Dear Reverend,
My husband and I go all out decorating our house and yard for Halloween. We usually start in the first weeks of October, but this year he pulled out the decorations as soon as September hit. I love spooky season, but it felt a little early, even for me. Should I try to rein him in a bit?
Witchy Wife (woman, 58)
Dear Witchy Wife,
Decking the halls for any holiday takes a whole lot of work. It’s a drag to put in all that effort for a short time of enjoyment. Getting started early is a surefire way to squeeze the most out of a season.
The time frame for Halloween décor is subjective. Some people start hauling out the spiders and bats as early as August. Heck, there are yards in my neighborhood that have skeletons up all year. The homeowners dress them up for different occasions — one was even posed with a lawn mower over the summer. So getting the pumpkin rolling in September seems perfectly apropos.
Decorating brings excitement and anticipation for the coming holiday. That, and the decorations themselves, can trigger the release of dopamine in the brain. Dopamine is a real, scientifically proven “fun juice” that contributes to feelings of well-being and happiness. The world is a hot mess right now, so taking part in any activity that creates joy should be done as early and often as possible.
Rather than trying to rein in your husband’s enthusiasm, perhaps you should throw caution into the cauldron and join the fun. You may find yourself getting caught up in the spirit, too.
Good luck and God bless,
The Reverend
This article appears in Sept 24-30 2025.