Viv's Halloween Blog - Trick-or-Treating
Oct. 4th, 2009 10:05 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
vivienI wrote this topic down on my list of things to write about because it's such a widespread part of the American experience of Halloween. Then I realized that I only have a few snatches of memories of myself trick-or-treating.
I was a kid in the 1970s, a time when I razor blades and pins in apples and Halloween candy made the headlines. I am pretty sure I only went trick-or-treating a handful of times, because I just plain don't remember it, and I remember a lot from my childhood. I know that when we went out, we were in a car, and we only went to selected houses, so I never roamed the neighborhoods with a treat bag to fill (until college, but that is another story). We did plenty of other Halloween things, though. I am guessing that my mom, who could teach a Masters level course in worrying, didn't want to risk the razor blades.
My elementary school years were spent in a small North Carolina town. I remember one Halloween of car trick-or-treating in which we were invited into an elderly woman's house. I think this was the year I went out with my best friend, Mary Ann, the Methodist minister's daughter, so this lady was probably a parishioner. We all sat in the fancy parlor (and those of you from the South know that this is a big deal) and the lady presented us kids with a tray of GIANT popcorn balls. I took one and I remember thinking "What is this?" and "How do I eat it?" shortly followed up with "How much longer do we have to sit here?" We didn't sit too much longer. Just long enough to be received into a Southern lady's house, be gifted with giant popcorn balls, and listen to the adults' cordial conversation before moving on.
I am not sure why that memory sticks with me, but it has all this time. I couldn't have been more than six or so. I don't remember what the lady's name was or whether I ended figuring out how to eat the popcorn ball, but I remember her old-fashioned generosity.
I think that is why it's such a big deal for me to give out candy each year, now that we have a house and a neighborhood with kids. I sometimes wish that I could make treats like giant popcorn balls, but I know that store bought is the only way to go, what with lawsuits and fear and all the other ugly things that go on. Still, maybe we can get Anime Girl to bring some friends over. We can foist some elaborate treats on them.
If you'd like to share your trick-or-treat memories, this is so the place. I love hearing stories.
I was a kid in the 1970s, a time when I razor blades and pins in apples and Halloween candy made the headlines. I am pretty sure I only went trick-or-treating a handful of times, because I just plain don't remember it, and I remember a lot from my childhood. I know that when we went out, we were in a car, and we only went to selected houses, so I never roamed the neighborhoods with a treat bag to fill (until college, but that is another story). We did plenty of other Halloween things, though. I am guessing that my mom, who could teach a Masters level course in worrying, didn't want to risk the razor blades.
My elementary school years were spent in a small North Carolina town. I remember one Halloween of car trick-or-treating in which we were invited into an elderly woman's house. I think this was the year I went out with my best friend, Mary Ann, the Methodist minister's daughter, so this lady was probably a parishioner. We all sat in the fancy parlor (and those of you from the South know that this is a big deal) and the lady presented us kids with a tray of GIANT popcorn balls. I took one and I remember thinking "What is this?" and "How do I eat it?" shortly followed up with "How much longer do we have to sit here?" We didn't sit too much longer. Just long enough to be received into a Southern lady's house, be gifted with giant popcorn balls, and listen to the adults' cordial conversation before moving on.
I am not sure why that memory sticks with me, but it has all this time. I couldn't have been more than six or so. I don't remember what the lady's name was or whether I ended figuring out how to eat the popcorn ball, but I remember her old-fashioned generosity.
I think that is why it's such a big deal for me to give out candy each year, now that we have a house and a neighborhood with kids. I sometimes wish that I could make treats like giant popcorn balls, but I know that store bought is the only way to go, what with lawsuits and fear and all the other ugly things that go on. Still, maybe we can get Anime Girl to bring some friends over. We can foist some elaborate treats on them.
If you'd like to share your trick-or-treat memories, this is so the place. I love hearing stories.
no subject
Date: 2009-10-06 01:57 am (UTC)