Thu 30 Oct, 2008
I was thinking about Halloween and what I read in Death Makes a Holiday. One of the things was that Dennison encouraged people to make costumes out of their Crepe Paper.
The first costume I can remember trick or treating was crepe paper. I was a witch. I think I was about five (and a half- at that age the months made a difference). My mother had tucked black crepe paper into my waist band, and there was also a shawl around my shoulders, also of black paper. I guess I must have had a hat, and maybe a broom, but I don’t remember that. I dare say I looked great and was adorable when we were ready to leave. Mostly I remember that I went with my big brother (18 months older than I, but he knew how to do it, and was “in charge” of me). I guess my mother stayed home to pass out treats, and by that time I’d have had two little sisters (if I was 5.5, that would make them 4 and 2.5- too young to go out, of course, I may have been 4.5).
At any rate, my brother wanted to hurry, and tucked in costumes are not up to that. As an artist and costumer, I’d have known enough to make a sturdy waist band and staple or glue the paper to it, but my mother had other talents (and concerns- 4 young kids for example). Perhaps it was a last minute decision to let me go out with my brother and the costume was a quickie. At any rate, mostly I have a few flashes of memory of scrambling behind him, over the irregular brick sidewalks covered with leaves- trying to keep up, as the crepe paper un-tucked. I lost it bit by bit, so by the time I got home I was carrying the bundle of paper and my sack. I remember at one stop someone re-tucked me- probably Grandmother- her house was up the street from us, and probably as far as we were allowed to go, but I un-tucked again.
Other costumes I remember were the costumes from our dance recitals. Gosh, I was a jealous little bugger. The way I remember it, my little sister always got gorgeous, sparkly costumes, and I got stupid ones, like a little “scottish” outfit (carrying a whisk broom- what’s up with that?) of a plaid taffeta skirt and bandoleer over a black leotard and a matching cap- like army hats. Even then, they were usually covered up by either snow suits or rain coats. I remember mother drawing mustaches on us, and handing us fishing poles one rainy halloween so our yellow slickers and boots would be our costumes. Hardly the fairy princesses we longed to be. And little tulle tutu’s don’t fit comfortably under snowsuits, nor are the adults eager to have you un-dress to show off your real costume.
One year when I was 12, I think, there were three or four foot drifts of snow. I was a kind of Zorro character. I had a black hat, a full black skirt worn as a swirly cape, a rapier, and some riding boots I’d found in Grandmother’s attic. The boots were not high enough to keep the snow out- but even with the snow, the temperature was warm enough to be comfortable.
One year I tried to sew myself a beautiful costume like I’d always wanted- but I couldn’t find the piece of red satin Mother had given me after she’d used it to decorate the Christmas before. I discovered it as a piece of a classmate’s costume- then remembering I’d left it in their cellar when we were playing dress-up that summer. I was forcibly prevented from ripping it off of her. Again, I look back and sigh at what a brat I was, but I felt awful. What I’d had to use instead were whatever cloth was in the rag bag, and my mother didn’t sew. I’d hoped to make something lovely- but looked like a rag-picker (and I’m sure my extremely beginning skills with a needle enhanced that effect). I know that the costume was referred to as such by my mother, and I’d have gone along with it to save myself embarrassment. After Halloween, Mrs. Bowne (who did sew) brought me my first sewing box with all the tools in it to encourage me in a skill I wasn’t going to pick up from my mother, bless her. I still remember the drawings of what I’d intended, and am not sure I could even do it now.
And I remember the year I went as a gypsy- I was 16 and too old to trick or treat, but was unwilling to give it up, so I made a costume and took my youngest sister (7), and learned to read palms in exchange for my treats. That was when I discovered to my surprise that palmistry worked, and probably set me on the path to soothsaying that has now become such a big part of my life.
I always say it was the chocolate I didn’t want to give up, but I’m not sure that it wasn’t the role playing.
Costumes are such a wonderful part of Halloween. I always intended to (and usually did) take pictures of my kids in their halloween costumes- but it’s now more likely that I’ll find the costumes in the attic than any of those pictures. What I’d give to have that record now!
What costumes can you remember wearing for trick-or-treating? Not the one’s you did as an adult, but the ones you wore as a kid? Have you forgotten? I usually remember my childhood better than most people, but those costumes that were so important at the time have escaped me, so will other people remember better?
