Trick or treating sure has changed since I was a little guy. Today trunk or treating rules the night. It is done for the obvious safety reasons and is a very good thing. I do find it a bit sad that it has come to that. So many children today that will never know the excitement of walking in the dark on the scariest night of the year. How well I remember wearing our homemade disguises and going door to door. I remember a gentle breeze blowing the leaves around and the sounds of the night. Outdoor lighting was very little, if at all, maybe just a porch light. We traveled in small packs the older kids watching out for the younger ones. And the older kids were about 12 or so, you didn't dress up much past that age.
Most houses we went to had those little bags of candy all ready to hand out. Each bag had three or four different treats. Cookies, brownies, apples, oranges and other fruits may be handed out as well. One home I went to had a large punch bowl filled with pennies. You got to reach in with one hand and take what you could get. An elderly lady sat by the bowl and watched you carefully. We went until we were tired, or the candy ran out. When the lights were out in the house, so was the candy. There were no set times back then that was up to Mom and Dad. We never went until it was dark. They usually decided when we were done as well, although their where times that didn't happen. Back then it wasn't uncommon for Dad to have brought along a few beers to keep him refreshed. We were usually good as long as the beer held out.
Another activity associated with Halloween where I grew up was soaping the shop windows in town. That was the older kids doing that stuff. Armed with bars of soap and cans of shaving cream things got real messy. A few kids might have some rotten eggs to throw as well. I only recall a few incidents where anyone got hurt or any property damage occurred. Part of the fun was going back the day after and asking those shop owners if they needed their windows washed. A kid could make a few bucks that way. Later on, when I was older and not trick or treating the town organized a block party for Halloween night. I didn't attend that party but heard that it didn't go well. Things got a bit out of hand from what I was told.
Everything changes over time. What we remember is generally what we believe to have been the best. I'm certain there are little children today making memories at trunk or treat. They will one day tell their children or grandchildren of how great a time that was. Yes, a time when adults actually gave out unhealthy foods and tried to scare you! A time when monsters were celebrated! I'm certain they will tell of all the elaborate decorations in the yards all over town. Yes, there will be stories told. As for me I remember dressing up as a hobo, a very popular character at the time, and Mom burning the end of a cork to rub on our faces. Yes, we mascaraed as homeless people. That is if we weren't pirates, clowns or the mummy. Kids today will never know that. That's alright though, they will make their own memories. And those memories will just as comforting, just as pleasant as the ones I have.
That was long before we had to x-ray the candy, to be certain. Is it paranoia or practicality?
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