I am not a Halloween person today. I have never decorated for Halloween - I decorate (if I do) for fall. Until recent years, I did always give out goodies to the kids that showed up. I quit doing that after being by myself - it just isn't a smart idea now.
Kids always loved coming here and remembered us each year. I always gave full size candy bars - they loved that! I just wanted them to have a good time! In the past years we had huge amounts of kids in the neighborhood. Now there are very, very few and those that are here go to EVENTS instead of door to door. Probably a smart thing!
Anyway, I digress - I remember the fun of being a kiddo at Halloween.
not my picture
I got to have a Halloween party one year - and we had a bob for apples tub! Daddy made a little fire to sit around, we bobbed for apples, got warm and had cookies and hot chocolate. Nothing big, but it was fun for me and my little friends.
Mom always gave out homemade goodies - that was cool back then. She either made wrapped popcorn balls or individually wrapped HUGE iced sugar cookies. I remember the year of cookies, and just as things were winding down, there was a knock at the door. There was a lady with a mask! She lived around the corner and knew mom. She came to get a cookie!!!! She tasted her sons and wanted one of her own!!!!!
Mom was such a good baker. She was the neighborhood seamstress, so everyone came to the house and knew of her goodies. They also knew she worked at the bakery up the road. Yep, I sure miss those cookies!!!!
Just a side note: the cookie jar always had those iced cookies in it, even as adults. Come Sunday when doing the family thing, the cookie jar was everyone's first stop!!! Dang they were good.
We had a lady down the street - that was an elderly lady who enjoyed the kids. She always a big pot (cauldron) with dry ice in it - that looked sooooo spooky. We each got invited in for a cup of hot chocolate! It was generally a welcome thing, as it was often cold. Can you imagine that happening today and someone not getting arrested????
I remember getting apples, cookies, popcorn balls, brownies, just all kinds of homemade goodies. What fun.
I went to a party one time around the corner (junior high) - not sure why, as we weren't really friends. Anyway it was like my first 'grown-up' type party. I do remember taking soap from their house and my friend and I left - with thoughts of soaping windows! We did not - we did write on the street, but we were good girls and soaped NO windows. I never egged or did the TP thing either!
I also remember going to an event, and they organized a scavenger hunt. That was fun. Again, think about being a young person and just randomly going to people's homes and knocking after dark, asking for things today!!! YIKES
It was a different time. SO much more freedom. I am sure there were bad people back then - but not as many it seems. All the parents and kids in the neighborhood knew each other, and everyone looked out for others. It is remembered in my mind as a time of innocence!
I remember having so much fun - and the goodies were a good perk too!!!!!!
What clean and innocent fun we had.
Do you have any special memories of those days when you were a kiddo?
JUST A THOUGHT - 2 months from today is Christmas Eve!!!!!!!!!!!! YIKES! 😟😕
Halloween as a kid was fun. I especially liked the "class party". It was usually cold for trick or treating so mom made us wear coats and sometimes boots. That took the fun out of it! We only went to our own neighborhood. One house I went to the Dad made us recite a poem or tell joke or sing a song to get the treat. I did not like that! Home-made treats were the norm. No worries about that. I remember popcorn balls and rice krispie treats wrapped in waxed paper. Also bubble gum. Simpler, innocent times for sure.
ReplyDeleteI forgot about class parties! Oh those cold ones were a pain for sure. Looked like the Michelin Man walking around!!! LOL
DeleteHow cute on the idea of a joke or song - but, yes I bet as a kid that was not cool!!!
Yes - those were the days.
I remember trying to squeeze the costume over a heavy coat because it was cold! You could not see a thing out of those masks so we always pushed them up onto the tops of our heads. Our neighbor across the street had a dining room table laid out with full size candy bars and if you were a kid from our street you got to go in and fill up a little treat bag with whatever you wanted, She always told us to take more, take more. But before we went over Mom told us not to be pigs! It was a hard balancing act for a kid!
ReplyDeleteSadly we have not had a single trick or treater come to our door for many years. It used to be fun to see the kids every year.
Lana, during the last 5 years in CA we had many trick-or-treaters again in the neighborhood we'd moved to. Before that it had been more than a decade without them. Now, far out in the country, there again isn't a need to buy candy. --Elise
DeleteWhat a nice neighbor!!!!!! That is pretty cool. Exactly, what kid knows when or wants to stop!!!!!
DeleteI remember pushing the mask up too - I just couldn't see with foggy glasses!
I don't turn the light on any more - but I have only seen a couple go around and they were bigger. Used to be fun - so many came.
I remember when I was 12 years old, the older neighbor asking why I was still trick or treating and wasn't I getting to old to do so. After that year, I stopped. But then the same woman's granddaughter was still trick or treating at 16 years old a few years later and nowadays, there are adults who I have seen trick or treat with their kids. I stopped giving out candy and participating years ago now. It was nice to visit my old neighborhood and hand out candy with my mom and visit with people I grew up with as they took their children around when I was younger though. Like many things, the holiday has become to commercial, in my opinion. Simpler times had us spending less to no money for costumes and being more creative.
ReplyDeleteSomeone always has to ruin things. I think I went till about 13/14. Then my mind was more thinking about boys!
DeleteThat would have been nice to go back to the old neighborhood.
Yes, it sure became commercial - like all the other special days. We just did it simple - got simple treats and had fun. That is what is was supposed to be.
Not my holiday. Yes, it was fun when I was a kid. Somewhere in my twenties I got a look at what evil people do on Halloween and that was it. I'm done. I consider it a night where I should be praying for the safety of the innocent, both human and animal.
ReplyDeleteSorry for being the downer.
Ellie
Central Az
Halloween isn't at all what once was, Ellie, and I've the same feelings about it now as you do, starting about 20 years ago. We lived "coastal" then. It was a small town with a low crime rate throughout the year... except on Halloween night. (((Hug)))
Delete--Elise
Not a thing for everyone - no problem. My MIL wouldn't give candy or anything, because she thought it was a bad thing.
DeleteCrime is here every day - so I never connected it to just Halloween. Heck someone gets shot and killed just about every single day in my city.
Yes, for sure there are some sickos out there that do nasty things. Someone has to ruin everything that was once enjoyed as just fun.
I totally understand.
Oh, so many good memories of Halloween! I was a witch every single year, wearing mom's old black wool dress. It was hemmed way up when I was small; the hem was let out as I grew taller. As a teen me and my friends would take the little kids we babysat out, pulling them in wagons. We got lots of praise for being so nice, and plenty of candy, too!
ReplyDeleteWhen our kids were growing up we decorated big time and hosted a bonfire on the front lawn for our neighbors. We had hot dogs and drinks for anyone who cared to stop by after T-or-T. The kids would trade candies and run off their excess energy. It was so much fun!
Nowadays there are no bonfires and we decorate only a little, but still hand out candy. I love seeing the kids in costume--even the teenagers in just a hoodie and a mask. I don't care how old you are, if you stop by my house you'll get candy, a smile, and a hearty, "Happy Halloween!"
Sue, we usually get a couple groups of 3-4 teens. I always ask them if they're a little old and they shuffle their feet a little. I tell them, "Well, you'll have to earn it. Sing me a song!". I've heard lots of fun songs over the years lol!!! Luckily, they've all been polite, nice kids.
DeleteI always bag my candy so it's easy to hand out. I always love hearing the year after year repeaters tell the newbies that they love this house cuz you get a whole bag lol. This year, I'm painting muslin bags.
sue what a neat thing to have done. I bet you were the hit of the neighborhood. Sounds like fun.
DeleteI am glad there are some people that still do it. The kids do enjoy getting goodies. We have so many older folks here now, not a lot of kids. There are also Trunk or Treat events around the city as well. Kids dress up and go to them (many churches do them - not on Halloween night) and many shopping centers give out candy at each store. I think parents just feel safer about it that way.
Debby - You are one of those people lejmom was talking about - making them sing for candy! LOL
I never minded the bigger kids - at least they weren't doing anything bad. Just having fun.
We always had the most polite kids - always 'thank you' and 'have a nice evening', etc.
I only make the teens sing lol. The little ones are already entertaining enough in their costumes.
DeletePS Chery, your final sentence is FAR SCARIER than anything Halloween night can bring. LOL. Yikes! Only 2 months to get ready...!
ReplyDeleteYES MAM!!!!!!! It sure scares me to think of!
DeleteThe only stand-out memory I have of Halloween was the year my younger brother was about 4. As we went beyond our block with our mom trick or treating, people would exclaim, "Oh! You have to see J! He's so cute!" Our mom got so upset, because we were supposed to play with kids on our own block ONLY... to be in calling distance. Clearly, we'd been wandering. ;-)
ReplyDeleteMostly, though, having been raised Catholic and going to Catholic school, Halloween was overshadowed by All Saint's Day. It's a day commemorating all the saints, both known and unknown, who have attained heaven and a remembrance of the dead. It's a Holy Day of Obligation with a special Mass (church service). In school, we lit candles, had flowers (often pots of marigolds or mums), and said special prayers; it was a "chapel" day. I always enjoyed those.
--Elise
As for Christmas Eve being a scant 2 months away... I'm with Sue... YIKES!
DeleteLOL - you got caught!!!!!!! Oh my - what a way to have it happen. Isn't it amazing though, nothing bad ever happened and hear you are telling a cute story about venturing into the unknown!
DeleteI understand that on All Saint's Day. That is where it all began. I remember it being All Souls Day (I wasn't Catholic) where you honored you loved ones that were gone.
Halloween seem to show up on the eve of that day - and a new industry was born!
Yes indeed - a few sleeps and it will be Christmas!
Ours was a generation where you played outside. We rode bikes (without helmets). Ran around. Explored. Looking back, most kids were pretty much left to their own devices, but there were adults around, quietly keeping an eye on things. I think Halloween never stood out much to me because--and YES, this is true--I wasn't a candy fan. Guess I was a weird kid. --Elise
DeleteOT, but related to Christmas... I just went through the baking shelf in the pantry. Remember how last year I bought cases of mixes? For holiday baking? That shelf is now almost 1/2 empty and our trash can is full. I know from experience that a month or two past sell-by date isn't a big deal, but 6+ months past means the leavening won't work. I'm ashamed of myself for the waste. Lesson: a great bargain isn't a bargain at all of you don't use it. --Elise
DeleteElise I have successfully added extra baking powder or baking soda to those mixes and they've turned out fine. Just check the ingredients and add like you would for a scratch bake.
DeleteElise I am with Sue - I just add my own and they work fine. I have that happen each year and just add extra. I even do that if my SR flour gets too old - just add leavening.
DeleteI sure wouldn't trash them.
Thank you, Sue and Cheryl. In all honesty, it was a useful lesson for me. I bought cases of 12 boxes of mixes, mostly cake and muffin mixes last year. It's just me and Hubs. We can't eat a whole cake or 12 jumbo muffins by ourselves, which I learned last year, so I knew those boxes would take up prime real estate in my pantry for another year or more. My weakness has always been "a great bargain"; the mixes were all less than $1 per box. How much better use of the space, though, to store healthy, nutritious foods we actually eat? My goal is to learn the lesson and apply it not just for food, but in other areas of my life as well. --Elise
DeleteWe lived in the country, so our trick or treating was by way of vehicle...most of the time. My mom and another mom would usually go together with the five of us (our family of 3 and the other 2). Occasionally, the moms would be invited in to enjoy a treat of their own, and then we were sent down the road to walk to the nearest house - usually a 1/4 to 1/2 mile walk. If the moms didn't catch up with us by then, we'd start walking to the next. We had fun, and never thought of any kind of danger.
ReplyDeleteI always went out with my kids and like your Dad walked behind them as they went from house to house. If it was a cold year, and it often was, the costumes HAD to fit over a snow suit. :p
I've purchased enough candy for about 50 kids - last year we had 45 if memory serves.
It would have been tough living in the country - so few houses and far between. Sounds like you had a grand time in spite of that! No, none of us ever thought of danger and I don't remember that my parents did either. We even talked about that after we were grown and they said they never worried.
DeleteSnow suits, boots, hats - I can even remember cold rain and once in a while snow - UGH!
Have fun!!!!
We always saw Halloween as a night of freedom. From about 8yo on, a big group of us went out alone! No parents! There were a couple of older kids, 12yo or so. But we were always polite. I remember that we had a cookie lady innthe apartments nearby. Horrible neighborhood, but she was the kindest lady! Didn't speak a word of English, but she'd bring a cookie sheet straight over, hand us a napkin and spatula a warm cinnamon butter cookie right on. They were so delicious. They were shaped like pumpkins.
ReplyDeleteWe always did lots for Halloween. Parties, too. I can't imagine how many grams of sugar we had in those days. School parties, home parties, and then probably 3 hrs. of t or t ing. Egads!! Oh, there were also school carnivals! I was always instructed NOT to win a goldfish lol. I did, but gave them to my cousin because he had a big aquarium in his room. Finest living goldfish ever lol.
It is a wonder we didn't sugar over does! Eating candy until bedtime - I remember taking some to school, and then getting home and starting in on it!!!!! It sure was fun!
DeleteWe had fall carnivals at my grade school. The cake walk was always my favorite. I did win a goldfish or two over the years. We always had a big bowl of fish.
I also liked getting a fish sandwich there - didn't happen most years - but I thought it was quite the treat! My grade school was a block from the house - so it was a fun evening - walking there, playing around, and walking home after dark!!!
Hallowe'en is a magical night for children and an opportunity to 'earn' their very own treats. When I lived in town we had adults with dogs trick or treating as well as groups of older boys making the rounds later. I liked to see them all; you're never too old to go trick or treating.
ReplyDeleteI never would 'dunk' for apples. Too many snotty noses in the dunking tub. I guess I've always been a germaphobe!
Nice trip down memory lane.
It is a magical time for kids. It truly was fun.
DeleteOh neat, I hope some people gave doggy treats too! You truly aren't too old to have fun - I went to a few adult Halloween parties back in the day as well!!!!! Now that was spooky stuff! LOL (costumes weren't as innocent either)
That is funny - I never thought about the germs while dunking for apples. But yeah, I can see that!
Lots of good memories of Halloween. Mom always kept a big box full or old clothes to dress up in. We usually got a mask that would cover our faces because we went as families, sometimes several families, or we even mixed up families, and the people we visited had to guess who everyone was behind the masks. It was so much fun. We never soaped windows, either, and my mom and dad never liked having their windows soaped and having to clean it off! There was no egging either. Things have changed so much!
ReplyDeleteI love the idea of people having to guess who is behind the mask!!!!! What fun - I am sure there were a lot of giggles.
DeleteMischief in my time was not like mischief today. Today, people do 'damage' and cost people money - we just played pranks!
Yes, things have changed immensely.
My Halloween memory: when I was about 8, I'd been sick and was not supposed to go Trick or Treating. My parents were busy with something else and my big brother was babysitting me. He "blackface"d me in fireplace ashes, wrapped me up well, and put me in a wagon. We went up and down the street, I was *so* happy! It must not have made me sick(er) because I don't recall any punishment, and surely my parents found out... ;)
ReplyDeleteYes, All Saint's Day - there was a hymn we sang: "For all the saints, who from their labors rest..." I loved that hymn, thought it was so beautiful!
I never heard of destructive behaviour until I married and my husband said in his neighborhood there was something called "Mischief Night" with eggs and soap and worse... Horrible.
MaryB (and thanks for the heads-up about Christmas Eve...)
Oh what a funny story. I guess mom & dad must have figured you were in need of going!!!! Glad you didn't get in trouble.
DeleteThere was always mischief going on back when I was a kid - but nothing hard core.
They might throw a few eggs at houses - it got stinky if it was warm out. Soaping windows - well, that pretty much washed off. Some even toilet papered their friends (or enemies) trees. Nothing like the stuff they do today.
I have heard it called mischief night too!
Cute, cute story!
(Little Penpen ). AwWW great memories. My childhood Halloweens were a lot like yours- I remember having a fall festival at church and everyone dressing as Bible characters. I dressed my daughter as Miriam with baby Moses in the basket. I think my son was David with a slingshot. After that, it all kind of fizzled out. I did enjoy passing out candy at my son and daughter in laws house the first couple years we had grandchildren. They lived in a busy neighbourhood and it was so much fun. Good ole days,
ReplyDeleteThat is neat that the church did that and everyone dressed up from characters in the Bible. I like that.
DeleteChurches around here do a dress up night and offer candy - but it isn't on Halloween.
I used to enjoy giving out goodies too. The kids eyes would light up and they were having such a ball.
I miss it a little - but just not safe for me anymore.
Yep - good ole days!
I did my trick-or-treating in the late 70’s to early 80’s and my friends and I had so much fun! Our neighborhood was FULL of kids, so it was a big deal. We got so much candy and everything was so safe back then. My favorite stop was my aunt and uncle’s house. My uncle made homemade popcorn balls! My favorite! I sure do miss those days. Thanks for helping me recall some wonderful memories!
ReplyDeleteGlad it brought back good memories for you. Being with a bunch of kids was always fun. That is neat that your uncle was still making popcorn balls. They aren't easy to eat - but they sure are good!
DeleteOOOPS, practical parsimony above.
ReplyDeleteThe thing I remember is the school parades...so fun and proud of our costumes. Then we were trick or treat and fill up pillowcases full of candy. Oh boy that was so fun.
ReplyDeleteSchool parades? How cool. That would be neat to show off costumes and fun too!
DeleteYes, lots and lots of candy. I never used a pillowcase - but always thought it was clever!!! Anticipating a big haul!!!!
Sorry you missed out on the fun. That would be the bummer of living out in the country.
ReplyDeleteI bet your kiddos had a ball. I have had neighbors that have gone all out decorating for Halloween. One used to have quite an attraction. I have never decorated for that - just fall.
Gosh, this year I haven't even looked at candy!!!!