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Monday, October 11, 2010

Fake-O-Lanterns

Artificial Pumpkins? My daughter and I were in Michael's a few days ago and I saw the huge display of Artificial Pumpkins. I had to ponder that one. Artificial Christmas trees, as bizarre as that may sound, are one thing...but Pumpkins? Of the  1.5 billion pounds of pumpkins produced each year in America, are they not quite 'Pumpkin' worthy for Halloween displays? I'm going to go out on a limb (vine) here and guess these Mock-Pumpkins are not manufactured here in America.  You can't carve them (pre-carved, some are), and they are missing the yummy seeds we roast each year after the annual carving. Can we strain out all the real charm of our Holidays when we over exploit the icons?

This reminds me of a funny story about my bachelor Brother-In-Law. Some local students were going door-to-door in his neighborhood selling Christmas Paper, and he honored his charitable genes and purchased some. To my knowledge he has never wrapped a Christmas gift in his life...and he did not know what to do with the wrapping paper he purchased. So he stood the rolls up on a small table centered in his front window, strung Christmas lights and ornaments on them. It served as his 'Christmas Tree' that year. There was something unique and personal about it...something more Holiday then a 'Christmas Tree'.

Cheers and Happy Halloween
nca

2 comments:

  1. Dad, you are so right. I mean, I understand why people would want fake stuff, just because it is less messy and reusable, but you are dead on with straining the charm out of our holidays. It's just not the same. Carving pumpkins and touching the guck and burning the seeds in the oven is what make the Halloween fun :)It's where the memories are....not in going to the store for a fake pumpkin.

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