Thank you so much Grandfather Oak for sharing your memories on your childhood Halloween experiences with us.
A Child’s Memory Of Halloween
The years have passed since my last ‘Trick or Treat’ night on the town. Some forty years in fact has come and gone. Ah, but I can still remember it as if it was yesterday. In those days being a Witch was but role play, make-up and props to make ourselves scary. Our goal was to see who could get the most candy and…the best candy! It was fun in those days. No mother or dad had to worry whether or not some sick-minded person would drug the candy or place razor blades in apples or oranges. Such things weren’t done in my day.
As children we never had to worry about being ran over by a passing car or kidnapped by someone wishing to do us harm. Moms and dads everywhere gladly watched over each other’s child to make sure he or she stayed safe. The worse thing we had to worry about was whether our get-up was scary enough or who or how many had the same idea as we did.
I remember roaming far and wide in search of the best that could be found and at the end of the night I would return dragging a sack of goodies to share with my brother and sisters. They in turn would do the same and more times than not we had enough candy to hold us over ‘til the following Halloween. There had even been times when we brought enough apples home that mother would have to bake pies.
It saddens me to see how this once wonderful holiday has changed. Most children now stay indoors or go to some mall to ‘Trick or Treat’. Parties are set up so children are supervised for their safety. This in itself takes away much of the fun. No longer are they allowed to run wild from door to door as we once did. Where has all the good times gone – they are but a fading memory of an old man with yet a bit of child still within.
I feel the same way…..it is such a shame that my grandkids will never experience the awe and excitement that I had as a kid on Halloween "back in the day". Oma Linda
The funny thing with all parents worrying nowadays is that, while the percentage of children harmed by strangers is continually decreasing, the amount of media coverage for these incidents increases, producing teh feeling that kids are "not safe anymore", when they are safer these days than their parents were back in their own childhood. Maybe modern parents just worry too much because they know too much.
(Modern parents will worry about buying their kid a schoolbag with a handy handhold on top, because that handhold might be used by strangers to pull their kid into a car.)
I try and give my son as much freedom as possible. Of course I worry but you can't keep kids in a protective bubble forever and I want them to have fun and do kid stuff. I always go out with the kids on Halloween though, not because I'm worried for their safety but because I enjoy it!
We run wild through the neighborhood. No planned "Harvest Parties" (which are usually created by churches in fear of Halloween). Me and the Husband still dress up right alongside Littleman. I will be dressing up and running through the neighborhoods until I have my cane!