Keeping Tradition Alive: A Tale of the Haunted Pumpkin

Halloween has a rich history that traces back thousands of years, originating with the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, celebrated on October 31. This festival marked the end of the harvest season and the beginning of winter—a time when Celts believed the boundary between the living and the dead was at its thinnest. They held feasts, wore costumes to ward off spirits, and made sacrifices to honor deities and ancestors. As Christianity spread, Samhain merged with Christian observances, creating All Hallows' Eve (Halloween) as a precursor to All Saints' Day on November 1 and All Souls' Day on November 2, days meant for remembering the deceased and saints.

European immigrants, particularly the Irish, brought Halloween traditions to America in the 19th century, where it grew in popularity, evolving into a secular celebration with costumes, parties, and the iconic trick-or-treating custom. Elements like jack-o’-lanterns come from Irish folklore about "Stingy Jack," who tricked the devil and was doomed to wander the earth, a story that inspired carving pumpkins to scare away spirits​.

But here in the BeeHive... Every Halloween, a few days before the big night, the residents at BeeHive Homes gather for a tradition as old as time: the carving of pumpkins. For some, it’s a reminder of years gone by when little ones would dress up as ghosts and goblins, asking for treats. For others, it’s a fun, creative way to enjoy the season. But this Halloween, there was something just a little bit eerie about the pumpkins…

One cool October evening, the residents gathered around tables, each with a pumpkin in front of them, ready to carve. The air was thick with excitement and a hint of mystery. As stories were exchanged and the first cuts were made, one resident, Mr. Thompson, began sharing an old tale he’d heard as a child—a tale about “The Haunted Pumpkin.” The story told of a pumpkin carved many years ago, one that was said to return every Halloween, looking for a new face to wear.

“Careful with your design,” he whispered, a mischievous glint in his eye. “If you carve it just right, that haunted pumpkin might show up here!”

Laughter erupted, but the residents couldn’t help glancing at their pumpkins a bit more carefully. Despite the ghostly stories, a comforting warmth filled the room as friends, both old and new, carved together. The pumpkin faces went from spooky to silly as stories of old Halloweens mingled with jokes and laughter.

Halloween at BeeHive Homes is more than just a night of scares and fun; it’s a celebration of traditions that bring residents together, reminding everyone that even the scariest moments become joyful when shared with loved ones.

As the evening wound down, the carved pumpkins were lined up, each one flickering to life with a candle inside, casting friendly, glowing faces in the room. Perhaps one was the Haunted Pumpkin… or maybe it was just a friendly trick. Either way, the tradition was kept alive, bringing joy, community, and a few chills to all.

So, at BeeHive Homes, we cherish these moments that celebrate both the past and the present. Because here, even the spooky parts of life are made a little brighter—together. Happy Halloween!

Changing Traditions As We Age

The holidays, I suppose, is the perfect time to address this subject on graciousness.  While various families and acquaintances have a myriad of traditions around holidays, it is common for many families to adhere to those traditions every year throughout their lifetimes without much change.  As we age, however, that can sometimes begin to change.  Once our own children begin having their children, but especially when grandchildren have children, the long standing holiday traditions that we've built up begin to crumble apart & leave us feeling at a loss as to what to do with ourselves.

First, it's important to note that this is a very real & very normal part of the aging process.  There is no need to see it as an affront to us personally, this “changing of the guard”.  There reaches a point when we can no longer do the things that we used to be able to do.  This could include trekking through the snow & ice in sub-zero temperatures to get a Christmas tree to trim, or making a meal fit for a king that will serve at least 50, and insisting on using all the finest china that needs to be hand-washed afterward. There is a point in life when our physical bodies are not up for the monumental tasks of some of the traditions we've set up.

Second, it's okay to be a bit nostalgic about it.  These traditions do not encompass what the entire holiday is about, but they are certainly things that we've looked forward to and done for many years.  In some cases, the traditions have helped glue our families together when the circumstances of life are trying to tear us apart.  Nostalgia is good.  It helps soften the edges of the harsh world we live in & give us hope for a brighter future.

Third, it's also okay to admit that while we have these feelings of nostalgia, we're physically and/or mentally unable to continue to carry on the traditions as we've known them in the past.  This is admitting to changes that have occurred in us, not necessarily to weakness, but to changes that naturally occur with the passage of time.

All of these changes can be difficult to process, and some of the changes may come before we are expecting them.  Our children may go away to spend time with their grandchildren instead coming to visit us.  With the arrival of spouses & children, other aspects of our tradition may need to be graciously set aside or arranged differently in order to incorporate traditions that are important to those loved ones who are new to the family.

If all of this talk of changing traditions has made you sad & long for days of old, take this time to contemplate what NEW opportunities this may afford you.  Could you make new traditions of your own?  Could you go and help those in need in a way that you've never had time to do before?  Could you arrange a food drive for a food shelf?  Could you serve in a soup kitchen?  Could you help crochet, quilt or sew things that would help those less fortunate?  Could you give the gift of time and read to someone who can no longer see well enough to read?  The possibilities are only limited by your imagination.  So this year, welcome the changes with gratitude & graciousness and continue to make the world a better place!