It sometimes seems like even the parents
really don't get the holiday. As such, I'm going to offer some basics
in guiding you through the core tradition of Halloween that we call trick
or treating.
Wait until dark.
You don't start trick or treating until the sun goes down. Dusk is
pushing it. It's like being the first guest to show up at the party.
It's just not cool. Most houses aren't ready yet, and how are you
going to tell if their porch night is on?
Go toward the light. Like
I alluded to above, this is the universal symbol that the house is not
populated by Jesus freaks who have sequestered themselves away at a church
lock-in at which they'll burn Harry Potter books. No, the light says,
"Come on over. Show us your costume and we'll give you candy."
It's that simple.
Learn your lines. Society
is built around little scripts. The one for Halloween is hardly a
satanic ritual. Just follow the sequence:
Trick or Treater: Trick or Treat!
Candy dispenser: Happy Halloween! [Gives
out a piece or two of candy.]
Trick or Treater: Thank you!
That's it. Nothing is more awkward to
folks (and annoying to me) than kids coming up to the door and just standing
there looking blankly at you. Kid, all we need to hear is your line
and a bit of gratitude.
Exploring the
other side of the equation for a minute, it seems that some people are
missing the point of the tradition as well.
Teenagers need candy too.
While some have the attitude that teens are too old to go trick or treating,
explicitly barring them from participating sends the message that they're
too old for Halloween. This? Is bullshit. No one is every
too old for Halloween, and in fact, teens are actually one of the best
groups to keep the holiday alive, even if they are at an awkward transitional
stage between kid activities and grown-up parties.
It's not a black tie affair.
Inevitably some kids show up not dressed up in a costume. My neighborhood
is one of those that's decent but not so snooty that we don't get a bunch
of kids trucked in from poorer areas not so far away. I realize many
of these kids can't afford costumes, but you know what? If you show
up, you deserve something.
Best in show. Conversely,
when you see costumes that raise the bar by showing creativity or skill
in design, then those kids (and their parents) deserve compliments and
more candy for going the extra mile. They're an inspiration to their
peers and are the core group that keep the ball rolling for the next generation.
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