halloween humbug

Halloween has always been one of my favorite holidays. Dressing up, trick-or-treating, and of course, candy! I remember the haunted houses set up over town, and even at church (which was super fun), and all the great decorations my Mom would put out. What is not to love?

I don't know if I'm simply unable to grow up (my husband has suggested I might mentally be frozen age 10), or if living abroad makes me exceptionally determined to create American traditions like I had as a kid - but whatever the reason, I am by far the person most excited about Halloween in my house.

I understand that Halloween is not big outside the US (shocking!) and Dom didn't grow up getting dressed up, going out with friends and enjoying the spooky fun. I get it.

But he's married to me now, and I simply can't understand how my Halloween spirit isn't infectious?

It's not as if I suggested we do something like this:


Okay okay, I admit, I still want to get dressed up. An American friend in Beijing and her husband are dressing up with their two girls, and are doing themes!! I'm sick with envy. The dad and one daughter are being characters from Winnie the Pooh, while the Mom and the other daughter are being characters from Dora the Explorer. I would even be willing to compromise, he could wear a costume that hides his identity, his friends wouldn't have proof he was in there. Something simple, like this:



Or maybe he'd be more into it, if I brought the theme closer to home?



If I'm honest, I can see why Dom is reluctant to get into the spirit. It's a slippery slope; with any allowances I would run wild! Any recognition of the Halloween spirit would snowball into over-the-top decorations, matching costumes and from there, we're only a hop, skip and a jump from creating a full-blown Haunted House.

Maybe that's why I haven't been able to get him to unpack the decorations this year...