Our peculiarly American, pollyannaish habit of celebrating October 31 by putting kids out in the streets at night to collect candy, rather than putting candles on real graves in memory of real dead, has caught on in other societies as well. Yet it seems in decline here in the land of its origin.
At my house, we had only five trick-or-treaters. That's not even the full complement of the kids who live on our block. Could it be that the kids are just avoiding old Mr. and Mrs. Tin Lizard, because we're grumpy, or give out really bad treats like Big Nate's dad in the comic strip (who hands out celery sticks and other health food)? I don't think so, because nearly everyone we encounter reports a similar downtrend in ToTs - only one at this house, only two at another place halfway across town, etc.
The Halloween experience is dying. Kids, I know, are going to mall parties that will help to commercialize Halloween and turn it into yet another buying opportunity; or to home parties that may be good social experiences, and that provide a safe, controlled environment with adult supervision. And that's just the problem. I was never much of a fan of dressing up in costume, but I still remember from the Halloweens of my childhood the thrill of getting out at night, in the dark, with just a handful of friends, or maybe as a tiny tot, with my older sister. That's the unique experience of Halloween - it's liberating, it's scary, it's when you face the big bad world (kind of) on your own. It's not supposed to be just another birthday party.
When will true trick-or-treating vanish altogether? I can't say, but the end seems near. Soon, folks will be lamenting the lost "true meaning of Halloween" just as they now bewail our ignorance of the "true meaning of Christmas."
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