Bacchus and Artemis Do Halloween

This year, Colin and I decided to keep Halloween low-key. Instead of hitting up various parties, like the huge one thrown each year by the Yale School of Forestry, we decided to throw our own. Unfortunately, our guests apparently wanted an even more low-key holiday than what we were offering because they all backed out and decided to do totally un-Halloweeny things like visit girlfriends in DC or schedule music lessons in NYC.

I wouldn't let Colin skip out on dressing up, though, even if it was only for ourselves and the trick-or-treaters. Costumes are the best part of Halloween! In honor of his Greek research, we chose to get in touch with our inner god/goddess and go as Bacchus, the god of wine and parties (because our party was so very much fun, even if no one wanted to come), and Artemis, the goddess of forests and wildlife (because that seemed appropriate for a party hosted by two environmentalists).  Colin filled an empty wine bottle with water and enjoyed gulping it down all night, although he left it behind when answering the door for the little ones.

Bacchus and his "wine"

Artemis the huntress

We spent the early part of the evening baking apple crisp and carving a pumpkin while manning the door for trick-or-treaters. This was my first time handing out candy to trick-or-treaters, and although it was fun, it made me miss St. Louis. In St. Louis, kids have to "work" for their candy by telling a joke. Some of my favorites: What do you call a hot dog with nothing in it? A hollow-weenie! And, how do you make a tissue dance? You put a little boogie in it!

My first time handing out candy to trick-or-treaters!

Pumpkin carving.

Colin had the great idea to bring our jack-o'-lantern into the 21st century by foregoing candles and instead using a string of remote-controlled, multicolored LEDs inside. (This idea might have come about because we didn't have any candles.)

Halloween still life: LED Jack-o'-lantern, empty Nerds box, bag of apples, pumpin carving supplies.

The finished product!

 We had about 20-25 trick-or-treaters before 7:00, when it started raining, and shortly thereafter, two friends showed up to watch Sleepy Hollow with us. It was a party after all!

The only deadline that matters: Happy Halloween!