Bring back door-to-door Hallowe'en!
Nov. 4th, 2021 11:45 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
agoodwinsmith*ahem*
So. I enjoyed door-to-door Hallowe'en because, when you are a little person, going places you haven't been before, in the dark, and getting pleasant things is fun. Being taken in a group is really fun.
I never took my own kids around (no kids), but I did take neighbour kids around - and that was fun.
When I had my own doorstep, I carved a pumpkin, and gave out candy (& UNICEF pennies), and that was fun.
Then people stopped coming to the door, and that was very disappointing.
I know it is easier to take the kids to the mall and let them collect from the businesses, but then it becomes a very commercialized thing. I'm also not really convinced it is easier for parents.
Anyhoo! This year, with COVID, the indoor trickytreating was cancelled, and people went back to door-to-door - and I *really* liked it. I set up a (plastic) cauldron with candy at the foot of the stairs where I can see people approaching, and so I went to the door to shout "Happy Hallowe'en!" and say "Wow! Your costume is fantastic!" and say that "Anyone who is outside and cold can have candy!" so that some of the parents could show off their costumes and get candy. And every one could get candy without being afraid of getting too close to a stranger (me).
And it was fun.
I think door-to-door serves a lot of useful purposes. Kids get to see parts of their neighbourhood they wouldn't normally visit. Kids get to see other kids as they pass in the night. Kids get an escorted adventure in the dark.
Also (important to me), people get to see that while I am a reclusive old person with poor social skills, I *am* nice, and I like to give out candy.
So. I think the running around in the familiar mall, getting business-applicable swag, can't compare.
So. I enjoyed door-to-door Hallowe'en because, when you are a little person, going places you haven't been before, in the dark, and getting pleasant things is fun. Being taken in a group is really fun.
I never took my own kids around (no kids), but I did take neighbour kids around - and that was fun.
When I had my own doorstep, I carved a pumpkin, and gave out candy (& UNICEF pennies), and that was fun.
Then people stopped coming to the door, and that was very disappointing.
I know it is easier to take the kids to the mall and let them collect from the businesses, but then it becomes a very commercialized thing. I'm also not really convinced it is easier for parents.
Anyhoo! This year, with COVID, the indoor trickytreating was cancelled, and people went back to door-to-door - and I *really* liked it. I set up a (plastic) cauldron with candy at the foot of the stairs where I can see people approaching, and so I went to the door to shout "Happy Hallowe'en!" and say "Wow! Your costume is fantastic!" and say that "Anyone who is outside and cold can have candy!" so that some of the parents could show off their costumes and get candy. And every one could get candy without being afraid of getting too close to a stranger (me).
And it was fun.
I think door-to-door serves a lot of useful purposes. Kids get to see parts of their neighbourhood they wouldn't normally visit. Kids get to see other kids as they pass in the night. Kids get an escorted adventure in the dark.
Also (important to me), people get to see that while I am a reclusive old person with poor social skills, I *am* nice, and I like to give out candy.
So. I think the running around in the familiar mall, getting business-applicable swag, can't compare.
no subject
Date: 2021-11-04 09:05 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2021-11-05 04:29 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2021-11-04 11:46 pm (UTC)I only went trick or treating once, I think, as a kid. In principle my Mom disapproved of candy, and we lived 3 miles from the nearest neighbor.
no subject
Date: 2021-11-05 04:30 am (UTC)