Halloween, as I recall, was a delightful mix of simplicity and joy — just some costumes and a mountain of candy. The air was always filled with that unmistakable scent of cheap plastic from drugstore masks. I remember the struggle of panting through the neighborhood, my face smothered by that “made in China” mask, which was likely laced with who-knows-what toxins. That odor enveloped me as I raced from house to house, clutching my plastic orange pumpkin, which lost its flimsy handle after just a few Tootsie Pops.
My mom wasn’t particularly crafty, nor am I, but she didn’t have Pinterest breathing down her neck with “perfect” Halloween ideas. One year, however, she decided to fashion a homemade costume for me, and for reasons unknown, I became a peacock. What fourth-grade girl wouldn’t want to strut around in a leotard plastered with colorful feathers? My mom glued no fewer than seven thousand feathers onto that outfit, and by the time the school parade rolled around, I was shedding feathers like a molting bird. I ended up with a plastic bag to collect my fallen plumes, but honestly, it was a blast. Halloween was always a riot. Back then, costumes and candy were all a kid needed, but today’s expectations, thanks to the likes of Martha Stewart and Pinterest, have turned it all upside down.
Halloween Then:
- Costume Creation: Sometime between October 20th and 25th, your mom would inquire about your desired costume. The options were usually a witch hat and black dress, a ghostly sheet, or a quick trip to the drugstore to see what was left on sale.
- Candy Collection: While picking up your costume, Mom would grab a few bags of candy, which she then dumped into a large kitchen pot to serve trick-or-treaters.
- School Parade: The big Halloween parade at school was a chaotic affair. Mom would drop you off, relieved that the teachers would handle the frenzy of sugar-fueled kids in costumes.
- Pumpkin Carving: Carving pumpkins meant a trip to the grocery store for a couple of pumpkins, a sharp kitchen knife, and some candles salvaged from the junk drawer.
- Decorating: Halloween decorations were limited to sparkly witches and skeletons picked up from the drugstore alongside candy and costumes.
- Pre-Trick-or-Treat Meal: On the way home, Mom would swing through McDonald’s for a “healthy” dinner before the inevitable candy binge.
- Trick-or-Treating: If you were over seven, Mom would let you roam the neighborhood with friends, knowing the neighbors and trusting you to stay out of serious trouble.
- Candy Safety: Apples were tossed out due to urban legends about razors hidden within. The rule was simple: “Just eat the candy, kids!”
- Parental Supervision: Mom and Dad would hand out candy while enjoying the sights of various costumes, occasionally eyeing that crafty Rubik’s Cube.
- Candy Overload: When you returned home, it was a free-for-all as you and your siblings dove into the stash from your pillowcase or plastic pumpkin.
- Capturing Moments: A few Polaroids would be snapped for memories.
Halloween Now:
- Costume Planning: These days, Mom asks the kids what they want to be in the spring, ensuring she can find the perfect costumes inspired by the latest blockbusters. No more mismatched Elsas!
- Candy Selection: Early in the school year, Mom makes a beeline for Target to snag the best candy to give out, with bonus points for Non-GMO options.
- Crafty Decorations: After Target, it’s off to Michael’s to buy trendy baskets, faux leaves, and orange velvet for candy presentation.
- Costume Accessories: By July, catalogs arrive, and Mom meticulously selects “Wishworks” costumes, ensuring the kids have everything from flying wings to roller skates. Don’t forget a backup costume for the inevitable mishaps!
- Professional Makeup: Once the costumes are set, Mom calls a face painter to schedule appointments for the big events, ensuring the makeup matches the costume perfectly.
- Pre-Trick-or-Treat Nutrition: Planning for the neighborhood potluck is a must, featuring organic chili and garden-fresh salads to keep the kids fueled while trick-or-treating, now with a strict adult-to-child ratio.
- Trick-or-Treat Containers: Mom orders monogrammed, glow-in-the-dark totes from Pottery Barn, ensuring the kids have stylish and functional candy bags.
- Halloween Decor: While the kids are in school, Mom decks the house with mini gourds and fancy decorations.
- Pumpkin Carving: The pumpkin carving event is now an elaborate affair, complete with gourmet pumpkin soup and spiced seeds as appetizers.
- School Halloween Events: Mom is present at school for the Halloween Social, spending days preparing non-GMO, gluten-free treats for the bake sale, while organic apple slices replace candy.
- Documenting the Day: Every moment is captured on social media for all to see, ensuring every costume detail is shared.
- Candy Control: Once trick-or-treating is over, Mom confiscates all candy, allowing only one piece per day to regulate sugar intake.
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In summary, Halloween has transformed from a simple candy haul into a meticulously planned event filled with elaborate costumes, organic treats, and social media documentation. It’s a whole new world out there, but the spirit of fun remains unchanged!