Already I find myself tripping over black hats and skeleton arms as I walk through the grocery store; that's right folks, it's time for Halloween. E cards, electronic greetings you can send to family and friends, offer the perfect way to treat those you care about this year on a holiday that is growing ever more digital. And the best part? You don't have to paint your face, glue on glitter eyelashes or wear a full-size banana costume to send or receive one.

With the boom in social networking our culture is experiencing, it is no surprise that some social networking sites are already advertising spooky messages and icons that you can send to your "friends." And while I don't mean to dismiss any goofy goblin gabbing (who doesn't appreciate a tweet now and then?) these applications really still miss the boat when it comes to celebrating the day of the dead digitally.

After all, can we really ever express in 140 characters why we love Halloween? E cards allow you to do this and much more. Created by some of the wittiest writers and animators around, if you are going to do any digital door bell ditching this year, let Halloween eCards be it.

Of course, All Hallow's Eve wasn't always about playing tricks on others before lapsing into a sugar comma for the remainder of the week. Long before the days hundreds that little four-foot tall Ironmen and Princesses wandered the streets, before the days of murder mystery parties and costume parades, before the days of Halloween eCards, this holiday was truly about warding off wandering spirits. In Ireland, where the holiday finds it origins, All Saints Day was considered to be the day when the veil between the mortal and spiritual worlds was the thinnest. Masks were worn to ward off evil spirits, while candies and food were left outside homes to attract good spirits.

While some traditional reference still exists, today the holiday is more about spooky fun and humor. This is the spirit captured and communicated through Halloween E cards. Whether it is a farting witch, a lap-dancing skeleton or a sappy vampire, there is a greeting that everyone in your life—from the young to the old—is sure to appreciate.

Halloween eCards are easy to select and send to. And if you are like me, this is a must as October 31 draws ever closer. Already, my holiday prep time is largely devoted to carameling apples, renting scary movies and finding my scrawny son a Hulk suit that won't look completely ridiculous—and Lord knows if I can't buy one he will insist that I sew it, and then we are really in trouble.

So I need things to be simple. And while the detail, sound, animation and humor in Halloween E cards is anything but simple, the process of selecting, personalizing and sending them is. With just a quick click of my mouse I can send a gassy Dracula card to my nephew, some singing pumpkins to my co-worker and a farting ghost to my dad—because let's face it, boys never grow up. Of course, you don't have to take my word about how great these items are, or how they are sure to make someone's day. You can see for yourself by sending Halloween eCards with a free trial before signing up for a card service subscription.

October is just around the corner. Why not take a cue from merchandisers and dive into the spirit just a little bit early? Go ahead, bust out your broom and that door wreath made entirely of skeleton hands. You can also visit electronic greetings providers today to start selecting and sending Halloween eCards that are guaranteed to make you scream with delight.