The Halloween of my childhood was uncomplicated and delightful — it revolved around costumes and candy. I can still recall the distinct, cheap, plastic scent of those store-bought costume masks. Dashing through the neighborhood, I huffed and puffed behind a “made in China” mask, unaware of the potential BPA and toxins I was inhaling. That smell accompanied me as I ran from house to house, clutching my flimsy orange pumpkin, whose handle gave way after just a handful of Tootsie Pops.
My mom wasn’t particularly crafty, nor am I, but she didn’t have Pinterest urging her to perfect Halloween either. One year, however, she decided to create a homemade costume for me, envisioning me as a stunning peacock. What self-conscious, pudgy fourth-grader wouldn’t want to wear a leotard adorned with multicolored feathers? She must have used about seven thousand feathers on that leotard, which predictably shed them throughout the school parade, leaving me to gather my plumes in a plastic bag. Despite the chaos, it was a blast. Halloween was always a joy. As kids, costumes and candy were all we needed. Today, however, icons like Martha Stewart, Heidi Klum, and Pinterest have clearly raised the bar.
Halloween Then:
- Costumes: Between October 20th and 25th, your mom asked what you wanted to be, offering a witch hat and black dress, a ghostly sheet with cut-out eyes, or a trip to the drugstore for whatever was on sale.
- Candy: While at the drugstore, your mom also picked up a few bags of candy. On Halloween night, she dumped it into a big pot to serve trick-or-treaters.
- School Parade: During the Halloween Parade at school, your mom was relieved to drop you off, allowing teachers to manage the excitement of hundreds of sugar-hyped kids in costumes.
- Pumpkin Carving: Pumpkin carving meant a stop at Giant for a couple of pumpkins, a sharp kitchen knife, and some candles scavenged from the junk drawer.
- Decorations: Halloween decorations were limited to sparkly witches and skeletons from the drugstore, placed alongside candy and costumes.
- Pre-Trick or Treating Dinner: On the way home, mom made a quick drive-through stop at (gasp) McDonald’s for something “healthy” before the candy haul began.
- Trick or Treating: If you were older than seven, your mom let you roam the neighborhood with friends, confident in the familiarity of the neighbors.
- Candy Guidelines: Your mom insisted on tossing away apples, fearing urban legends about razor blades. She advised, “Just eat the candy, kids.”
- Parents’ Role: While passing out candy, mom and dad enjoyed watching the parade of characters, sipping wine and snacking on mass-produced cheese and crackers.
- Indulging: Once home, you and your siblings would dive into the candy stash, grabbing as much as you could from your pillowcase or plastic pumpkin.
- Photography: A few Polaroids captured the night’s fun.
Halloween Now:
- Costumes: By spring, mom begins asking her kids about costumes, ensuring she can snap screenshots of summer blockbusters to replicate the latest trends. Pinterest boards are established early — no detail is too small.
- Candy: On the first day of school, mom makes a beeline to Target to snag the best candy for Halloween, with bonus points awarded for non-GMO options.
- Crafting: Following her candy run, mom heads to Michael’s to buy decorative baskets and faux leaves to enhance her candy-giving display for neighborhood kids.
- Costume Accessories: In July, mom carefully selects elaborate $75 “Wishworks” costumes, adding items like flying wings and black roller skates to complete the ensemble. A backup costume is essential for Halloween night photos, just in case!
- Professional Makeup: Once the costumes are finalized, mom schedules a face painter for both the school parade and Halloween night.
- Trick or Treating Dinner: Planning a neighborhood potluck, mom prepares organic chili from Whole Foods and a garden-fresh Caesar salad to fuel the kids while chaperoning their trick-or-treating.
- Halloween Pails: By August 1st, mom orders monogrammed, glow-in-the-dark totes from Pottery Barn, as they sell out quickly.
- Decorations: While kids are in school, mom fills decorative baskets with miniature gourds and fairy-tale pumpkins, adding a festive touch to the home.
- Pumpkin Carving: Pumpkin carving is now a grand event, complete with high-quality carving tools from William-Sonoma and homemade pumpkin soup and spiced seeds to accompany the festivities.
- School Halloween Social: Mom attends the Halloween Social, spending days baking organic, gluten-free treats, as sugary snacks are strictly prohibited. Post-party, she’s instructed to help change the kids out of their costumes, which hinder learning.
- Photography: Every child is photographed in their full costume and makeup to share across social media platforms.
- Candy Management: Once the candy haul concludes, mom confiscates the treats, allowing only one piece a day to prevent excess sugar intake.
Happy Halloween!
In summary, Halloween has evolved from a simple, carefree celebration of costumes and candy to a meticulously planned, Pinterest-inspired event. Modern parents are deeply engaged in crafting memorable experiences, ensuring every detail is just right — from costumes to decorations and everything in between. To learn more about the preparations for family events, check out our privacy policy.
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