I haven't always hated Halloween. In fact, when I was a young child, I loved to dress up and go out collecting candy with my friends. As a young mother, I encouraged my sons to make their own costumes which they creatively did but I wasn't happy with all the candy they brought home. (Photo on left: cousin Michelle as Raggedy Ann-now a mother to four, Brook-my superman son, and his cousin Jason-a father to two who is dressed as Raggedy Andy. Photo below, my first three sons-Daniel a robot inside the cardboard box, Frank a vampire and Brook as Scooby Doo.)
As a first grade teacher, I started to hate Halloween because my students were unruly for days before and hyper days after from the sugar overload. Then I became acquainted with the dark side of the holiday which was originally to celebrate All Saints Days Nov 1st with a hallowed eve the night before honoring and remembering the dead. I began to see this holiday in another light with extreme groups whose religion included Satanic rights, worshipping vampires, and witchcraft etc., Halloween is a special time of celebration for them.
Digging a little deeper, I discovered many teens were involved in religious cults that were very strange. They dressed all in black with white faces and practiced secret rituals. Yes, there is good to Halloween as the little ones like my grandkids love to dress up but there is also another side to it. Just as in everything else in our world. Opposition in all things! (Photo on left of my twin grand daughters dressed as a lion and a tiger years ago.)