Cul de Sac by Richard Thompson for October 25, 2022

Yeah. You’re scaring your father.

Poor Peter Sr., he looks like he’s lost all of his paternal enthusiasm.

Petey is (sorta) closer than you might think. Halloween (both as the original Gaelic Samhain and the Christian All Hallow’s Eve which it became combined with) was originally associated with spirits (especially those of the departed), with many traditions first meant to either pay respects to the dead, or (in the case of costumes) scare away malevolent spirits.

Why not see if Petey can put her to sleep with one of his stories?

Dad’s worried that Alice will get all stimulated and wakeful.

We learned the story of Halloween in Catholic school, but it wasn’t very scary or fun.

Maybe, according to Petey, zombies on Halloween are satisfied with just candy and don’t need to eat brains.

As poor Polyfill is being strangled by that evil Peter Otterloop.

Once upon a time, a giant corporation discovered that there was a day in the year when people did fun traditional things. So the corporation started manufacturing huge piles of useless plastic crap and telling everyone that this was an essential part of the holiday. The corporation got rich and the rich guys lived happily ever after. The end.

So, you have a play date with zombies? Oh, you said placate. Never mind. ~ Emily Litella

Petey has a serious scary face :0

So true, as many good stories are.

Alice makes a good point: Halloween needs a central story and a major character. Like maybe a vampire who picks just October 31 to scare people.

Mr. Jim Moon on the Hypnogoria podcast has several Origin of Halloween related episodes which I found quite interesting. See if episode dated October 25 2017 is available. (Subscribe for cheap via patreon if it’s not.)

Depends on what you mean by origin. The original pagan beginnings? The going door to door begging for candy? Take a good long look at the switch from the Julian to the Gregorian calendar. Then look at beggers day in the Netherlands. https://web-holidays.com/blog/2014/11/11/beggars-day. Remember that New York was settled by the Dutch and Trick or Treating started there. Also, look at the lifting of wartime sugar restrictions.

Petey’s not wrong; and besides, it’s an age old tradition for big brothers to scare their little sisters, especially around Halloween. Truth be told, though, Dad is also scared. I mean, just look at Petey’s face!

https://youtu.be/0McggLIYmnE

Mr. Otterloop is rightfully annoyed at his son. Petey should respect Alice’s right to privacy in her bedroom just as much as he cherishes privacy in his own bedroom! No unsolicited commentary, Petey….