Is Halloween Still For Children?

Is Halloween Still For Kids?

Perusing
the local costume shops in search of a Halloween costume reveals that the
preponderance of items on the shelves are not for our offspring but for
ourselves!  As a looked at a wall of over
a hundred costumes I quickly surmised that only a small number of outfits were
geared for children.  The vast majority
of costumes had adult themes with most having to do something with the fright
movies we have come to expect during this time of the year.  Any movie with Freddy Krueger or Jason has
spawned numerous masks and costumes and it is rare that a child would wear such
a costume.

Back when
we were trick or treating in the 50’s there were no elaborate costumes.  We designed our own outfits.  There was little imagination and most of the
time we just dressed as hobos.  That
meant placing burnt cork on our face, donning some tattered clothes and
hoisting a stick with a bag over our shoulder. 
It was the look of a railroad hobo. 
And just for clarification – the stick and bag was called a bindle.

There were
no home or office parties back then.  We
merely went door to door in our neighborhoods and collected candy in a pillow
case.  And there was no need to have the
contents of the bag inspected with x-ray equipment because there were no
attempts to poison candy or place pins and needles in apples.  In fact, many of the neighbors prepared their
own popcorn balls or cookies and there was no fear of eating either treat.  Now we have to examine every bit of candy
because there are nut jobs out there who are hell bent on injuring some of the
little nippers.

So what
used to be a delightful night for children, in many instances it has become a
night or multiple nights for adult entertainment.  There are even haunted houses one can explore
ranging in price from $5 to $25 for the more elaborate scary places.  And of course in some cities criminals use
the night for an evening of vandalism, a departure from what this holiday was
established for – fun and enjoyment for children.

It is
doubtful we will ever return to those carefree days when going door to door was
uneventful.  Halloween has become the
second most advertised holiday after Christmas and as such, adults have
embraced the event in scores.  But if
someone comes to your door this Halloween season dressed as Hobo Joe, chances
are it is yours truly.  So forget the
popcorn balls and cookies – us hobos want coins and the green stuff!

Bill Kalmar