Every Halloween, Astoria’s downtown merchants sponsor trick-or-treating from 3 to 5. Kids in their costumes mill up and down the streets at what has to be the easiest pickings available. We don’t have a mall, so downtown suffices. Because it’s early, they don’t even suffer much in the cold. Their parents do, suffer that is, for entirely different reasons.
Downtown is a gentle sort of mayhem on Halloween. Most vendors either buy the assorted chocolate bag or the assorted sugar bag from costco. A few cheap out and push starlight mints or religious tracks at the kids. Fewer still buy the good stuff: handing out full sized candy bars and fancy candy. A local swanky kid’s store gave out individually wrapped truffles this year. Boy Wonder scored an orange cream one and when we sorted his candy last night, all three of us spotted it at once and dove for the chocolate shouting, “Truffle!!.” Our mamas didn’t raise any fools.
But there is one place that out does the rest. A sainted woman stands outside Danish Made Bakery and hands out fresh donut-holes to all the kids. Glazed balls of bliss. Oh. My.
Not that I got to eat one. Which is why, every Halloween, I say to myself, “Self, you must go into Danish Made and buy some donuts for later in the evening.” Of course, that never happens. There is the crush of childish humanity in the first place. Kids everywhere. We are only a town of 10 thousand, and I’m pretty sure 8 thousand of those are kids. And then there is my own child, who is anxious to keep moving and eager to get this part of the day done. He knows, and I know, that our final destination at 5 pm is to meet his father at our favorite coffee house for hot chocolates. Yes, more sugar. And so, I consider all this as I walk past Danish Made every Halloween and I say to myself, “Self, how much sugar do you really need?”
Of course, the night winds down eventually. Our festivities come to a close and eventually I find myself hanging out with IZ reflecting on our day. Every Halloween seems to top the last one. This year, the boy came down the stairs several times after bedtime to say thank you for all the joy of the day. I can’t blame him—what’s not to love about dress up and candy and pizza and the ability to share it all with real friends? A lovely day even without a donut.
Today is All Saints Day. A holiday that goes without much notice. And not that we need any more sugar in this house, but it has traditionally become a day for Danish Made donuts. Having spent the night wishing we’d been wiser, IZ and I usually break down sometime on 1 November and head out for the bakery. This year, it was my turn. As I came in the door from running errands, IZ met me in the hall and said, “Please tell me you got donuts.” I grinned and handed over the bag.
It’s probably not the most traditional way to celebrate this day, where we remember those who went before us , those who did remarkable things. People who made a difference and changed their worlds. But we like to think of it as a holy kind of expression. Coffee and donuts; a different sort of Eucharist.
Next year, when the smell of sweet sugar meets me on the street, I’m going to say to myself, “Self, All Saints Day means donuts from Danish Made. Today is only Halloween.”
I think these small personal rituals become the fabric of what family really means. We get donuts when we are on road trips. It makes the trip and the donuts extra special!
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Oh, exactly. We have travel foods too… I totally agree with you about ritual. 😀 ~W
Lovely story. *Our* downtown Halloween wasn’t that great. We’ve got 30K people and 25K of them showed up to trick or treat, and most merchants were handing out things like a single caramel. Yes, I mean a 1/2″ square of caramel. One. About 40% gave stickers or coupons. I mean, I get that it’s a huge expense and I appreciate that. I’m not saying that they have to give out more. I’m saying that I don’t think I’ll brave the crush for it. It’s a bummer, though, because nobody trick or treated at the houses at ALL this year. We got nobody and my parents got 3. Usually it’s dozens. I like the donut idea. We may copy that. Happy All Saints. Best. ~A 🙂
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Yeah, our numbers were low this year too! I don’t know why, the weather was better… but we really are the ONLY place lit up for several blocks and without other children on the block, very few kids venture out. As for your downtown, Ouch! We took G trick-or-treating at a mall once, when he was 4 I think?… We quickly left and headed for our neighborhood… it was madness! ~W
I enjoy the rituals of Halloween, and miss them now that my kids are older. I love the costumes, AND doughnuts. In France, today is called La Toussaint. (All Saints’ Day) They have the week off from school; I could deal with that!
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Yeah, I’m afraid All Saints and All Souls are fairly over-looked here in the States. Although, Dia de los Muertos which encompasses both days, seems to be recognized in other regions. Sadly, not so here. I love all the imagery and ideas behind it—I wish we did more with the days. I’ve always thought of Halloween, All Saints, and All Souls as a Autumnal Triduum. ~W
Lutherans believe that we are all saints. Pass the doughnuts, please.
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Gladly! These are very good donuts. Worth the stop if you are ever in the area!! 😀 ~W
Those donuts didn’t make me feel like a Saint. More like Homer. D – O – N – U – T – S …. Yummmmmmmm.
I said I would stop at one and my tummy said, No, No, No!…
I digress.
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Amy Winehouse strikes again. 😀
For a saint, Bonnie can be quite wicked at times. Which is only ONE of the reasons why I love her.
Why must you tempt me with donuts? And tales of your life in a halcyon small town in the beautiful PNW?
Careful. You’ll find me at your door someday.
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Well, you would be more than welcome! 😀 ~W
Lovely Wende! Sounds like you had a fantastic day. Very sweet. ha ha! No pun intended there. You are blessed to have your family to create such special memories with.
~KwC
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We are very blessed. And we work very hard at this being “family”. 😀 ~W
What a lovely, yummy post 🙂
I love that you all have such rituals and associate certain foods with them.
I agree with the bethany’s comment above – “the fabric of what family really means” – so well said!
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Yeah, I have a “little” thing about ritual. I’m wondering if I’ve ever blogged about it… it’s a LONG standing, uh, “issue.” 😀 Anyhow, I’m hoping these rituals last into another generation… but I’ll get it if my kid creates his own. IZ and I certainly did! ~W
Happy All Saint’s Day! I wish I was closer to Tucson…they do a HUGE procession and festival…until then, I will have to be happy with my little altar of pictures and my memories (and Darn it! We SO don’t have a donut shop in town)
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Yeah, I’ve heard parts of Arizona does it up right! I’d love to visit sometime and take it all in. 😀 ~W
You’re such a cool mom.
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Thank you… now I’m blushing. ~W
Our small town also does the downtown trick or treating thing. It’s very cool. No one gives out donuts though — the local bar gives out red licorice whips and one of the earthy/hippy stores gives out incense. Every year, my kids say, “What do we do with this again?” 🙂
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Incense?? Seriously? Oh. My. Way to encourage kids to play with matches. heh. ~W