[OT] Halloween ettiquette

Jo Firey wrote:


No tricks around here. And most of the tricks (vandalism for the most part)
is unrelated to treats. It kids out to cause trouble. From rubbing soap in
windows to smashing jack o lanterns to tossing toilet paper into trees.

In the "good old days" they might drop cherry bombs down outhouses or light
a paper bag of dog poop on the porch of someone they disliked. Or move the
outhouse onto the front porch.


One year, my brother and his buddies snuck up to the school principal's
house, picked up his car and turned it sideways in his drive-way. It
took him a couple of days to get it turned around.

Another year, we gathered up all the jack-o-lanterns we could and lined
them up facing the principal's office window. He handed out pumpkin
cookies for Thanksgiving.

We also scared the daylights out of the janitor by hanging a helium
filled balloon, covered by a white sheet, just outside the school door.
It was dark when he got to work and it was bobbing and swaying in the
wind and....

So far harmless, more or less, pranks. I did worse in college.

Pam S.

Jo Firey wrote:


No tricks around here. And most of the tricks (vandalism for the most part)
is unrelated to treats. It kids out to cause trouble. From rubbing soap in
windows to smashing jack o lanterns to tossing toilet paper into trees.

In the "good old days" they might drop cherry bombs down outhouses or light
a paper bag of dog poop on the porch of someone they disliked. Or move the
outhouse onto the front porch.


One year, my brother and his buddies snuck up to the school principal's
house, picked up his car and turned it sideways in his drive-way. It
took him a couple of days to get it turned around.

Another year, we gathered up all the jack-o-lanterns we could and lined
them up facing the principal's office window. He handed out pumpkin
cookies for Thanksgiving.

We also scared the daylights out of the janitor by hanging a helium
filled balloon, covered by a white sheet, just outside the school door.
It was dark when he got to work and it was bobbing and swaying in the
wind and....

So far harmless, more or less, pranks. I did worse in college.

Pam S.

Jo Firey wrote:


No tricks around here. And most of the tricks (vandalism for the most part)
is unrelated to treats. It kids out to cause trouble. From rubbing soap in
windows to smashing jack o lanterns to tossing toilet paper into trees.

In the "good old days" they might drop cherry bombs down outhouses or light
a paper bag of dog poop on the porch of someone they disliked. Or move the
outhouse onto the front porch.


One year, my brother and his buddies snuck up to the school principal's
house, picked up his car and turned it sideways in his drive-way. It
took him a couple of days to get it turned around.

Another year, we gathered up all the jack-o-lanterns we could and lined
them up facing the principal's office window. He handed out pumpkin
cookies for Thanksgiving.

We also scared the daylights out of the janitor by hanging a helium
filled balloon, covered by a white sheet, just outside the school door.
It was dark when he got to work and it was bobbing and swaying in the
wind and....

So far harmless, more or less, pranks. I did worse in college.

Pam S.

On Mon, 01 Nov 2004 20:44:35 -0600, Steve Touchstone wrote:

On Mon, 01 Nov 2004 16:54:26 -0800, Seanette Blaylock
wrote:

(Enfilade) had some very interesting
things to say about [OT] Halloween ettiquette:

I went out for trick or treat once in university with a friend and her
neighbour's kids--yes we were chaperoning, but we were also dressed up
and candy collecting Because we were "too old," lots of people
made us sing silly songs before they'd fork out candy!

I would have given you two treats ;-) [I do offer treats to chaperones
of young trick-or-treaters. I figure they deserve some reward for
their time and effort :-)]

I saw NO cute little candy mooches last night [sniffle].

I don't think I've seen any since moving into this apartment 7 years
ago. Probably because this complex is all small one bedroom
apartments, and it's rare for any kids to live here.

My parents get LOTS of elementary aged kids every year, probably
because they live across the street from an elementary school (same
school my two brothers, two sisters, and I all went to as kids). Seems
like all the kids know my Dad, since he's usually out puttering around
in the yard as they go to and from school. I imagine it also helps
that they've lived there since the 60s, and some of today's kids are
the third generation of trick or treaters.


I haven' had a "Trick or Treater" in over 20 years. In the "old days" the
kids used to wax or soap the windows on Halloween. The soap wasn't much
of a problem, but the wax was hard to get off.MLB

On Mon, 01 Nov 2004 20:44:35 -0600, Steve Touchstone wrote:

On Mon, 01 Nov 2004 16:54:26 -0800, Seanette Blaylock
wrote:

(Enfilade) had some very interesting
things to say about [OT] Halloween ettiquette:

I went out for trick or treat once in university with a friend and her
neighbour's kids--yes we were chaperoning, but we were also dressed up
and candy collecting Because we were "too old," lots of people
made us sing silly songs before they'd fork out candy!

I would have given you two treats ;-) [I do offer treats to chaperones
of young trick-or-treaters. I figure they deserve some reward for
their time and effort :-)]

I saw NO cute little candy mooches last night [sniffle].

I don't think I've seen any since moving into this apartment 7 years
ago. Probably because this complex is all small one bedroom
apartments, and it's rare for any kids to live here.

My parents get LOTS of elementary aged kids every year, probably
because they live across the street from an elementary school (same
school my two brothers, two sisters, and I all went to as kids). Seems
like all the kids know my Dad, since he's usually out puttering around
in the yard as they go to and from school. I imagine it also helps
that they've lived there since the 60s, and some of today's kids are
the third generation of trick or treaters.


I haven' had a "Trick or Treater" in over 20 years. In the "old days" the
kids used to wax or soap the windows on Halloween. The soap wasn't much
of a problem, but the wax was hard to get off.MLB

On Mon, 01 Nov 2004 20:44:35 -0600, Steve Touchstone wrote:

On Mon, 01 Nov 2004 16:54:26 -0800, Seanette Blaylock
wrote:

(Enfilade) had some very interesting
things to say about [OT] Halloween ettiquette:

I went out for trick or treat once in university with a friend and her
neighbour's kids--yes we were chaperoning, but we were also dressed up
and candy collecting Because we were "too old," lots of people
made us sing silly songs before they'd fork out candy!

I would have given you two treats ;-) [I do offer treats to chaperones
of young trick-or-treaters. I figure they deserve some reward for
their time and effort :-)]

I saw NO cute little candy mooches last night [sniffle].

I don't think I've seen any since moving into this apartment 7 years
ago. Probably because this complex is all small one bedroom
apartments, and it's rare for any kids to live here.

My parents get LOTS of elementary aged kids every year, probably
because they live across the street from an elementary school (same
school my two brothers, two sisters, and I all went to as kids). Seems
like all the kids know my Dad, since he's usually out puttering around
in the yard as they go to and from school. I imagine it also helps
that they've lived there since the 60s, and some of today's kids are
the third generation of trick or treaters.


I haven' had a "Trick or Treater" in over 20 years. In the "old days" the
kids used to wax or soap the windows on Halloween. The soap wasn't much
of a problem, but the wax was hard to get off.MLB

On Tue, 02 Nov 2004 17:42:23 GMT, Tanada wrote:


First of all, I don't see why Australians should have to go by Merkin
rules. That being said...it varies, to some extent, by area. My
in-laws were scandalized that the area we live in had tricks and treats
on Saturday. Seems that some churches get scandalized by a pagan
celebration on a Sunday. Works for me. I got my own problems.

Candy must be individually wrapped, and in the original package. No
loose wrapping or personally wrapped candy should be given out. It was
different when I was a brat, but then we only visited friends and
relatives. I loved going to our aunt and uncles, as one of them gave us
home made taffy, and another one peanuts. A friend was good for popcorn
balls. None of this would be considered proper nowadays, no matter how
it was wrapped. Sigh.

I have fond memories of the little old lady who lived on our street
who handed out home made peanut clusters - another treat which would
be tossed today. ;-((

Now that I think about that little old lady was probably younger than
I am now. LOL
snip
If the child is old enough to go out around the neighborhood without a
parent, the child is WAY TOO OLD for trick or treating.

When I was in the third or fourth grade, I remember a kid who was told
by his parents that he was too old to go out. He worked out a method
to get treats, anyway. While passing out candy he would throw a steely
into paper bags. (A steely is a steel marble.) Didn't work as well as
he planned, since he got into big trouble after the first couple times
he burst bags.
snip
As the holiday becomes more popular, don't be surprised to see tour
buses pull up and let out mobs of celebrants. We've had mini-vans pull
up and release as many as twelve of the little monsters at a time. It
is a terrifying experience to be frantically counting candy while
twenty-four hostile eyes stare intently at your fingers. Worse is if
one of those sets of eyes drove the mini-van.

My parents tell me that it's fairly common in their neighborhood these
days for parents to car pool, park in the school parking lot across
the street, and then make the rounds. Suppose it makes sense with so
many of the kids being bused to school now days.
snip
--
Steve Touchstone,
faithful servant of Sammy, Little Bit and Rocky (RB)

[remove Junk for email]
Home Page: http://www.sirinet.net/~stouchst/index.html
Cat Pix: http://www.sirinet.net/~stouchst/animals.html

On Tue, 02 Nov 2004 17:42:23 GMT, Tanada wrote:


First of all, I don't see why Australians should have to go by Merkin
rules. That being said...it varies, to some extent, by area. My
in-laws were scandalized that the area we live in had tricks and treats
on Saturday. Seems that some churches get scandalized by a pagan
celebration on a Sunday. Works for me. I got my own problems.

Candy must be individually wrapped, and in the original package. No
loose wrapping or personally wrapped candy should be given out. It was
different when I was a brat, but then we only visited friends and
relatives. I loved going to our aunt and uncles, as one of them gave us
home made taffy, and another one peanuts. A friend was good for popcorn
balls. None of this would be considered proper nowadays, no matter how
it was wrapped. Sigh.

I have fond memories of the little old lady who lived on our street
who handed out home made peanut clusters - another treat which would
be tossed today. ;-((

Now that I think about that little old lady was probably younger than
I am now. LOL
snip
If the child is old enough to go out around the neighborhood without a
parent, the child is WAY TOO OLD for trick or treating.

When I was in the third or fourth grade, I remember a kid who was told
by his parents that he was too old to go out. He worked out a method
to get treats, anyway. While passing out candy he would throw a steely
into paper bags. (A steely is a steel marble.) Didn't work as well as
he planned, since he got into big trouble after the first couple times
he burst bags.
snip
As the holiday becomes more popular, don't be surprised to see tour
buses pull up and let out mobs of celebrants. We've had mini-vans pull
up and release as many as twelve of the little monsters at a time. It
is a terrifying experience to be frantically counting candy while
twenty-four hostile eyes stare intently at your fingers. Worse is if
one of those sets of eyes drove the mini-van.

My parents tell me that it's fairly common in their neighborhood these
days for parents to car pool, park in the school parking lot across
the street, and then make the rounds. Suppose it makes sense with so
many of the kids being bused to school now days.
snip
--
Steve Touchstone,
faithful servant of Sammy, Little Bit and Rocky (RB)

[remove Junk for email]
Home Page: http://www.sirinet.net/~stouchst/index.html
Cat Pix: http://www.sirinet.net/~stouchst/animals.html

On Tue, 02 Nov 2004 17:42:23 GMT, Tanada wrote:


First of all, I don't see why Australians should have to go by Merkin
rules. That being said...it varies, to some extent, by area. My
in-laws were scandalized that the area we live in had tricks and treats
on Saturday. Seems that some churches get scandalized by a pagan
celebration on a Sunday. Works for me. I got my own problems.

Candy must be individually wrapped, and in the original package. No
loose wrapping or personally wrapped candy should be given out. It was
different when I was a brat, but then we only visited friends and
relatives. I loved going to our aunt and uncles, as one of them gave us
home made taffy, and another one peanuts. A friend was good for popcorn
balls. None of this would be considered proper nowadays, no matter how
it was wrapped. Sigh.

I have fond memories of the little old lady who lived on our street
who handed out home made peanut clusters - another treat which would
be tossed today. ;-((

Now that I think about that little old lady was probably younger than
I am now. LOL
snip
If the child is old enough to go out around the neighborhood without a
parent, the child is WAY TOO OLD for trick or treating.

When I was in the third or fourth grade, I remember a kid who was told
by his parents that he was too old to go out. He worked out a method
to get treats, anyway. While passing out candy he would throw a steely
into paper bags. (A steely is a steel marble.) Didn't work as well as
he planned, since he got into big trouble after the first couple times
he burst bags.
snip
As the holiday becomes more popular, don't be surprised to see tour
buses pull up and let out mobs of celebrants. We've had mini-vans pull
up and release as many as twelve of the little monsters at a time. It
is a terrifying experience to be frantically counting candy while
twenty-four hostile eyes stare intently at your fingers. Worse is if
one of those sets of eyes drove the mini-van.

My parents tell me that it's fairly common in their neighborhood these
days for parents to car pool, park in the school parking lot across
the street, and then make the rounds. Suppose it makes sense with so
many of the kids being bused to school now days.
snip
--
Steve Touchstone,
faithful servant of Sammy, Little Bit and Rocky (RB)

[remove Junk for email]
Home Page: http://www.sirinet.net/~stouchst/index.html
Cat Pix: http://www.sirinet.net/~stouchst/animals.html

in article ,
dirtylitterboxofferingstospammers at omcom wrote on
11/1/04 1:43AM:

Apologies if I sound like a killjoy, but here it goes.

Then I'm one too ;-)

I loathe trick or treating. For the rest of the year, children are
discouraged from talking to and accepting sweets from strangers. How
come it all changes around Halloween?

Yup - I agree. Thankfully trick or treat is a custom that hasn't caught on too
much on this side of the pond. We've our own hallowe'en traditions over here -
now largely lost - bobbing for apples... apples on a string...

The bit I honestly find strange is how much hallowe'en is celebrated in the
USA, given it's very much a pagan festival & the States seems to be getting
more & more right-wing Christian, I see a strange contradiction there :-) Over
here we get churches which are more right-wing, evangelical churches going
public about *not* celebrating hallowe'en. Mind you they do try & hijack it as
"All Hallows" claiming it has nothing to do with anything pagan, never existed
in pagan ritual but is an entirely Christian festival.

Cheers, helen s


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Well, the US if nothing if not contrary It is very strange. You should
see the decorations people put up! It gets to be more and more every year.