With the "festivities" of Halloween (All Hallows' Eve) almost upon us once more, and its popularity ever increasing, it won't be long before households in many countries of the world will be bracing themselves for an evening opening their door to children dressed in sometimes cute, sometimes outrageous and sometimes downright distasteful costumes with their plastic bags outstretched, expecting the home owner to pour in instant treats of candy, toys and cash.
Different countries manage Halloween and its trick or treat party piece in a variety of ways, some more successful than others. Shops and stores have already been bursting at the seams for weeks, full of Halloween products such as costumes, masks, toys and specifically branded candy and food. Similarly, websites are packed full of Halloween related material, offering advice on throwing the best parties, games you can play at the parties and making the best costumes for your kids. Is it all becoming a bit too much and should the custom of trick or treat be monitored more carefully or even banned?
Having witnessed both Halloween and trick or treat on either side of the Atlantic , I have been able to form some startling comparisons. In Canada, (I am assuming the United States is relatively similar, although I am open to correction) Halloween and the whole trick or treat evening seemed pretty well planned by the parents of the kids taking part, taking great pleasure in making their kids home-made costumes and then escorting them around the streets as they knocked on doors, claiming their candy, even reminding their little ones to say thank you' if they had forgotten!
There also seemed to be some kind of etiquette observed amongst the homeowners and partakers. If you didn't wish to participate it was generally expected that you leave the lights off for the evening (perhaps a little unfair on those not wishing to join in but a workable system nonetheless).
Perhaps a little more disturbing though was the nature of some of the costumes that the children adorned. Even very small children had fake axes with dripping blood attached to their heads or costumes depicting characters from horror movies and other gruesome images. Meanwhile, parents giggled and remarked how cute they looked, seemingly oblivious of the adult, dark symbolic nature of these things. Even so, it all seemed to have a level of organisation and a set of rules in place.
Here in the UK , in stark contrast, Halloween and trick or treat seems to possess a much more threatening spirit. Many children (ranging from little ones to older teenagers) are often completely unsupervised, allowed to wander the streets in the dark, knocking on strangers doors. Hardly any effort is made to dress up, with ordinarily dressed kids, hammering indiscriminately on doors, (including those of terrified elderly people) often with a simple demand for money.
The "trick" element of the evening is not some idle threat as seemed to be the case in Canada , rather more a promise of some kind of prank or act of minor vandalism to you or your property. You can't sit there with a sack of candy and hand it out as they knock, as it is likely you will be laughed at until you either give them money or close the door, praying that the kids you sent away are the mild mannered ones who just have an insensitive giggle.
Although Halloween is becoming more and more the norm in the UK , as we somewhat belatedly absorb American culture on the issue, many people around the country, especially the elderly live in fear and dread of this night on October 31 st .
Not a personal fan or endorser of anything Halloween, I would in concession to the unpleasantness that is trick or treat in the UK, be happier if we adopted a more North American approach with its much heavier parent involvement.
Although, a much better idea, if we do have to endure Halloween year in, year out, would be to strip out all elements of "Horror", the images that represent death, destruction and evil that our kids will discover soon enough without it being spoon fed to them.
What do you think?
Currently studying freelance journalism, Julian is a creative writer and poet and writes both professionally and for pleasure. Professionally, Julian writes articles for an internet marketing company and although he is often restricted by topic, his writing still maintains his own unique style. He has written a series of heartfelt and impartial articles about the success and controversy surrounding the electronic cigarette. He has found the discipline involved with this work to be a great writing exercise and believes it enhances and improves the rest of his writing. Julian's articles at Searchwarp are of a much more personal nature, where he feels he can express his views and interests in the world around him.
I agree with you. Its not the idea of kids dressing up or collecting treats that's a problem to me. It is, as you say, the costumes depicting horrific ideas. If films are rated with an 18 certificate, why are there costumes available of axe murders, zombies, demons etc???? All very clearly dark and evil in origin - even if the intent is not necessarily to be so on Halloween. I find the whole thing very disturbing and unsettling. One thing is for sure - my daughter won't be out trick or treating! Good article!
Thanks for reading and commenting Jo! I know the whole 'horror' thing is very much associated with halloween and trick or treat but surely halloween with its parties etc could still be enjoyed without the horror? Thanks again, Julian
In case you haven't noticed, kids are exposed to "horror" from a very early age in today's culture. Kids see thousands and thousands of deaths on television while they're growing up, they play cops and robbers, have toy fights, etc. I don't see the harm in letting kids dress up as make-believe demons and monsters or whatever. It seems pretty mild in comparison to what's actually in the real world. And I think it brings the question of, where dyou draw the line? You can't shelter children from the world forever.
Also, I can't imagine you've visited the whole of the UK. It's quite a sweeping judgement to suggest the whole of Britain is as you've described. When I was growing up I and many of my friends wore masks and costumes, and we went trick or treating supervised, and never ever "vandalised" anything. Sure, there were some kids who didn't dress up, but people tended not to give them anything. Sweets and money was generally rewarded to those who had the most striking costumes. I do have to agree it would be better if there was more parental involvement, but dressing up as a wicked vampire with blood all over my face was the best bit. Never did me any harm!
Further, you're forgetting that Halloween actually originated from pagan traditions over here in the UK, way before the Americas were colonised. It hasn't suddenly "caught on".
Thanks for the comment! As you rightly point out, "kids are exposed to "horror" from a very early age in today's culture" but does that mean they should be? Shouldn't parents be at least trying to protect them from those images on tv, at least until they are old enough to make their own decisions? You also say,"You can't shelter children from the world forever". Very true, but should we again at least not try to shelter them while they are actually children, for the horrors of the world will soon enough become apparent? My intention was not really to make sweeping statements, although I can see why you accused me of such, but to simply pose questions and initiate debate. In reference to the UK "catching on" to what America is doing, I simply meant in the manner in which halloween and trick or treat is presented and marketed. When I was a kid, the shops here in the Uk were never stuffed full of Halloween merchandise and this is definatey something that has been increasing in recent years whilst across the Atlantic that has been prevalent for some time. Thanks again for taking time to comment. Julian
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