As I prepare to dive into costume shopping and dust off the decorations for Halloween this year, I can’t help but reminisce about the way Halloween was celebrated back when I was a child. This holiday has always held a special place in my heart, but it’s fascinating to see how it has evolved over the years.
Costumes of the Past
The costumes from my childhood were often questionable in terms of safety. Typically crafted from plastic, they featured masks with tiny eye holes that posed a challenge to see clearly while wandering the dimly lit streets in search of candy. Each time you put the mask on, you were met with a dizzying smell reminiscent of marker fumes, a scent that lingered in your nostrils. The slits for your mouth and nostrils didn’t offer much in the way of ventilation either. The elastic band fastening the mask often felt like a torture device, especially when an older sibling decided to give it a little snap!
By the end of the night, most masks were in tatters, either from sibling antics or the countless times you had to pull it off to catch a breath. This left you clutching the mask in one hand while knocking on doors with the other. The flimsy plastic bodysuits didn’t fare much better; they would tear at the slightest movement, prompting my mom to step in with a stapler to keep the outfit intact. We often dressed up as our favorite superheroes, horror movie villains, or pop icons, with Wonder Woman and The Hulk being popular choices.
The Candy Haul
As for candy, the selection was pretty straightforward, with parents having limited options for healthier treats. Occasionally, you’d uncover a box of Sun-Maid raisins or a few stray dimes at the bottom of your haul. The raisins were usually tossed aside, or if my mom found them, they ended up in a box for school snacks, where they were either traded or discarded. The dimes, however, were saved up for cassette tapes or the occasional call from a payphone at the mall.
Returning home, we would dump our pillowcases onto the bed or living room floor, immediately transforming from costumed characters into savvy negotiators. I would trade my brother a Charleston Chew—which always got tangled in my braces—for his candy cigarettes, which I thought made me look sophisticated. As my mother entered to inspect the loot for any signs of tampering or hidden dangers, anything that was even slightly unwrapped would be tossed in the trash, regardless of my protests. She always warned us about strangers who might try to harm children.
The Build-Up to Halloween
Of course, Halloween wasn’t just confined to the night itself. The entire month leading up to it was filled with excitement. If your parents were cool, you could watch scary movies like Halloween or Friday the 13th. If not, a quick forged note with my mom’s signature would allow me to hit the local video store. The thrill of watching those films was only heightened by my brother’s rendition of the creepy theme music, which sent chills down my spine.
Halloweens of the past also included festive school parties where we proudly wore our costumes. We indulged in sugary treats and danced to classics like “Monster Mash.” With no schoolwork in sight, we engaged in games like pinning the nose on the jack-o’-lantern and bobbing for apples. Looking back, the idea of sharing a bucket of water with friends seems pretty unsanitary!
Halloween Today
These days, as a parent, Halloween feels quite different. While some changes are welcome—costumes today are generally safer, albeit pricier—new traditions can be puzzling. For instance, the concept of the Switch Witch, who offers to trade candy for cash or other goodies, has emerged. Some kids even donate their candy for charitable causes. While these ideas promote healthier habits, I can’t help but miss the carefree days of indulging in a little too much sugar. As a child, a Halloween sugar rush was part of the fun; now as a parent, I must face the reality of its unhealthiness.
Despite the nostalgia for my own childhood and the creation of new traditions with my kids, Halloween will always be a time for imagination, dressing up, and going door to door in search of treats.
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In summary, Halloween has transformed dramatically over the years, yet it remains a cherished celebration filled with creativity and excitement for both kids and parents alike.