Halloween will soon be here when all the good little "ghosts and goblins" will be out trick or treating and having lots of fun.
Last year we were visited by more than a hundred kids, some younger and some older, but all polite and having a good time.
Here's hoping for another year with little in the way of problems, injuries or damage, but lots of colour, excitement and memories.
One hundred years ago, the Sapperton area was very much alive on Halloween.
We read that the youngsters of Sapperton enjoyed the evening and were "out in hordes dressed in grotesque array" calling on the helpless residents.
"At each place they solicited 'eats' and were usually successful, that being found to be the quickest way of disposing of the intruders," the story read.
Halloween of 1912 was also celebrated in fine form at Knox Church, most likely in the hall, where "150 young folks" enjoyed a "gay festival last night."
The newspaper states that this group of people went all out for the fall event, and the building must have been wonderful to see. The rooms "hung with cedar boughs and weirdly lighted with jack o'lanterns and candles made a suitable haunt for the strange company."
And speaking of that "strange company," it was reported that "court jesters, clowns, witches, ghosts, black cats and every imaginable denizen of fantastic spookdom was represented."
For those of you who have backgrounds in Sapperton, perhaps some of the names of those in attendance will spark a memory or two.
The first prize for best costume went to Mrs C. G. Major, who was dressed in a "very realistic" manner as Minehaha (a fictional First Nations woman from Longfellow's poem, The Song of Hiawatha).
Miss Frances Stott and Miss Barrie were "two little girls in blue" and Miss Annie Osborne and Miss MacDougal were "H girls" in long, peaked hats.
Mr. Gordon Coulson caused "great amusement" in coming in costume as "the impersonation of a society girl . quite looking the part in neat feminine apparel."
The evening proceeded with many games, including peanut hunts and for-tune telling followed by a lunch.
Sounds like a lively time at the Presbyterian Church for Halloween 1912.
While Halloween for many people is not nearly as exciting or interesting as it once was, there are those who truly relish all the trappings that Oct. 31 brings.
A friend of ours has a marvellous collection and assortment of Halloween things. Lots of black and orange things dot shelves and walls, while elsewhere arch-backed black cats and peering ravens, witches, ghosts and other spooky characters keep watch over all that happens.
There's evidence of a spider or two and of course, a convenient broomstick at the ready.
Halloween can be a great time with so many interesting traditions to include - now for one of those orange-iced cookies and a candy "kiss."
