Thanks, Jean, for adding your Halloween thoughts. Now it is on to Thanksgiving in the US and the traditions of hearth, harvest and family. It is interesting to me that the connection between Thanksgiving, Halloween and Christmas is stronger because of the English traditions that have come to the US with different names but exist in many ways. In the 1800's there was a tradition of Maskers, Guisers, Mummers or Fantastics who all went house to house seeking gratuities and kindnesses. Check the Library of Congress for a wonderful series of photos from Bain News Service of Thanksgiving Maskers as that tradition seemed to end before 1920 and the masks were confined to Halloween. Of course, Mummers have moved to New Years Day in Philadelphia. The costumes and the themes of harvest and family seem to stay the same.