HAS HALLOWEEN CHANGED, OR IS IT JUST MY NEIGHBORHOOD?
a cranky re-run October 2015
If you could not be home for the trick or treaters, you left a big basket of candy out and candy was taken on the honor system. When you came home there was still candy in the basket.
The first round was taken up with talking to the parents (all from the immediate neighborhood) and guessing what each child was dressed as and which child was which. Guessing the costumes was easy as the parents would mouth the answer if it was not obvious. You always guessed the wrong child in each costume, no matter how obvious. The little ones loved that you knew their costume and loved even more that you didn’t know who they were. The little ones practically squealed “Trick or treat” with delight when you opened the door.
The second round of costumers answered with a more sedate “Trick or treat.” They answered a few question but were intent on moving on to the next house as quickly as possible…collecting the most candy was a contest. Whereas the little treater’s costumes were mostly store bought costumes of ghosts, witches, skeletons, or Disney characters, the second round of kids had homemade outfits. They were football players, cheerleaders, hoboes or pirates.
The final round of kids, the teens, often had no costume at all. Maybe a funny hat, or a store bought mask of the current President, but that was usually tilted up on the top of their head. They often just held out there bag and said nothing…too cool to say “trick or treat” young enough to want free candy.
I usually busted these kid’s chops.
I usually busted these kid’s chops.
“Yes, what do you want?”
“You know, like candy.”
“What do you say?”
“…”
“Come on, you know.”
“Trick or treat.”
“Thank you!” Then I would hand over the candy.
By nine thirty it was lights out and candy in. Late comers would not have their ring answered. Even without the treat, I was never tricked.
These days, the kids come around right after school. Parents accompany all but the teens. They hang by the street cell phones ready to call 9-1-1 because they assume every home is occupied by a potential child predator. I seldom know anyone that comes to the door. The costumes are always store bought, and the kids seldom say “Trick or treat” even when prompted. They just stick out their bag and collect the candy. Sometimes they say “thank you” sometimes they grumble that you did not give them the good candy.
The costume parade ends around eight, except for a few delinquents that ring the bell at ten even thought the lights are all out.
If you leave your car out, the windows will be soaped and there is usually some toilet paper thrown. Sometimes the little assholes toss eggs at the house.
Today if you leave a basket of candy out while you are away for an hour, it will be empty when you come home…you are lucky if they leave the basket.
I remember when Halloween was fun. It was fun as a trick or treater, and it was fun answering the door.
These days Halloween is more like a holdup, no joy, no imagination, no neighborhood party, just give me stuff because you are just supposed to give out stuff…and it better be good!
Has Halloween changed, or is it just my neighborhood?
Life in general has changed. Until recently, we did not have Halloween in the UK. It started here some five or so years ago, maybe ten. Luckily, we don't have eggs or toilet paper thrown at houses because they are so expensive to buy. It gets dark by 4:00pm here; so we don't get many people knocking at doors.
ReplyDeleteYears ago, on 5 November, we used to have children asking for "Penny for the Guy". This is a bonfire night when we commemorate the arrest and execution of Guy Fawkes in 1605/6. Guy Fawkes, (13 April 1570 – 31 January 1606),also known as Guido Fawkes while fighting for the Spanish, was a member of a group of provincial English Catholics who planned the failed Gunpowder Plot of 1605. Children used to stand in street corners with an effigy of Guy made from old clothes and ask for money for fireworks. The effigy was later burnt on a bonfire.
You don't see people asking for "Penny for the Guy" any more. Fireworks displays are usually carried out by professional organisations.
God bless.
I suspect it is nationwide, not just your neighbourhood. The times have changed, nothing is as innocent and fun anymore.
ReplyDeleteI agree!!
DeleteTrick or Treat became my hated time when things happened. A bunch of very rude teenage males came trick or treating and I denied them the money. They walked away but not for long. When my porch light went out they returned and literally wrecked my brand new porch by pouring white paint all over the woodwork. Since then there has been a noticeable change in trick or treating, like there is none.
ReplyDeleteIt HAS changed Cranky. For one thing there are far less kids out these days. When we first moved here there would be upwards of 200 kids at the door. Now we're lucky to get 30 to 40 kids. It's all over long before 8pm. There is always candy left over and we hope for some older kids to come along late and we give the whole lot to them. And yet, strangely, more and more houses seem to go all out wiith the decorations.
ReplyDeleteAh the good ole days. As I live in the country, there are no trick or treaters. Churches throw parties but there no longer is the door to door action. Rather sad.
ReplyDeleteWe live in a neighborhood of about 100 houses. We generally get about 2 groups of kids, always with parents. Mostly homemade costumes. One kid came as Jay from State Farm, I gave him a ton of candy. We can still sit a bowl of candy out and find candy in it when we get home.
ReplyDeleteI didn't get to celebrate Halloween as a kid, so I don't know what it was like then. We've been in our current house for eight years, and it has definitely changed since we've been here. We get fewer trick or treaters every year. Most are polite, and most have parents come up to the door with them. Sometimes the parents just wait in the car, but mostly they're with the kids. Last year the only trick or treaters we had were our next door neighbors. There are six kids, so at least it counts for a lot when they come. This year I'm considering just making treat bags for the kids next door and not even bothering trying to be ready for other trick or treaters.
ReplyDeleteI can't say it's changed too much here. Definitely get high schoolers, which when I was a kid, you didn't go out after about age 13. One thing I do notice, if you have a bowl of candy and allow kids to pick something, they get greedy and will often ask if they can take 2. I stopped that and just throw a piece directly in their bag now!
ReplyDeleteNo, you are correct. As H-ween changed, exactly what you described was common. two years before we moved I finally put up a sign "Children only. No adults or teens." and I put out a big water bottle with a sign "Donate for our military".
ReplyDeleteThere were now vans pulling up and strangers piled out. They would move from neighborhood to another. Their adults were confused.
Now we live in a 55+ community.
Yeah, when I was a kid, we had to wait for dusk. We only went to our street and the one a block over, where my favorite gambling aunt lives. My dad lurked behind tree trunks between the sidewalk and the street, just to be sure everything was okay. Sometimes car windows got soaped, regardless of whether treats were given. Just a squiggly mark. No egg-throwing that I remember.
ReplyDeleteThese days, kids around here have been known to throw lunch meat. It sticks to cars and messes up the paint, I'm told. No firsthand experience from either side. The school clubs, and some churches, hold Trunk or Treat. Candy is handed out in the parking lot, during daylight hours. Of course, that's for the kids whose church actually lets them participate. Not the ones that stopped school Halloween parties and costume day, and made the party become a Fall Festival celebration.
Hubby and I go to the boat each Halloween so we're never home. I like it that way. The kids are bused into our neighborhood. I mean that literally. They are actual buses that drop off the kids and pick them up at another location. Amazing.
ReplyDeleteI'm guessing the lack of manners is pretty much everywhere anymore. Entitled little buggers, although I liked what you called them much better.
Have a fabulous day and week, Joe. 😎
It is regulated here by the Parish council. Children up to age 12 are allowed to trick or treat from 6-8pm. Your subdivision or neighborhood can change it if they want. We still get parents coming with their young ones, or older siblings, imaginative costumes, plenty of calls of "trick or treat!" and "thank you!" is prompted by the parents or older siblings if needed. We allow the older ones and don't cut it off at age 12.
ReplyDeleteSome of the people in this neighborhood have lived here 20, 30 or 40+ years, and even the newcomers know we like it the old way here. Most of them move here because of that, in fact. We have a yard decorating contest and everyone goes around to see who won.
It's a desirable neighborhood where we know each other and look out for each other, even if a lot of the info exchanged is online on the neighborhood website instead of over the clothes line now. Yes, i know how blessed we are.
In my neighborhood there are fewer and fewer trick or treaters. Many communities are organizing Halloween events to encourage the little gangsters NOT to trick or treat. I remember once as a kid being asked to come in to a home and sit down and then asked what trick I was going to perform in order to get a treat. I was mortified!
ReplyDeleteOur town does trick or treat the Thursday before Halloween...don't know why but that's how it's done here. It's only one hour long, 6-7pm. So you'd better be fast! When we lived in town we always decorated the house and played spooky music. I made a special dinner and dessert and made it fun. I miss that since we live in the country and no kiddos come out here. Now we go and watch the Grandkiddos do the trick or treat thing at their homes. I love Halloween! Ashland also has trick or treat next week on a Tuesday with the downtown businesses handing out candy. So it's still celebrated pretty good here.
ReplyDeleteI must live in an old-fashioned neighborhood. Hours are limited to 6 to 8 p.m., and it's little kids coming to the door, with their parents staying back a few steps. A lot of churches around here now have "trunk or treat" or - since Halloween is supposedly associated with evil and Satan - "fall festivals."
ReplyDelete