Not Christmas. Nope. But Halloween. That festive, sometimes spooky, sometimes silly, time of year so many of us enjoy. It doesn't matter if we are passing out candy and checking out what the kids are wearing, or if we are all decked out and dancing the night away under fake cobwebs. Halloween offers fun and fantasy to fit any desire.
But, it can also mean something else. I'm curious, if I mention Devil's Night, do you know what I mean? For those who aren't familiar, it's October 30th, and it's when all kinds of tricks are played ranging from tossing a few eggs, toilet-papering trees, or for the more destructive, setting fires. (Truthfully, I always thought this was where they got the idea for The Purge movies.) Over the years, cities across the state have tried to offer alternatives to the practice, including changing the name to Angel's Night and community patrols to lessen the destruction.
Growing up in Michigan, Devil's Night was simply a part of the season, despite the lack of logic involved in retaliating with a trick before we even found out the treat. Recent discussions with some out-of-state friends has me questioning this belief. Is this simply a Michigan thing or has it been a practice in your town? And, if you are a fellow Michigander, do you remember how this even got started?
I'll continue my research, but don't forget you can celebrate October 31st with a wide range of holiday-appropriate reading at JMS Books, LLC, including my short story release, A Halloween Tail. All ebooks are on sale, Friday through Monday with a 40% discount. Now that's a treat!
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