BOO!

At the request of Pensive, I'm going to dedicate this post to the art of "Booing" =)

Booing is a Halloween tradition that is quite new to me.  I don't know if this is a regional thing, I'm not sure where it started, but it has Halloween written all over it! 

The first time that I heard about Booing, was about 4 years ago.  A co-worker came to work and announced that she had been "Boo-ed".  Now, as a former classical dancer, I assumed being booed was not a positive thing, yet this girl seemed very excited and pleased that she had been booed, so of course, I interrogated her about it.

She explained that an unidentified person secretly leaves a poem, a picture of a ghost and a treat on the doorstep of the person being booed.

A treat?  A surprise?  A poem? A mysterious gifter?  Why haven't I heard of this before?!?!

She graciously brought me the version of the poem that was left on her door and a copy of the picture that accompanied it.  I bought a small pumpkin that evening, carved it out and left it on my parents doorstep along with the poem and the picture.  It was SO MUCH FUN! I felt like a Halloween secret agent, sneaking around waiting for them to leave so that I could "plant" the "package" ;)  Then I couldn't wait till they got home and found their surprise!  I highly recommend it! 

There are different versions of the poem out there, but they all seem to be some variation of this:

The air is cool, the season fall,
Soon Halloween will come to all.

Ghosts and goblins, spooks galore...
Tricky witches at your door.

The spooks are after things to do,
In fact a spook brought this "Boo" to you!

The excitement comes when friends like you,
Copy this note and make it two.

We'll all have smiles upon our faces,
No one will know who "BOO"ed who's places!

Just two short days to work your spell,
Keep it secret, hide it well.

Please join the fun, the seasons here .
Just spread these "BOO's" and Halloween cheer.

 

Include a sheet of paper that says:

You have been BOOED!

Please keep it going by following these directions:

1. Enjoy your treat .
2. Place the BOO sign on your front door or visible in a window.
3. Within 2 days, make 2 copies of this note, make 2 treats & 2 BOO signs.
4. Secretly deliver to 2 neighbors/friends without a BOO.
5. Keep an eye on nearby front doors to see how far and fast it spreads by Halloween.

Over the years, I've changed up the poem and made it my own.  Mine is from the Great Pumpkin, instead of from a spirit.  I figured that since the Jack O' Lantern is supposed to ward off evil spirits, he would be a good guy to have displayed on your door or in your window, to keep the mischievous spirits (or other booers) away ;) So, I include a picture of a JOL along with my "Great Pumpkin" boo poem.  Plus, my gift of choice is usually a small pie pumpkin, with either carved or drawn face on it.

Now that you all know what it's all about, get out there and BOO your neighborhood!  I promise, you will have great fun!

Happy Haunting!!!