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Beiruty wrote:Halloween is not my thing, however, I had to walk with the kids and their mom. Kids love it. Adult, not that much. Sorry to say, I feel this event is bit silly and ridiculous. Letting little ones to ask for candy from strangers is bit odd.

Just a cultural difference, that's all.

On the other hand, back home and when I was little kid like those goblins, on Holidays, the elders of the family would give the little ones, quite large some of money so they can feel happy (as well as to aid the need families). Of course, kids would be tip top dressed and well mannered. It was our first financial lesson of money management and the importance of savings.

Of course, before we went out, we left a big basket full of candy for the takes.

Think of it as a small attempt at reliving a bit of history. There's quite a lot of history behind All Hallow's Eve.

Halloween was nice and smooth. Trick or treaters were out in sparse numbers, though. My kids had a blast. BBq'd with our neighbors, and did the tot walk with 4 other famlies and about 12 kids total. Carried my 1911 IWB in total comfort.

It's pretty tame where we are. The oldest ones are in junior high, and so far have been well-behaved.
In the past, we did not observe Halloween at all, but decided we would use it as an opportunity to share the Gospel in some minor level.
Last year, Mars ordered some fake million dollar bills with a cartoon pic of obama on them. They ask the "Million dollar question" and talk about sin & our need for a savior. (We also had pressed pennies & coins with the Ten commandments on one side and the salvation message on the other.)

We give out those with the candy now. Last year, kids kept coming by the door saying, "Is this where you can get the million dollar bills and the coins?" So we did it again this year.

However, it took both of us to man the door. One person handed out candy & bills/coins, while the other chased the baby that ran out the front door wearing nothing but her diaper to play with the fairies, princesses and action heros.

As most things, depends on where you live.

For our neighborhood, we all went to our local "square" and had racing games for the kids and costume contest. Then they brought in enough pizza to serve about 200.

Once 6:30 came, what seemed like the ENTIRE neighborhood came out all at the same time!

There were many houses, like ours, that just set out candy in a big bowl with a sign saying, please respect others! Our whole street walked as a group, so most left bowls out so we could walk together. The kids had a great time and when we got home, we had candy left in the bowl. Not so good for mom and dad! Best thing was, we were home by 8:00 pm and didn't hear one door bell ring once home!

Venus Pax wrote:However, it took both of us to man the door. One person handed out candy & bills/coins, while the other chased the baby that ran out the front door wearing nothing but her diaper to play with the fairies, princesses and action heros.

At least she was wearing her diaper, unlike one of my cousins.

We have lived for 10 years on a street that has an organized walking parade of kids in costumes to start the evening at about 5:30pm. After walking as a group for a couple of blocks they all scatter to do their own thing.

We've been here long enough to see the ages ebb and flow. In the beginning there were lots of little bitty kiddos, then they all grew up to Jr. High or so and things calmed down. Last night we saw more little bittys again. It was heart warming to see the new families taking root in the neighborhood.

Oh, and the new families saw the old tradition of sitting in chairs down the front sidewalk, with a cooler of barley-based refreshments between them, handing out candy to all that pass.