Monday is Halloween and this weekend is the full-blown celebration of pumpkins, candy and games galore.

It’s sad to say that “scary” rules the world on weekends like this, but it’s true. TV commercials, store costumes with scary masks, and older teens, scaring small children out of their minds are not conducive to a fun time for children. Why must we keep this as part of our culture? 

I have come to despise Halloween weekend with all the advertising in ghosts and ghouls and entertainment that goes beyond frightening. I love the fall season with the harvest decorations, pumpkin carvings and bobbing for apples, but this Halloween stuff has gotten way out of hand.

Originally, Oct. 31 was called All Hallows Eve, because it was the evening before the festival of All Saints Day, which was Nov. 1. All Hallows Eve was the celebration of the dead, and in earlier times this was associated with supernatural influences. Somehow this celebration became incorporated into our culture, and it has turned into a scare festival.

I usually turn the TV off during October just because I can’t trust prime time TV to not run scary movie ads during children’s viewing hours. It has become a party for adults. The children are only tagging along for the ride. But it’s not a very good ride.

I’m not the only one who feels this way. Chris Madden the host of  “Interiors by Design” says in her weekly column, “Children are now lucky if parents take time out from their own expensive gatherings to accompany them on their trick or treat rounds.” Are we as adults so self-centered that we can only think about how much fun it is to be scared and what parties we attend?  I hope not. Small children, especially, can not handle the pretend blood on your face or a scary mask, which looks real. It causes nightmares, night terrors and insecurity.

There are some things parents can do to have fun with their children that is not so scary.  Many churches have taken Halloween night and started planning fall festivals in their parking lots or gyms so adults and children can still dress up for fun but not have to trick or treat on the street. The emphasis is not in scary but in getting into a costume. This is a good substitute for mischief making and worrying whether your candy is safe to eat. I’ve even heard of neighborhoods getting together to make sure there are no scary episodes in their community and make it safe for children to go out trick or treating.

Most importantly, parents should focus on getting involved in what their children are doing for All Hallows Eve and not get carried away with the scary stuff. Children will sleep better and so will the parents.

Contact Steimle at valeriesteimle@yahoo.com, www.stregthenyourhome.com or read her blog at www.valeriesteimle.blogspot.com.