Saving Halloween

[dudesomebody]

  I have come to do something everyone saw coming but hoped I had gotten out of my system; I'm gonna ask you a question. Wait wait hear me out first, this one is hopefully different then most of my questions. First, the pitch.

  In the neighborhood I live in halloween passes without much notice every year and that saddens me, I think the holiday is a great opportunity for people in a neighborhood to actually see the people they may live right next to but otherwise not interact with at all. In this day and age when people are afraid of their neighbors I desperatly think we need a holiday like halloween. Now that you have sat through my pitch here is where I need your help, I am trying to get the folks on my street to participate in the holiday. I just need folk to agree to a well lit front yard, a big bowl of candy and, preferably, a body to hand out said candy. I don't know how to do this without coming across as weird or up to no good though. My first thought was to go door to door and talk to my neighbors but as I said earlier, no one really interacts with each other more than they have to. They also don't know me from ash and have no reason to think I am not up to no good.

  I come to you looking for suggestions, ideas, ancient rituals whatever I can get. I refuse to accept that the world has gone so far down hill that this very simple holiday needs to be forgotten; Maybe I am being a little overdramatic but I grew up with this holiday being a bigger deal and can see the benefits beyond getting free junk food (Which I wont be getting, I'm 30). If it needs summing up, What is the best way to convince people to participate without sounding like I want something from them, I just need some help as I have no idea where to start. I come here for advice and ideas because I respect your opinions (blatant sucking up ) and because you are just as crazy as I am and crazy is what I need to make this work.

[Synaster]

If your house is near and visible from the road, start putting up Halloween decorations (ones that won't be ruined by possible changes in weather) during whatever time people happen to be out and about. Make some yourself if you don't have enough and don't want to spend too much on more. When people pass, try to strike up a conversation, like, "Hey, how's it going?" and eventually bring Halloween up and ask if they celebrate it. Some don't for paranoid reasons, some for religious reasons (like, Jehova's Witnesses).

Some people might want to celebrate it, but they don't because they see that their neighbors don't seem to. Sometimes it takes the courage of one person to do something that will make others want to do the same.

Or... throw a "neighborhood Halloween party" in your house or backyard (assuming you have one and it's big enough), and then go door-to-door with invitations. You could request that they bring a creepy side-dish (mini powdered donuts with grapes or whatever in the middle- maybe call it "dried ogre eyes") and ask that they dress up. It'll be quite time-consuming, but maybe worth it.

[dudesomebody]

I will definately be doing decorations this year, am slowly gathering some good stuff. A party might be outside my budget though but I will keep it mind for next year, thanks. My only concern with striking up a conversation would be coming of as the weird neighbor, someone they should worry about. Just need to think up a way to avoid that

[Synaster]

Well, I guess "Hi, how's it going?" might be a good way to start. When it comes to social situations, I'm probably not the best one to talk. lol

[--Pappa Cricco--]

Flyers stating pretty much what you said about how the neighbourhood spirit is dying and how a holiday lime Halloween is a great oppourtunity to bring it back.

[TheLastOutlaw]

Every year we decorate our house and every year I dress up as something even if I don't have a party (which I try to do every year) because it's fun to scar children for life with terror show that you enjoy the holiday so the little tikes are more comfortable.

[dudesomebody]

I love the idea of the party but it will have to be something I get ready for during the year (stupid money). I had toyed with the idea of getting one of those new projectors, I hear people play video games on them. If I had one, I could screen horror movies in the backyard, weather permiting of course. I will look around online and see if I cant find a few good party ideas.

I thought about the flyers but worried they would seem inpersonal, it would make me look less like a used car salesman though. Think it would be ok if I posted a flyer design on here, get some criticism from my fellow forum crazies??

[--Pappa Cricco--]

shit yeah.

[Synaster]

These horror movies... would they be recent-ish or not-so-scary-as-it-is-funny-old movies?

[dudesomebody]

These horror movies... would they be recent-ish or not-so-scary-as-it-is-funny-old movies?

A little of both, I like variety in my horror movies. Also, what would you consider recentish and not-so-scary-funny??

[Synaster]

don't know the correct spelling, but "Ahhh Zombies!"

[Cheez]

Create a large pile of wood and other combustibles in the middle of your street. Flay someone, impale them on a stake in the middle of the pyre and burn them while chanting to the Gods. Go on, celebrate Samhain in style and I'm sure your neighbours will join you!

[Stan]

I'm working on having a punk and metal show in my garage.

[Opus Fluke]

Go on, celebrate Samhain in style and I'm sure your neighbours will join you!

Aw, c'mon! How are you going to convince a policeman a local virgin has gone missing in this day and age and bother to come out investigating? Though a big wooden humanoid figure in the garden should be easy to conceal until the critical moment...

[dudesomebody]

I go away for a few days and we are talkin about burning virgins!? oh well, nothing new from this bunch really