Halloween: A Comparison of Past and Present

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Halloween evokes memories of simplicity and joy—costumes and candy. My recollections are tinged with the distinct odor of those inexpensive, plastic costume masks bought from drugstores. I remember panting through the neighborhood, struggling to breathe beneath the “made in China” mask, which may have contained who knows how many harmful chemicals. That scent overwhelmed me as I ran from house to house, clutching my flimsy orange pumpkin that had already lost its handle after collecting merely ten Tootsie Pops.

My mother wasn’t particularly crafty, and neither am I. However, during one Halloween, she decided to make me a costume. For reasons unknown, she chose a peacock theme. What fourth-grade girl, slightly pudgy and self-conscious, would want to don a leotard festooned with a myriad of feathers? My mother glued thousands of feathers to that leotard, which, unsurprisingly, began shedding throughout the day during the school parade. I was handed a plastic bag to collect my fallen feathers, but you know what? It was a blast. Halloween has always been a time of fun. As children, costumes and candy were enough to bring joy. Today, however, the standards set by influencers like Martha Stewart, Heidi Klum, and Pinterest have transformed the holiday.

Halloween in the Past:

1. Costumes: Between October 20th and 25th, your mother would ask what you wanted to be for Halloween. She might provide a witch hat and black dress, a sheet with eye holes, or take you to the drugstore to find a discounted costume.
2. Candy: While at the drugstore, your mom would pick up bags of candy. On Halloween night, she would dump the candy into a large kitchen pot to distribute to trick-or-treaters.
3. School Parade: When the Halloween parade occurred at school, your mom would drop you off, relieved that teachers would manage the chaos of excited children in costumes.
4. Pumpkin Carving: Carving pumpkins involved a trip to the grocery store for a couple of pumpkins, a kitchen knife, and some candles found in the junk drawer.
5. Decorations: Halloween decorations consisted of sparkly witch and skeleton cutouts sold alongside costumes and candy at the drugstore.
6. Pre-Trick-or-Treating Meal: On the way home, mom would stop at McDonald’s for a “healthy” dinner before the candy binge started.
7. Trick-or-Treating: If you were over seven, mom would let you roam the neighborhood with friends, confident in the safety of familiar neighbors.
8. Candy Rules: Apples were tossed out due to urban legends of razors hidden inside. Instead, kids were encouraged to “just eat the candy.”
9. Parents’ Role: Parents would hand out candy while enjoying a glass of wine and snacking on non-organic cheese and crackers.
10. Candy Consumption: Upon returning home, siblings would devour as much candy as possible from their pillowcases or plastic pumpkins.
11. Photography: A few Polaroids captured the memories.

Halloween Today:

1. Costumes: In the spring, moms ask their kids about Halloween costumes to ensure they can find the latest trendy outfits. They begin Pinterest planning months in advance.
2. Candy Acquisition: Moms flock to stores like Target as soon as school starts to secure the best non-GMO candy for trick-or-treaters.
3. Craft Projects: After candy shopping, moms head to craft stores to purchase decorative baskets and materials for candy presentation.
4. Costume Details: By July, moms are selecting elaborate costumes and accessories, sometimes spending hundreds, including a backup costume for emergencies.
5. Professional Makeup: Moms often arrange for face painters to enhance their children’s costumes, booking appointments for both the school parade and Halloween night.
6. Trick-or-Treating Meal: Neighborhood potlucks are planned, featuring organic dishes to sustain kids while trick-or-treating, often with an adult chaperone for each child.
7. Trick-or-Treat Containers: Personalized, glow-in-the-dark trick-or-treat bags are ordered well in advance from stores like Pottery Barn.
8. Decorations: While kids are at school, moms fill their homes with elaborate seasonal decor from local nurseries.
9. Pumpkin Events: Pumpkin carving has become a social event, complete with gourmet meals and specialty carving tools.
10. School Events: Moms attend school Halloween socials, often providing healthy snacks like organic apple slices, as candy is typically prohibited.
11. Photography: Every costume and face paint is documented for social media.
12. Candy Control: After trick-or-treating, moms typically limit candy consumption to one piece per day to manage sugar intake.

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In summary, Halloween has evolved dramatically from a simple, straightforward celebration to an elaborate event marked by meticulous planning, organic treats, and Pinterest-worthy costumes.