A sign of the times?

Last night as I drove to the grocery store, I passed some of the more creative Halloween house decorations I have ever seen. I am not rabidly against Halloween as I once was. I don't celebrate it, and I turn my lights off early to avoid the rovers who are about 18 years old and come from parts unknown to trick or treat. Other than that, though, to me, though, it's just another night.

However, as I drove last night, I found myself thinking about what a visual it is of the times we are in. For a celebration of demons, ghosts and goblins we are going all out. There are adorable blow-up haunted houses (if haunted houses can really be adorable). Lights look like candy corn with orange and yellow alternating around house columns. Trees have bigger-than-life spider webs spanning them. Not all the houses have decorations, of course; it's still smaller than Christmas. But decorations do seem to increase each year. It does look festive at night, and it's easy to be drawn into the fervor of it.

I live near a neighborhood famous for its Christmas decorations. Each year I load the dog and drive around almost every evening in December. Hayrides pass with people laughing and singing Christmas carols. People stroll around, bundled up for the brisk 60 degrees winter weather here in Houston. It's a wonderful atmosphere.

Last year, though, it seemed like things were shifting. I realize that it could have been the economy. It could have even been Hurricane-Ike-related. So many things that you wouldn't have thought seemed to be related. But for whatever reason, there was a change. Fewer lights twinkled on trees and around door posts. Fewer nativity scenes rested peacefully in front yards. There were still reindeer and snowmen, but their number seemed to be dwindling. It seems that young families are beginning to buy the houses from those who led the way on the decorations, and the young ones just aren't following the lead. It doesn't just seem to be the case in this neighborhood, either. I just don't think I see as many Christmas decorations as I used to.

It seems to me to be an indicator of where we are these days. Halloween is beginning to be more en vogue than Christmas. Halloween... the night of the spirits, the holy night of hell. Christmas... the night of the birth of our Lord, "O Holy Night." I am saddened to see things change.