In a lot of ways, Halloween to Wendy Larson is like Christmas to many others.

There’s family traditions and decorating, but while Christmas has Santa Claus, Larson has witches — her witches.

Each year since 2015, Larson has celebrated the holiday by creating her own, nearly life-sized witches. She could, of course, make it easy on herself by purchasing a witch, but Larson has standards.

“You can buy automated, but it’s my experience that sometimes they look a little hokey,” Larson said from her living room. In one corner of that living room stood Drua. In Drua’s arms is a cast-iron pot with bones protruding from it and on her shoulders — a pair of rats.

It fits every stereotype of your usual Halloween witch, except in this case, they are always made from scratch each year. The only difference this year, from years past is that Drua is standing rather than sitting.

It has culminated in a lot of work and amazing detail.

“This year I did one that’s standing,” she said. “All are made out of cardboard, styrofoam, stretched latex, masking tape and duct tape.”

Halloween has always been at the forefront of the Larson family. It’s been celebrated robustly and creatively.

“Halloween has always been a big deal in my family,” Larson explained. “Because my mother’s birthday fell on Halloween.”

The holiday became so popular, that Larson’s niece lovingly referred to the seven sisters as “the coven.”

“It added to the allure,” Larson said.

The witches Larson created started with a deal she made with her grandson. If she could create a witch that appeared to realistically fly, then she would start her Halloween scenes, decking out each room of the Larson home in a specific Halloween theme.

That was in 2015 and it was also the year the witches became a tradition.

But in making the witches, it also works into the interest Larson has for history. Her witches have scary aspects to them, but they are not the frightening personas made popular by today’s culture.

Instead, she likes the connection to cunning women or folk healers.

“I like the idea, not so much of the witch, but I like the idea of them as healers,” Larson said. “Usually there is nothing scary, they just look like an old woman. Old women who look interesting.”

She also takes a little from history, like this year’s witch, Utella, whose inspiration was taken from Austin’s past.

“I was doing research for the Hormel Home and I was looking through old paper and saw that a palmist came to Austin,” Larson said. “She came to do readings and her name was Utella.”

The witches also bring the family and close friends together.

Each year she invites family and friends over to pose with the witch. Larson then takes pictures and provides them for members of the family and friends to get printed for their own treasure.

“It’s a family thing,” Larson said. “I’m a very creative person. I like woodcarving, paint, I play music. I like making something, whether it’s painting or carving.”