If you yourself are - or you at least know someone who is - a "Halloweenie", you'll notice that the All Hallowed celebrations don't start in October or even September. No, things really ramp up in August!
I've found myself wondering in years past, why that is. What is it that gets into our psyche at this time of year and makes us yearn for those glorious cool and creepy fall nights?
I've considered the possibility that it's the brands; you'll see the Autumn Yankee Candles and Monster Cereals start to show up on shelves this time of year. The thing is, companies that cater to people who love fall and Halloween follow our lead. If we weren't starving to buy the stuff in August, there'd be no need to stock it.
This year I took notice of something I hadn't before. It was ever-so slight and almost imperceptible, but as I took a quiet moment to myself, sitting on the porch with a coffee, I could see that the birch trees were turning the slightest bit more yellow. On the periphery of the maples, there were tinges of red in the leaves. And, even though we had just escaped the throes of a brutal heat and humidity wave, the nights were getting just a little cooler. Heck, one morning while I was out playing with the kids I actually had to throw on a hoodie!
I typically associate August with the hottest months we experience in Nova Scotia - and it is - so I assume the changeover from summer to fall doesn't happen until later in September, when the cooler temperatures start to creep in.
But this year, I saw it. Again, so minute you would easily miss it. Just enough, though, that maybe our subconscious picks up on the cues.
Whatever the reasoning, it's been easier than ever to get excited about the upcoming fall and Halloween season. Usually, I don't kick things off until the end of August, and even then only slowly. My usual nod is when Dinosaur Dracula kicks off his yearly Halloween Countdown, which dropped on September 2nd last year.
In Canada, we don't really get the early barrage of Halloween that Americans experience. Honestly, it seems like things get going in July down there! The rule of thumb up North is that you'll start to see Halloween stuff hit shelves after Back-to-School has had its time to shine.
Over the last few years, I've excitedly noticed this street date moving back a bit, having found a few Halloween treats around the mid-August timeframe.
This year is popping off, though! Our local Spirit Halloween store, which never opens before the first or second week of September, kicked things off on August 7th! I haven't been yet, but I'm planning on my first Spirit trip at the end of this week.
You'd think that there wouldn't be any need to start celebrating the spooky season in August, but honestly you can never start too early! Much like the Christmas holidays no matter how soon you begin you likely won't get to take in all the traditions and celebrations you'd wished you could. I don't know about the rest of you, but there's always something I complain I didn't get to do or missed out on by the time October 31st rolls around.
So raise your pumpkin beers and PSLs, throw on your favourite scary movie, and let's ring in Halloween 2023! This year, I'm going to try and take in more outdoor events, like hayrides and maybe a haunt. It isn't all about watching horror flicks, and the fresh air will do me some good!
Are you a fellow Halloweenie? Do you have any resolutions for this years celebrations? Let me know on my socials! You can find me here. I'd love to hear from you!
Keep it creepy,
R