We moved on Saturday and used the trick or treating as an exercise to meet our new neighbors. Sophie went around in a store-bought costume this time (Hermione Grainger) and it was likely her most lack-luster costume ever.
It’s picking up in my neighborhood. More and more young families are moving into my neighborhood, so there are more and more kids each year. Last year, we had 10 kids total. This year, it was probably double that, at least.
Alive and well here in my neighborhood in Chicago. I didn’t get home until later (about 6 p.m.), but we must’ve had about 40-50 trick-or-treaters between then and 8 p.m.
The woman who sits next to me at work lives on the south side and she said they had about 300 kids last night. Apparently, she and her husband have a great big display with fog machines and stuff, though, so it attracts the kids.
I live in an apartment complex, so I got none.
So kids who live in rural areas, or who have neighbors who don’t give out candy should miss out.
I totally agree!
In my neighborhood we are also trying to put a stop to children singing and laughing as well as running and playing with toys.
We have recently voted in an excellent new mayor named Burgermeister Meisterburger and he is putting these children in their place.
Still alive in my neighborhood. About 1 house in 5 was giving candy when I went with my son, and there were probably about a hundred kids trick or treating at our house.
Best get them used to social Darwinism while they’re still young.
What’s trashy about it?
Well, he doesn’t go far enough for me. I’m always haunted by the fact that someone somewhere might be doing something that makes them happy.
And for the record, I had 62 trick-or-treaters stop at my house last night.
It’s still very popular in the neighborhoods of MSP. Lots of houses lit up with gaudy decorations and adults in costumes handing out candy. I took my daughters out last night (they were complaining that they could barely lift their buckets by the time we got done), and we passed a house where a lady dressed as a witch was standing next to a real, smoking cauldron. I told my kids, “look, she’s dressed as Christine O’Donnell.” They didn’t get it.
In our neighborhood (and in a lot of metro-are neighborhoods up here), it becomes a kind of community thing with lots of lights and plenty of people on the street, so it’s not scary or dangerous. Those who don’t want to participate just keep their front lights turned off, and the kids know to only go to the houses with lights.
It’s not a question of “nicer,” some families just don’t live in areas where there is anywhere to trick or treat at all (like apartment buildings, without any detatched homes around, or out in the sticks). The point is to give the kids a good time. If you don’t want to give them anything, you don’t have to, but there’s nothing trashy about parents trying to give their kids a good time. Trashy is not bothering to try, or not paying any attention to them.
3 kids. 
I suspect walkability is the real factor.
I’ve seen and participated in great trick-or-treating in neighborhoods that were well below median affluence.
You should support initiatives to add sidewalks and other walking features to all the other areas. Well, everybody should do that, for reasons unrelated to Halloween.
Last night one of my nieces told me about Trunk or treating. People meet in a parking lot with decorated cars and give candy to the children.
I do think any Haslloween giving, like all giving, should be voluntary.
We had 85 wee spooks.
I always enjoy them.
We had 120 trick or treaters and had to close early (7:30ish) when we ran out of our full-sized bars. We decorate heavily and people love to come to our house because of that and the candy. Someone went by on a REAL HORSE as a headless horseman this year. It was awesome!
We didn’t have as many as usual (leftover Hallowe’en candy - whatever shall I do with that? ;)) but the ones who showed up enjoyed it thoroughly.
One little one took intense joy in informing me “I a TIGER”. And indeed she was, and an intimidating figure she was, with her little mascara’ed whiskers and felt ears.
My favorites are the ones who don’t quite have the drill yet.
Doorbell: "ding dong’.
I open the door. A little princess is standing on my doorstep, looking up at me with a grocery bag and a blank expression.
Her mother, three feet back on the sidewalk: “What do you say?”
Little Princess: “Thank you”.
Her mother: “No, the other one.”
Little princess, getting the idea: “Trick or treat!”
Me: Handing over the candy: “Here you go.”
LP: “Thank you.”
Then she kind of looks at me, as if to say 'Okay, now what?" Then her mother gives her the high sign, and off they go to the next house.
Almost all the kids said “Thank you” nicely, and had at least some attempt at a costume.
I miss going out with my kids, though. College is too old for trick or treat. :sigh:
Regards,
Shodan
That is truly awesome. I’d love to have seen that. :eek:
It is. Those not wishing to participate just leave their porch light off.
Do you live in an area where this custom is ignored or where vandalism happens to those choosing not to participate?