Trick Or Treating

Oct. 31st is trick or treat night for kids here in the U.S. It's a custom I adored as a child. In fact, my dad seemed more excited and enjoyed it than I., He always insisted on taking me trick or treating when I was small, as a protection. But in reality, he had more fun doing it than any kid in the neighborhood. I think it's because Halloween and trick or treat let's us escape daily drudgery and instead pretend without reproach. Judging by how many adults love to give out the candy to trick or treaters, or to take their own small ones trick or treating,  I am not sure which age group benefits most by it.

Trick or treat here in the U.S really became popular in the 1930's, largely because Halloween mischief at the time turned too often into vandalism. In the 30's physical assaults and sporadic acts of violence were upsetting. One theory holds that it was the excessive pranks on Halloween that led to the widespread adoption of an organized, community based trick or treating tradition in the 1930s. It slowed down after the start of World War II when children had to refrain from trick or treating because of sugar rationing. How terrible. Take away my sugar and I might become normal!

In the 50's trick or treating became popular, becoming standard practice for millions of children in America's cities and newly built suburbs where trick or treat was easy and safe for kids.. No longer suffering from a war that brought sugar rationing, candy companies launching national advertising campaigns specifically aimed at Halloween. They encouraged and still encourage trick or treat. Today, Americans spend an estimated $6 billion annually on Halloween, making it the nation's second largest commercial holiday.

Strangely, the kids in different states want different candy. The most popular in most states this year, according to a marketing survey of 40,000 people across the United States is one I do not like, candy corn. My own Oregon, Wyoming, Tennessee, Texas and South Carolina all picked candy corn as their favorite Halloween trick or treat candy. If all they gave me was candy corn then I would stay home on Halloween night. But it does seem the trick or treat crowd is thinner than in the past. Churches, schools, community centers and other open to the public institutions have their own parties and trick or treat events. Malls set aside trick or treating at their stores. And there is that trick or trunk thing, where adults decorate trucks and hand out candy. Too, there is a safety issue in letting kids take candy from strangers. All of this may be suppressing the turnout of trick or treaters.

How ironic today that in America, the adult public demand for more "free stuff' from government is in inverse proportion to the lower kids desire for free candy at Halloween. Maybe it's proof that the adults are the most greedy monsters today.

Top 10 Signs You Are Too Old To Be Trick or Treating
10. You get winded form knocking on the door.
9.  You have to have another kid chew the candy for you.
8.  You ask only for high fiber candy
7.  When someone drops a candy bar in your bag,  you lose your balance and fall over
6.  People say,  "Great Keith Richard's mask!"  and you're not wearing a mask.
5.  When the door opens you yell,  "Trick or..."  and can't remember the rest.
4.  By the end of the night,  you have a bag full of restraining orders
3.  You have to carefully choose a costume that won't dislodge your hairpiece
2.  You're the only Power ranger in the neighborhood with a walker
1.  You avoid going to houses where your ex-wives live.