Death Stalks Us?
As we walked around the block and a bit further this weekend, I was thinking about the obsession with skeletons that seems to pervade our neighbors’ Halloween decor. Occasionally we see other traditional items on the lawns and in the doorways — ghosts, scarecrows, or in one case, lawn flamingos. But mainly we see death. I wonder, is this healthy? A holiday dedicated to death and candy?
 |
| Some yards have turned into imaginary cemeteries. |
 |
| Mr. Death? |
 |
| Even a miniature triceratops. |
Other Displays from My Haunted Neighborhood
 |
| Classic Ghosts |
 |
| Haunted flamingos? |
|
A scarecrow as tall as a house? Looking more carefully, I realized that
this is a dead tree that’s been dressed up for Halloween. |
NOTE: Every photo to this point was taken in walking distance from my house.
Our neighborhood is amazing! Now for something different —
Not Every Creature points to Halloween.
 |
| Ann Arbor: Creatures from the “No Kings” protest Saturday. (Len’s photo.) |
 |
Seattle: a troll under the Fremont Bridge near Troll Avenue.
The troll is shown with Miriam and Alice and an actual VW Bug. (Photo by Evelyn. Details here.) |
 |
| And not every sign of autumn is a creature. Leaves are falling faster and faster. |
 |
| The ground is covered with leaves. |
Photos © 2025 mae sander
10 comments:
No idea if it´s healthy, but reckon people not really thing about death but scares. Love the scarecrow. There was one really creepy Supernatural-episode on this!
Cute Squirrel, too!
Aside from a few over-the-top houses exterior decorations for Halloween seem to get fewer each year. We have lived in our house for twenty-two years now and the neighbourhood has not changed greatly so there are few young children ringing our door bell.
I hadn't thought about it that way. But I've noticed in the past five or so years, a plethora of skeletons, which I never used to see as decor. We have a couple people who really go to town on Halloween decorating in the 'hood, but not many. You have a great neighborhood!
Ah oui c'est très "glauque" comme décoration. Pour ma part j'ai toujours trouvé cette fête assez malsaine. Cette prolifération de squelettes à cette époque de l'année a quelque chose de déplaisant (surtout dans les temps que nous vivons). Mais peut-être est ce une sorte d'exorcisme. Les déguisement imaginatifs des manifestants no king me sont plus sympathiques. Et ce gigantesque troll est très impressionnant.
Mae, I also don't like celebrating this date, but they say it helps strengthen identity and a sense of belonging to a place. It also reminds us that life is finite, which can motivate us to live more intentionally.
It hasn't become popular around here yet.
Great photos Mae. I didn't knowt here was a Troll Bridge. That would be fun to see. And some people really get into Halloween decorations. There does seem to be a whole lot skeletons in your neighborhood. hugs-Erika
Hello Mae,
Wonderful collection of Halloween decorations.
I like the skeleton dog with the ball. We are seeing lots of the skeleton decorations here too, some are as tall the the houses.
The Flamingos are cool too. The squirrel photo is adorable. I like the No King creatures and the troll is cool.
Thank you for linking up and sharing your post. Take care, have a great weekend. PS, thank you for leaving me a comment.
One of the things that has most taken me aback in the last twenty years is the focus on skulls and death. I know this focus is an important part of traditional Hispanic culture, but many of the people I know who decorate their homes, some all year long, (one always has a skull Christmas tree) with skulls. One of these people spoke out against Tarot cards to her grandson; she said they were evil.
There are many times I feel confused, disconnected with the world.
I do love that photo of the squirrel.
Love the TPed flamingos. Our dog would be going nuts with that squirrel. You make a very good point about the skeletons popping up everywhere. I'm more partial to Dia de Los Muertos decor. (It's more life celebratory.) Happy Halloween week.
When you put it that way- death and candy- it sounds bizarre. Personally, seeing all the skeletons on everyone's lawns (which has become very popular) creeps me out-I'm all for costumes and fun but the death theme- no!! and actually all that candy and fear of eating the candy from unknowns is scary too. I love the photo of the squirrel - so cute.
Post a Comment