Happy Halloween!

[Stitchawl]

Do the kids go trick or treating in your part of the world?

.....It isn't something that is done, although the stores are trying to market the idea.

Did they, but no longer because of danger?

.....It doesn't catch on because too many of the Japanese think that it's begging.?

Is there some kind of 'vandalism' night just before or after

.....Vandalism in Japan? Not on yer nelly!

What was your favorite costume as a child?

.....A Confederate soldier. I used it every year until some home owner said 'Aren't you a bit old to be trick or treating?' I was 32. I like candy. What can I say?

Do the accompanying adults get their treats (i.e. a glass of alcoholic beverage.)

.....That was common when I lived in New England. By 9 pm most of the adults were really snoggered!



Stitchawl

[recluse]

I live on Long Island, New York, so you already know children trick or treat here.
Sadly, usually dressed age inappropriately.
Where I used to live, vandalism started about a week before Halloween. Throwing eggs, spraying shaving cream and, at one point, spraying instant hair remover. At trick or treaters. Several organizations formed groups to escort trick or treaters safely. The vandalism died down after that, except for one incident in a local park involving the killing and hanging of 13 stray dogs. Unsolved.
Where I live now, vandalism is minimal.
The community has a neighborhood watch.
My favorite costume was homemade. I went as Mr. Hyde.

[desertgrandma]

Yes........

No, no here

Oh heck no........the parents drive them in carloads, and follow them at a snails pace..

whatever we could make ourselves.....every year, it was different.......I can't remember a favorite, which just speaks volumes of my imagination skills........

[dreams]

Do the kids go trick or treating in your part of the world?

Not much anymore. Most parents and schools have Fall Carnivals and dinners. If there are any trick or treaters, it is usually a group of teenagers (not neighborhood kids) and it would be best to not open your door.

Did they, but no longer because of danger?

Yes, either real or perceived danger.

Is there some kind of 'vandalism' night just before or after?

No, not in our area, but I have heard of it in other areas.

What was your favorite costume as a child?

Princess! (you mean there were OTHER costume choices? )

Do the accompanying adults get their treats (i.e. a glass of alcoholic beverage.)?

When I was growing up, parents always received a beverage (beer - wine - soda - or coffee/hot chocolate).

That was one night that both mom and dad took turns to take the kids out and had fun little arguments about who got to take the kids first.

[Joebill]

Do the kids go trick or treating in your part of the world?

Yes. Some local malls have trick or treat night. The stores supply candy and an employee to give it out. My apartment complex has set hours for Halloween.

Last year the apartment management had a 'decorate your balcony' contest for Halloween. Top 3 got a reduced rent for November. $100, $50, or $25.

Did they, but no longer because of danger?

None in the areas I have lived in.

Is there some kind of 'vandalism' night just before or after

Not that I know of.

What was your favorite costume as a child?

ghost. Home made.

Do the accompanying adults get their treats (i.e. a glass of alcoholic beverage.)

Nope.

[bjones6416]

Do the kids go trick or treating in your part of the world?
Yes, a bit, but not neighborhood trick or treating so much. More common for parents to drive them to "safe" areas, then follow them in the car while they work the block. "Trunk or treating" has caught on here, too -- a church or school will ask people in the community and parents to park in the parking lot, and hand out candy from the trunk of their car. It's often combined with a fall festival or some sort of Halloween party.

Did they, but no longer because of danger?

Yes.

Is there some kind of 'vandalism' night just before or after?

You know, I always heard about this happening but it's never been very common around here.

What was your favorite costume as a child?

Our costumes were pretty much always homemade, and there were three of us girls. That meant that most years my mom would dress us up in long skirts and tie colorful scarves over our hair, maybe add some earrings and some makeup -- and we were gypsies!

Do the accompanying adults get their treats (i.e. a glass of alcoholic beverage.)?

Nope, not here. Bible belt, you know -- we do our drinking behind closed doors!

[lene1949]

I worked tonight (3-11), and because it's a 'disability house' (government) we don't have anything to give to the guys, who come to the door... If I had thought of it, I might have bought something for them, but I don't even know, what Halloween is... or why it's celebrated in this way.

The bell rang 3 times... The first lot recognised their mistake (they live on the street), and the other 2 lots, I had to tell them, that we didn't have anything for them...

I was very impressed with their costumes.. Obviously they had them well thought out.

[Sweetpea]

Do the kids go trick or treating in your part of the world?

No, at least not on Halloween. But there is Saint Martin on the 11th of the 11th and Three Kings on January 6th for the Catholic part of the country...

Did they, but no longer because of danger?

.....It doesn't catch on because too many of the Japanese think that it's begging.?

And I'd say they are right... I find it begging and you'll find my door closed if they come on the 11th...

Is there some kind of 'vandalism' night just before or after

I'll answer this question as if it was about Saint Martin: sometimes, but mostly because of older children (aged at around 12-15...)

What was your favorite costume as a child?

We only dress in costumes on carnival, I've always hated it...

Do the accompanying adults get their treats (i.e. a glass of alcoholic beverage.)
No idea, doubt it though...

[thinkpad]

Why this Halloween celebration has come to Norway I'm not sure, but I had 5 kids knocking on my door. It's not like I have a huge warehouse of candy stacked at home. Perhaps I should start giving out books

[lene1949]

What's the history behind this?

The people who knocked last night were just standing there... Aren't they supposed to say something?

[Stitchawl]

Times do change...
When I was a kid I lived in an apartment neighborhood. Dozens and dozens of kids running up and down hallways ringing doorbells. We'd hit so many homes in an hour filling our bags that we'd have to return home every hour or two just to get new empty shopping bags! By 10pm we'd have 4-5 large shopping bags filled with candy, and a jar full of money for UNICEF. Our parents would throw away any treats that weren't in commercial wrappers, fearing poison or drugs. That still left us with more candy than we could consume in the next three weeks!

Then reports of needles being hidden inside apples or caramel popcorn balls, rat poison sprinkled on candy corn, etc., reports coming in left and right about kids being attacked... and that pretty much ended Halloween for us. By the time I was 11 or 12, perhaps there might be 10 kids in the neighborhood trick or treating... By the time I was 14 there were none. These days, people in that neighborhood are afraid to open their doors to anyone they don't know.
Times do change.


Stitchawl

[Stitchawl]

Originally Posted by lene1949

What's the history behind this?

Good question! I had to go to Wiki to find out myself!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trick_or_treat
gives a great history of the event.

The people who knocked last night were just standing there... Aren't they supposed to say something?

They are supposed to shout 'Trick or treat!' This means that either you give them some sort of treat or they will play a trick on you. The treats ranged from mini candy bars, popcorn balls, candy apples, Hershey's Kisses, etc. There weren't 'tricks' done if no treats were given, but there was often quite a bit of mild vandalism done by older kids, teens, who were too old for candy gathering.

Throwing eggs at houses and cars, dumping sacks of flour on lawns, squirting shaving cream at each other, etc. At the extreme end, sometime a group of kids would get together to 'TP a house.' This involved throwing rolls of toilet paper like streamers over a house, bushes, trees, etc.. With enough kids throwing enough rolls, they could turn an entire location white. Needless to say, it takes forever to clean this up, especially if there is a light rain...

Stitchawl

[lene1949]

Thank you! It thought it looked very similar to the Danish tradition Fastelavn

Originally Posted by Stitchawl

Good question! I had to go to Wiki to find out myself!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trick_or_treat
gives a great history of the event.



They are supposed to shout 'Trick or treat!' This means that either you give them some sort of treat or they will play a trick on you. The treats ranged from mini candy bars, popcorn balls, candy apples, Hershey's Kisses, etc. There weren't 'tricks' done if no treats were given, but there was often quite a bit of mild vandalism done by older kids, teens, who were too old for candy gathering.

Throwing eggs at houses and cars, dumping sacks of flour on lawns, squirting shaving cream at each other, etc. At the extreme end, sometime a group of kids would get together to 'TP a house.' This involved throwing rolls of toilet paper like streamers over a house, bushes, trees, etc.. With enough kids throwing enough rolls, they could turn an entire location white. Needless to say, it takes forever to clean this up, especially if there is a light rain...

Stitchawl