It's very sad, isn't it Ron? Another bit of innocence and fun now lost. A nostalgic and heart touching pen.

I enjoyed the poem. Yes, things have changed so much since we were kids and much of the fun of trick or treating has gone. Our church sponsored a huge TRUNK or TREAT for the kids this year. Over 300 attended and had lots of fun!...M

I CAN UNDERSTAND WHERE YOU ARE COMING FROM, RONALD, BUT SADLY THE FEAR OF PARENTS AND GUARDIANS ON THIS NIGHT, WHICH USED TO BE A FUN & 'SWEET' NIGHT, IS NOT UNMERITED. SO MANY STORIES OF TAINTED FRUIT AND CANDIES(POISONS AND SLIVERS OF RAZORS, GLASS EMBEDDED WITHIN)COME FORTH, WITH CHILDREN ACTUALLY BEING HARMED AND GETTING SICK. I SUGGEST OUR WEE GOBLINS AND GHOST GO, WITH ACCOMPANYING RESPONSIBLE PARTY, TO 'FAMILIAR' DOORS AND PLACES OR PARTAKE OF CHURCH SPONSORED HALLOWEEN NIGHT EVENTS- THE LIKES OF WHICH ARE NUMEROUS AND GROWING IN GREAT NUMBERS. THAT WAY EVERYTHING IS SAFE; OUR 'GOBLINS'(LARGE OR SMALL)AND THEIR TREATS. THANKS FOR SHARING. LOVE, BLESSINGS AND FAITH...JOYCE * HIS INSPIRATIONS

When I was a youngster, there were a number of Halloween masks around the house that we used from year to year. My siblings and I shared them. It was up to us to make up our own costume by stuffing larger clothing with pillows or whatever to make us appear to look funny or like some sort of monstrosity. My father would dress up and go with us. Such great fun and no fear of anything dangerous existed in those days. The forties and fifties was the greatest time period in my opinion. I thoroughly enjoyed this write, Ron.

David

Beautiful. I was wondering why no one rings the bell anymore.

Very true to how society changed this holiday due to the media.

I enjoyed learning of this night in S W Scotland that Miller Caldwell talked about. We here in the US think we have the Halloween thing cinched, but so many other countries do their own thing & from what I can tell of Scotland, they really do it up with swing...

And yes, it's a damn shame that our kids now-a-days can't do Halloween like we did, out by ourselves running all over town, not worried about pedophiles & such, as while they probably did exist back then, they were not as "in the news" as they are now. Was it safer back then? I doubt it we just didn't know any better. -e-

Great read! Don't blame parents for being cautious with their kids...apples with razor blades have been found in the past!
Jon

In my small hometown in the Sixties kids roamed en mass from door to door. Everybody went to Barney the Baker's house as he and Chris always handed out maple sticks. They loved Halloween and had everyone come in and unmask so they could see who everybody was. I don't think that would go over in these times.

Nowadays, any trick-or-treaters need the backup of a parent, and there's safety in numbers. It's much safer to avoid it altogether and get more mileage out of Halloween by attending a party for the social aspects.

Yes, it is a shame that the once benign fears of Halloween have morphed into the very real fear of the social maliganencies that now wait to prey upon our children. Have they always been there? Probably, but it sure seems that the dangers have grown and grown until they overshadow and even choke off the innocent delights of childhood. Like trick or treating.

Rebecca

Here in England 'trick or treating' had become popular in the last twenty years or so...However for the last couple of years I've hardly had any callers....
It is sad...but here as in the U.S. Fear rules the day...
More costumes are sold now however for Halloween parties, and Pumpkins are plentiful...
Diana...

Nice poem. I look back at my own childhood now and really appreciate all the freedom we had to explore the world at night on Halloween. We went house to house and got apples and candy. Now it's all about spending money on costumes. We used to make our own. It was the first time we got to step onto some neighborhood porches and meet the neighbors--even if we didn't look normal ourselves.

Hi Ron
What a wonderful piece you have penned!
It sure conjures up old memories for me.. what a time it was!
Alas, as a Child Advocate, I have to admit that there are far more bullies and predators about these days,
and with 13 grandchildren and 1 great-grandchild, we are personally relieved to see responsible Community Leaders from the Fire Station & Police, the Schools, Churches, Businesses, Organizations, etc. all come together to plan really wonderful - and safe events for the "Hallowed Wee" (What a GREAT title!!) They still get to dress up and their haul on candy is HUGE & SAFE! Games and free Halloween drinks and Autumn foods make it even more FUN, than just going door-to-door.. esp. since, as Michael so aptly put it..we no longer know our neighbors.
Hugs, Rhonda

Personally, I think neighborhood door to door trick or treating ought to be a thing of the past. We no longer know our neighbors, or know who to trust. Churches, organizations,stores, ect. have provided safer alternatives for kids to dress up and get their goodies.

Living far away, I am not familiar with what is happening with these age old traditions, so I am surprised to read the kids are now fearful of doing the trick or treat of Halloween. How we love that late October autumn night that we so looked forward to. Your final verse says it all: "It's a shame what we have become // fear monsters inside affecting the little one." John

It is most surely is a shame that children today know these fears. Your poem is so wonderfully and truthfully written, Ron. Let us all protect the children!!


Love ya!

Jane

I like it very much,good read it fits together well.

And "Fear Monsters" we have become. Stores with police patrols, malls with lots of light, or nothing at all. Kids have been relegated to a scary movie on TV and the occasional ring of the bell, where parents not expecting anyone out trick or treating are left with their usual fear faces. "My Lord... who could that be?" A poem for the ages.

Hi Ron

Here in s w Scotland we are very traditional. We reject the USA's Trick or Treat. Young children arrive with their parents with a violin or borrow our piano and play their well practised pieces. Then we dook for apples kneeling on a chair backward with a spoon in the mouth and a bucket of apples floating in water terrified to receive the fatal fork. Great fun. Then after a poem or song it's time for some monkey nuts, a clementine and if lucky a 50 p coin. Its the way we do it here. Starting soon; its nearly dark.

Ah, I remember those days, Ron, but by the time I was easing into my teenage years I was more into the "trick" than I was the "treat."