We don’t generally get many kids because we’re in an apartment building, and around here all the young kids have other outlets. Almost all the stores and restaurants on the Avenue have buckets of candy, and the parents take the kids after school. (Even the Chinese takeout places have candy now!) Then older kids go mostly to the private houses around us. Only people who live in the building would come around.
If things go as usual, I will have a bunch of Almond Joys to eat in the coming days..
When we were kids – before we moved to Brooklyn – we lived in an apartment building in Queens. My brother and I and our friends all dressed as Zorro (this was the time of the 1957 Disney series) and got enough in our building and the one next to us to satisfy our cravings.
As a kid in my day (1950s), Halloween was a one-day “celebration” of costumes, candy (strictly limited by parents) and a few old scary movies on TV off-channels. Now it’s a month-long bacchanalia of horror, decorating, costume buying (my Mom made my simple costume: ghost, pirate, etc.) and one-upmanship. It’s completely ridiculous.
We had just 3 visitors two years ago, none last year, so this year we are going lights-out. We have bought NO candy, so none to tempt us to eat it since I can’t have it and Barbara says she shouldn’t. I’ll be glad when it’s over.
I haven’t had a costume since I retired. We used to dress up at work, and had a costume contest. One of my favorite ones was simple flannel shirt with padding at the shoulders, cordurory overalls, a knit hat, and a half face mask with a beard. My dad fashioned an axe out of particle board and painted a silver axe head. Lumberjack.
I’ve been lights out for years, but usually take treats to the neighborhood kids
The candy’s George and Jeff mention would be my giveaways ones I’d never eat (almond joy/mounds) or bottom of the barrel (nut candies, though Paydays are exempt)
Beth, we live on a long, well-lit street. Every year we see vans of kids (not from our neighbor) park on our street and the kids run house to house to fill their bags of candy.
To all you naysayers,I turned Halloween into a literary and musical festival called” Monster Mash” in the late 90’s. I was Director of a small school. All 12 teachers and I spent weeks having the children write scary stories, do paintings , learn how to sing and dance the Monster Mash and set up the classrooms for lots of fun activities. We gathered as a group of 200 to share the stories, sing and dance followed by the kids walking around our two floors freely bobbing for apples, making masks, choosing the awful sugar laden candy and even getting their faces painted. We had a blast and all our kids had a safe and fun Halloween.
Happy Halloween everybody!
I’m still trying to remember when Halloween came to Europe – not sute, but after the 1970s/1980s I think, so as children we had nothing like this. Now parents usually buy stuff, candy and costumes.
Doing some last minute shopping today (tomorrow is All Saints, a holiday in Hungary – like in Germany) I even saw Halloween pizza and Halloween potato wedges and ….
Actually in Germany the police already gave out warnings not to do “dirty tricks” tonight like scratching cars or putting concrete slabs on the road – some “young ones” seem to have crazy ideas …
In my youth we did crazy stuff like unhinging garden gates or wrapping a car in rolls of toilet paper on the last night in April – now this has moved to October.
George, that’s an arresting photo of Diane. Have a spooktacular day!
Jerry, we’re expecting a ton of Trick-or-Treaters tonight despite the colder weather! Diane is an arresting person!
Amazing how Halloween has become so big. More houses have decorations now than at Christmas.
Patti, you’re right. Plenty of houses around here display Halloween decorations and creepy props in their front yards.
I’m using it as an excuse to clean out my pantry. Hope the kiddies like soy sauce packets!
Dan, we usually give away the candy we don’t care for and hold back the Peanut M&Ms and Snickers!
I surrender!
We don’t generally get many kids because we’re in an apartment building, and around here all the young kids have other outlets. Almost all the stores and restaurants on the Avenue have buckets of candy, and the parents take the kids after school. (Even the Chinese takeout places have candy now!) Then older kids go mostly to the private houses around us. Only people who live in the building would come around.
If things go as usual, I will have a bunch of Almond Joys to eat in the coming days..
Not that there’s anything wrong with that.
Jeff, I’m fond of Almond Joys and Mounds bars, too!
When we were kids – before we moved to Brooklyn – we lived in an apartment building in Queens. My brother and I and our friends all dressed as Zorro (this was the time of the 1957 Disney series) and got enough in our building and the one next to us to satisfy our cravings.
Jeff, I remember dressing up as Zorro back in the Fifties! Wonder Woman is the number one costume this year.
As a kid in my day (1950s), Halloween was a one-day “celebration” of costumes, candy (strictly limited by parents) and a few old scary movies on TV off-channels. Now it’s a month-long bacchanalia of horror, decorating, costume buying (my Mom made my simple costume: ghost, pirate, etc.) and one-upmanship. It’s completely ridiculous.
We had just 3 visitors two years ago, none last year, so this year we are going lights-out. We have bought NO candy, so none to tempt us to eat it since I can’t have it and Barbara says she shouldn’t. I’ll be glad when it’s over.
Rick, when Diane was teaching, Halloween was her least favorite holiday. The kids were always hyper because of the costumes…and the candy!
Of course it’s not really a “holiday”.
Rick, All Souls Eve…
I haven’t had a costume since I retired. We used to dress up at work, and had a costume contest. One of my favorite ones was simple flannel shirt with padding at the shoulders, cordurory overalls, a knit hat, and a half face mask with a beard. My dad fashioned an axe out of particle board and painted a silver axe head. Lumberjack.
I’ve been lights out for years, but usually take treats to the neighborhood kids
The candy’s George and Jeff mention would be my giveaways ones I’d never eat (almond joy/mounds) or bottom of the barrel (nut candies, though Paydays are exempt)
Maggie, I used to like Oh, Henry candy bars but I rarely see them in the variety bags of candy.
But did you sing “The Lumberjack Song,” Maggie?
Trick or Treat is tonight in Waukesha. The weather is horrible but there are always a few (!) kids following that sugar high.
I give out Goldfish crackers. That’s probably a half step up from being the lady who gives out toothbrushes.
Beth, we live on a long, well-lit street. Every year we see vans of kids (not from our neighbor) park on our street and the kids run house to house to fill their bags of candy.
Are they wrapped, because parents don’t let kids eat unwrapped candy any more.
Goldfish crackers??? I’m surprised you don’t get your house egged to TP’d.
To all you naysayers,I turned Halloween into a literary and musical festival called” Monster Mash” in the late 90’s. I was Director of a small school. All 12 teachers and I spent weeks having the children write scary stories, do paintings , learn how to sing and dance the Monster Mash and set up the classrooms for lots of fun activities. We gathered as a group of 200 to share the stories, sing and dance followed by the kids walking around our two floors freely bobbing for apples, making masks, choosing the awful sugar laden candy and even getting their faces painted. We had a blast and all our kids had a safe and fun Halloween.
Jackie
Jackie, kids love Halloween! Dressing up and getting a bag of candy! How do you beat that!
Happy Halloween everybody!
I’m still trying to remember when Halloween came to Europe – not sute, but after the 1970s/1980s I think, so as children we had nothing like this. Now parents usually buy stuff, candy and costumes.
Doing some last minute shopping today (tomorrow is All Saints, a holiday in Hungary – like in Germany) I even saw Halloween pizza and Halloween potato wedges and ….
Actually in Germany the police already gave out warnings not to do “dirty tricks” tonight like scratching cars or putting concrete slabs on the road – some “young ones” seem to have crazy ideas …
In my youth we did crazy stuff like unhinging garden gates or wrapping a car in rolls of toilet paper on the last night in April – now this has moved to October.
Wolf, the popularity of Halloween has grown over the past decade in the U.S. The candy industry loves it!