“Hollow” Halloween?

Johnny-on-the-Spot … by John Foster …

Our most recent “Trick or Treat” experience at the palatial Foster estate ws prettysketchy.

I think we had about 10 youngsters ring our doorbell.

They were all nicely costumed and very polite, saying “Trick or Treat!” when I opened the door and “Thank you!” when I tossed the goodies in their bags.

But only 10.

It was a bit cool on October 31st in these parts so weather wasn’t a deterrent.

Last year, I think we had maybe 15 ghosts and goblins visit.

Made me wonder.

Is “Trick or Treat” running out of gas these days for youngsters and parents?

Halloween has been around for centuries.

It has its’ origins in the ancient Celtic festival “Samhain”.

In midieval Europe, it was customary to dress as “spirits” and receive food or money in exchange for good fortune, or prayers for the dead.

Later, you handed out “treats” to avoid “tricks” in 16th century Ireland and Scotland.

In Mexico, the practice was called “calaverita”, a Spanish diminutive for “calavera” (skull in English.).

Children would ask “Me da mi calaverita?” meaning “Can you give me my little skull?” a small skull made of sugar or chocolate.

The custom of “Trick or Treat” may have come from the belief that supernatural beings, or souls of the dead, roamed the Earth at this time of the year and needed to be appeased.

Other similar activities included “guising”, “mumming” or “souling”.

“Trick or Treating” came to America via central Canada and spread across our nation in the ’30’d, 40’s and 50’s.

Some regions and cities had “Beggar’s Night”, “Mischief Night”, “Devil’s Night” and even “Cabbage Night”.

Some of those events turned into nights of violence and vandalism and faded away.

When I was a kid, soaping windows or decorating trees with rolls of toilet paper were the chosen activities.

On occasion, a lit Jack-o-lantern on a front porch might get tipped over.

“Trunk or Treat” has become a big favorite for churches, neighborhoods and businesses.

The big crowds seem to make Moms and Dads feel safer and the kids don’t have as far to walk to gather their loot.

When I was a kid, a typical family was 3-4 young ones but today, the family averages less than 2 children.

That’s probably why our numbers have been so low since we moved to Indiana 31 years ago.

In Mansfield, Ohio, there would be carloads of kids dropped off in our neighborhood where there were lots of houses close to one another and the pickings were good.

Now there’s a time that you “age out” of “Trick-or-Treating”.

I think once we got past 12, we were assigned to travel along with the younger siblings.

“Trick or Treat” in northern Ohio could mean cool and dry, a soaking, cold rain, even snow n the ground and one year, we had a thunderstorm as the evening wrapped up.

I can’t imagine “Trick or Treating” really going away because it’s big business in the United States.

This year, we spent $4.3B on costumes, $4.2B on decorations and $3.9B on candy.

Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, M & M’s, Snickers, Kit Kats and Hershey Bars are the top candies.

As a kid, I always liked Tootsie Rolls and I still like Butterfingers.

We had a neighbor who handed out the small boxes of Sun Maid raisins and others handed out big, delicious apples until some morons started sticking needles and pins in them.

We bought a big variety bag of candy this year and after we got it home, I told my wife we should check some of the candy out to make sure it was safe for the kids.

I managed to finagle a small Snickers bar with that ruse.

By the way, the candy that got the least love was Candy Corn and Circus Peanuts.

I can’t argue with that.

I’d hate to see Halloween and Trick or Treat fade away because we like dragging out our 3 “booky” witches with their flashing noses and displaying them on the front porch.

We made that display years ago and except for 30 days in October, they loiter in the workshop, wrapped in two big, black garbage bags, gathering dust and cobwebs.

I hope Halloween and Trick or Treat don’t get put away this year and never get unwrapped again.