylor Swift gets increases as the evening goes on.
Last Halloween we were returning from a trip, and I took the easy way out. I left a huge bowl of candy on the front porch while we hid upstairs. But this is the exception. Normally, I do keep the light on and cheerfully pass out candy rather than hiding upstairs in the back of the house so that it looks dark from the front. (But you can tell that I’ve thought about it.)
I know this shouldn’t be so hard. I have friends who are Halloween fanatics. Perhaps like you, they say out loud, in public, “I love Halloween!” Oof.
If we must indulge in orange and black and trick-or-treaters who ring the doorbell at 10:30 when the light has been off for over an hour, then let’s at least do it in style.
Charming and colorful ceramic ghosts and glowing porcelain ghost lights will illuminate your table for guests both friendly and scary.
Why not arrange them around a melamine owl platter loaded with savory appetizers to balance the sugar of the miniature Snickers? It’s a high-low concept that will bring some civility to the “Boo!” heavy holiday.
Treating younger ghosts and ghouls to Halloween bedding and a pillow that makes spiders seem friendly can kick-off the holiday in style. If it seems too soon to start haunting, grown-ups can stir up a Negroni in ribbed glasses to take on a certain glow.