The Origins of Halloween

October signifies to me the beginning of the official “Holiday” season.   Halloween has become synonymous with everything autumn, such as pumpkins, red and orange colors and harvest time.  But it is sometimes viewed as a controversial holiday.  A holiday that glorifies evil and darkness.  I used to be one such proponent of boycotting this holiday.  In fact, as a sophomore in college, I decided to write an entire thesis paper on the origins of the Halloween traditions, it’s associations with Druid worship and witchcraft.  My paper was well written, thoroughly researched and extremely biased, and so was I.

I carried my biased opinion throughout my early adulthood.  I refused to participate in the office Halloween party, would not eat any Halloween candy, and on Halloween nights I turned off my lights and hung a big sign on my front door that read “WE DON’T CELEBRATE HALLOWEEN.  Not surprisingly, my home and car were targeted on more than one occasion for an occasional egg washing with a toilet paper accent.

I was adamant in my “anti-Halloween” sentiment, until I had children.  For the first five years of child rearing, it was easy, until that one fall afternoon when my 5 year old daughter returned home from school, with a wild look of excitement in her eyes as she declared she was going to be a “Princess Angel” for Halloween.  Her three year old younger sister piped in that she too was going to be an angel.  Then they looked at me with innocent, thought provoked eyes and asked the question I feared would be asked, “What’s Halloween?”

Suddenly, my thesis on the evils of Halloween seemed so inappropriate and totally irrelevant.  Certainly, my children weren’t evil, nor their classmates, nor teachers, nor MOST of my neighbors.  We weren’t going to draw a circle of fire in the backyard, recite ancient incantations, and sacrifice our puppy. 

“What’s Halloween?”  I realized it’s a time of imagination, pure fun, and an excuse to eat an unbelievable amount of candy in one day.  It’s also an American tradition, as American as apple pie, baseball, and Thanksgiving.

My personal convictions, still keep me opposed to the ideas of blood and gore, I won’t purchase the “hatchet in the back” costume, nor do I enjoy an “Angel of Death” wielding a bloody knife chasing me down a corridor.  For me, life is full of things to be afraid of, natural disasters, diseases, Wall Street needing government assistance, and my bank going bankrupt?!!!…. So to willingly make myself afraid isn’t my idea of a good time.  But that’s my personal choice and I understand now that other people have the right and freedom to think and feel otherwise.

I’ve also discovered that there are local churches that offer alternative options for celebrating Halloween minus the fright.  One such church is Real Life in Clermont FL.  This Halloween, the church will have a “Fall Festival” where children can dress up like Biblical or Historical characters, enjoy hay rides, roast marshmallows, listen to live music, and yes partake in eating immeasurable amounts of sweets.  This church is one of many in the Central Florida region that offer fright-free Halloween fun.  Next week, I’m taking my family to “SeaWorld’s Spooktacular” which is a month-long celebration of Halloween, and another fun and safe alternative.  I will be sure to write about that experience, from a child and adult’s perspective.  Happy Halloween!

Training Day

According to NBC Universal, 114 million viewers tuned in for at least some Olympic action on NBC, CNBC, MSNBC, USA, Oxygen, Bravo or Telemundo during the 2008 Beijing Olympic games. Being a part of the reality television “voyeuristic generation”, I was immersed in the Olympics.  But, truth be told, I know that true “reality shows” are perfectly scripted, not always perfectly acted, usually contrived, edited, and re-edited, all for the purpose of tantalizing it’s viewers and increasing ratings.  But, the Olympics for me was true “reality” tv.  I was holding my breath at the moment Michael Phelps captured his eighth gold medal and garnered the title of holding the most gold medals won at a single Olympics.  I watched history made and witnessed the pure joy and pride of a nation celebrating such physical prowess and stamina.  I also witnessed a national disappointment when the USA Women’s track team dropped the baton in the relay and failed to win the sprint title at the Olympics. For me, athleticism is such an admirable quality.  To watch the strength, agility, and stamina of athletes who train and excel, whether it’s in sports, competitions, meets, or a game is such an incredible thrill.

The National Training Center in Clermont is a campus designed for athletes, teams, and individuals looking to train at a state-of the-art facility.  It is a 300-acre, sports, health, fitness and education campus with a  37,000 square foot training center. It features an aquatic center, fitness center, track and field complex, cross country course, multi-purpose athletic fields and softball/baseball quadraplex.  This complex hosts a variety of events, from triathlon camps and clinics, track and field meets and a variety of children’s events and programs.  The National Training Center combines sports and athletic facilities with a hospital, medical office building, community college, and a four-year university.  It is an amazing concept and attracts athletes from all over the world.

The Glenbrook Resort is a private pool vacation home property and only 10 minutes from the NTC, located in Clermont.  If you are in the Clermont area, why not sign up for one of the many classes offered at the NTC.  If you are a visiting athlete or team and want to experience a training facility like none other, feel free to contact the NTC.

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