no Hallo-weenies

[mckitterick]

pointoforigin pointed out that Halloween is different these days than when we were kids. Remember what it used to be like? We'd get dressed up and go door-to-door gathering tooth-rot, and we got to see everyone in great costumes wandering the sidewalks of our neighborhoods. Remember how every kid in town used to work for days or weeks to make the perfect costume? Sure, for some it was only a sheet with holes for the eyes, but everyone used to get into the spirit. It was fun and made the world feel a bit more magical.

Now? I didn't see any kids dressed up, and I live in a residential neighborhood. I drove downtown to fetch amjhawk from "class" (nee "Henry's") last night, and I did manage to see a bunch of costumes. Mostly college women in varying shades of "sluttish," but no kids. Anthony, at least, had a great costume - as did I: PJs with horses, settlers, and native Americans emblazoned all over - but kids? Didn't see any.

What's that all about? What happened to the fun of Halloween? It used to be for kids, now it's for folks in college. pointoforigin suggests it's a security thing. Heck, when I was a kid, I used to take my little brother out tricker-treating (to use a phrase from one of curieuse's students) alone, the two of us; he was six years younger. Still is, I guess, but I digress.

How many tricker-treaters did I get at my house? None; count 'em: Zero. I even had the lights on - both the sidewalk rope-lights and front door-light - and candy ready. So I watched The Island for Halloween. Not bad, fun movie. But it wasn't Halloween without the kids in costumes. Sigh.

Chris

Comments

[the-monkey-king.livejournal.com]

We got a ton of trick-or-treaters last night. Teenagers, little kids, all kinds of fairy princesses, superheroes, everything you remember.

The observance is regional. In Wisconsin, it was only during daylight, for some reason.

[mckitterick.livejournal.com]

Ah, I wonder if the daylight thing had something to do with it. I was in class when the sun was out.

[kalimeg.livejournal.com]

I got sick yesterday, so I had my roommate unscrew the automatic front door light. Silence ensued.

This neighborhood was never heavy on kids in costume anyway.

[mckitterick.livejournal.com]

Sorry for the sick thing. That's no way to celebrate the forces of death! Oh, wait.... *g*

[jamer-31.livejournal.com]

i think in part its the neighborhoods. i know if we go to lawrence its the new parts of town and there are usually kids all over those. in eudora its the same type of thing new housing devlopments where people assume people hav elots of money to buy candy. and in older parts of town the lights are generally few and far between like one or two on a block. to much work for kids these days.

the other part is that people are all into this safe crap. the people with kids now are the ones who grew up with parents going through their candy to watch out for needles and blades and poison. even those things have never happened. and they have decided that they dont want to walk from house to house. and they cant let kids go out and do it on their own. so they either dont let them trick or treat, they take them to a mall to fake trick or treat. or they do the downtown walk in lawrence.

its part of the sisification of the american youth. my girls will be more manly than most boys when they get older.....how sad :(

[mckitterick.livejournal.com]

my girls will be more manly than most boys when they get older - I bet you're right, if they're not already *g*

But that's it, I know: For the kids, sure, it's about wasting time going to houses that don't put out. But for the adults, they worry about The Terrorists handing out ricin to kill our kids. Whatever.

[jamer-31.livejournal.com]

"But for the adults, they worry about The Terrorists handing out ricin to kill our kids."

ach..thats just an excuse.
parents either are to freeking lazey to do the leg work.
or their parents scared them back in the day so their kids dont get to enjoy it either.

[roya-spirit.livejournal.com]

You want to see the kiddies in costume? Go downtown from 5:30 to 6:30, that's where the locals take the kiddos. It's a riot and lots of fun to see the Hippy/Punk parents dressed up too.
We sat around for an hour for about five groups of young uns and then put out the light and went downtown. It was way more fun.

[mckitterick.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I've heard that about having to go downtown to see 'em, during the daylight hours, but I'm always teaching until late on Halloween, it seems.

[geekmom.livejournal.com]

I can't take my kids downtown, because I'm at work until 5. Besides, it's all crowded downtown. It's nicer to have a chat with the neighbors and have them admire the costume and attempt conversation with the preschooler.

[mckitterick.livejournal.com]

Yeah, during Halloween when I was a kid, I enjoyed being out at night in costume, hanging out with my friends.

[roya-spirit.livejournal.com]

Rats. Maybe next year you could declare it a Holiday.

[stuology.livejournal.com]

Mostly college women in varying shades of "sluttish,"

To quote my SIL: "Halloween is just an excuse for women to wear lingerie to bars."

[mckitterick.livejournal.com]

Hey, I'm cool wit dat, but I'd have to be in the bars to appreciate it.

[geekmom.livejournal.com]

Part of it was the weather. That cuts down on the kids when it's all bitter like that. Part of it is also where you are located. There were certainly plenty of trick or treaters over here, though a bit fewer than there are in years when it's warmer. Pari said hello to bunches of kids we passed as we went along.

[mckitterick.livejournal.com]

But it was gorgeous outside! A little chilly, but not much wind to blow costumes around nor snow nor rain... kids these days. When I was a kid, we had to trudge through waist-high snow uphill in both directions, and we had to chop wood or haul hay-bales (for the "trick") in order to get our treats.