Black, Orange, and…Purple?

I’m not sure when the transition happened—maybe a decade ago (time flies when you’re dominating)—but somewhere along the way, families started decorating their lawns with Halloween inflatables. What Christmas once had a monopoly on, has now crept into October.

Now that houses are dolled up (Chucky doll?) for Halloween, there’s a new player in the color game: purple.

Traditionally, Halloween has always been black and orange. But with Columbus Day trying to steal some October market share (Santa Maria on an IKEA, a la Elf on a Shelf), Halloween had to mix things up. So, they made the logical move and added a color you’d get by mixing black and orange: purple. (Yes, I know black and orange make pink.)

Let’s take stock of the holiday color wheel:

• Christmas – Red and Green
• Hanukkah – Blue and White
• Independence Day – Red, White, and Blue (greedy)
• St. Patrick’s Day – Green
• Valentine’s Day – Red and Pink
• Thanksgiving – Orange, Red, Yellow, and Brown (allowable, since it’s the best holiday)
• Easter – Pastels (Michael Douglas in Wall Street level greed)

Purple was just sitting there, waiting to be picked. And pick it they did. Phantom pumpkins paraded past petrified partygoers, playfully picking purple. (Sorry—“picking purple” was too good to resist.)

So, how do I feel about Halloween’s adoption of purple?

I don’t like it.

I’m putting my old-man foot down. Kids today have access to too much. More isn’t always the answer. Maybe less is. What if we took a color away? Halloween should be orange, and only orange.

Like Michelangelo sculpting David, we must remove the excess to reveal the inner beauty. Orange has been held back for too long—overshadowed by black, and now smothered by purple. Free orange. Let her shine.

Excess for excess’s sake is never good.

Unless we’re talking about Thanksgiving. In that case—pile it on. More colors, more food, more football, and definitely more naps.

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