Garfield: Holiday Celebrations (Garfield's Halloween Adventure / Garfield's Thanksgiving / A Garfield Christmas)

No one loves the cold months better than acerbic fat cat Garfield, who thrives on a bounty of junk food and traditional meals in the delightful collection of musical-comedy TV specials Garfield Holiday Celebrations. "Garfield's Halloween Adventure" finds the portly hero and airhead-sidekick Odie the dog scrounging through owner Jon's attic to find perfect costumes, then encountering ghosts and ghoulies that seem a tad authentic. "Garfield's Thanksgiving" is a screwball special in which Jon harasses veterinarian Liz into being his Turkey Day guest. Trouble is, Jon is clueless about how to cook a big bird; fortunately, starving Garfield has the good sense to call in Jon's spirited grandmother for a culinary rescue. Grandma shows up, too, in "A Garfield Christmas," about a family get-together that covers all the nice holiday stuff and, of course, lots of bickering, pouting, and jealousy. As long as Garfield gets his Yuletide lasagna, however, all is right with the world. --Tom Keogh
Customer Review: Essential For Garfield Fans
Especially at this price of under $10., there is no reason to not get this dvd. The Halloween special is a great start. Garfield and Odie decide to go trick or treating as Pirates. All goes well, until Garfield decides that they haven't gotten enough candy, and they decide to go into a strange area. Of course, they get lost, and they run into an eccentric old man who warns them that they may be seeing some real ghost pirates soon. (Nice transition from a plausible start into the horror.) The Thanksgiving special is interesting in that Garfield has to go on a diet right before Thanksgiving, and for once, John Arbuckle may actually have date with Liz. But of course, John has to mess up the dinner, and once Garfield is released from his diet, he has the hilarious, but at the same time touching solution. (Call Super Grandma) The Christmas special is also really nice. John and Odie want to go to the family farm for Christmas, and of course Grinch Garfield is not so eager: "Why can't they come here where my warm bed is?" Though he is reluctant, he endures the trip. But he soon finds out that he has a friend in Grandma. This is when we see a more gentle side of Garfield. There are some comical moments that keep the show going. (Though it does seem strange that at his age, John and his brother do not know that 1 AM is not an appropriate time to suggest opening Christmas presents.) But the end has an especially touching moment. Overall, this is a great Garfield package. Highly suggested if you are a Garfield fan.
Customer Review: Great DVD
My kids have watched this DVD over and over and it has become one of their favorites. Recommend this DVD.

Trivia about Halloween - it's the second biggest occasion in terms of spending (#1 is Christmas!) Halloween is just around the corner - the pumpkins are out, the Sarah Palin costumes are worn, and almost every where, the Halloween spirit roams free (and yes them zombies are starting to crash political rallies!). Although Halloween is spent largely in the US by trick treating, or holding Halloween parties, there are a few practices you might want to try this Halloween.

Halloween in Transylvania - yes you read that right! The Transylvanian Society of Dracula will hold their annual Halloween party in Sighisoara - the best preserved 15 century-walled town in Europe, the birth-place of Prince Vlad the Impaler, and the site of many witch trials. Everybody is encouraged to wear their spookiest costumes and hopefully the ladies will vie for Miss Transylvania.

Hop-Tu-Naa is a Celtic festival celebrated every 31st of October in the Isle of man. It's a similar event to Halloween as kids dress up as scary being asking for sweet or money, but instead of a pumpkin, they carry turnips!

Teng Chieh in China - Food and water are placed in front of photographs of departed loved ones, and lanterns are lit to light the path of the spirits as they descend upon the earth. Japan has a similar event, only it is called Obon Festival.

No knives Halloween in Germany - during Halloween night, Germans hide or put away their knives so as not to risk harming the returning spirits. Scary tradition!

In Czechoslovakia, families remember the dead by eating special cakes, drinking cold milk (it's supposed to cool the souls roasting in purgatory) and placing chairs by the fireside. Halloween is mostly spent remembering the deceased relatives and ancestors. Most families spend their time in cemeteries.

In the Philippines, Halloween is as commercial as it gets - although in earlier times, kids pretending to be the souls of the dead, sing a song for Halloween from one house to another, hoping to get food, or money, or well - any kind of treat. Pranks are pulled on houses that don't give any.

Sweden sounds like a lot of fun! Alla Helgons Dag (Halloween to them) is celebrated from Oct 31 - Nov 6! How cool is that! Imagine trick or treating, partying, or just having some spooky old fun for 1 week!?

Now if you're in Belguim, it would be wise to avoid a black cat no matter how cute it is! Belgians believe it is unlucky for a blac cat to cross one's path and even more unluckier if it travels with you ona ship or enters your home. No lolcats for now!

There are so many things going on during Halloween -and whether you're a kid or young at heart, I encourage to celebrate! Whatever way you want to spend it, I wish you a ghostly good time this Halloween. Hoping you get all the treats you want, and no tricks!

Christine Waverly speaks her mind on her blog about everything and anything - travel, the good life, women's issues and politics Visit her site today!

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