Halloween: Lets Face It.

noreply@blogger.com (Kayil) — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 03:43:00 +0000

This isn't like the old days where kids could go outside on Halloween night without worry, from themselves and from parents or family, and enjoy the spookiness of the season. Least not now, anyways. Now we have those who are too protective, those crazies and all that so children aren't always able to go out the door.

That and forclosures.

Those have been the nail to the coffin for the last few years, especially with the econimical downfall the US has been having. Every year children would go door to door in their neighbourhoods for candy, and each year there are fewer to fewer houses. Their looking forward to the Halloween year: Not so high, might have small hopes for a candy run, but not like the year before. Either the family, the next year, will go off to another neighbourhood (kinda like my group did last year and the year before), or just outright not celebrate it and go out anymore.

This doesn't mean just to the Trick or Treaters either, this includes those families and homeowners that always look forward to giving that nice bag full of candy to the children that ring on their doorbell. Its a mutual effect.

Due to the last few years, Halloween hasn't been like it use to be, where everyone is hyped up and ready to go around the neighbourhood dressed up and being silly. Hell, we leave pop cans on a teacher's yard in a pretty display that we've had in the past. Cracks him up every time that he's not able to catch us. And took him forever to realize it was a group of his former students.

Even still, each year, my friends and I dress up completely and we walk this neighbourhood I've lived at for most of my life. When I say walk, I mean walking a good 5 miles worth just to get a decent amount of Candy in our bags. I'm not kidding. Last year we even took out my little brother (though he didn't last too long!). We have a good time doing it too. We don't think we're too old at all. In fact, Halloween, there's never a "too old" for it. Those who say otherwise can go die in a ditch for all I care.

With us at least, the spirit of the Holiday lives on. It shouldn't evaporate into thin air for others either just because they're adults. I also find it hilarious that majority of those adults claiming they're "too old for Halloween" are also ones who attend their department/business/church get together party conviently for costumes on or near the 31st of October, fully decked out in the best costume they could be in.

Its a fun holiday, for everyone. Lets not ruin it. Lets not let the forclosures kill a good neighbourhood of families and good spirited civilians for a candy run or kill the spirit of the Holiday because for three streets in a row, no one is answering their door.

Some ideas to help bring up the holidays again?

Host a small gathering for the neighbourhood children (if you're good with kids, and you can handle them) at the park, or even in your home if the compacity allows. This especially if you've been out in the neighbourhood and can see the house rate declining. Have each attendee's guardians, or the attendee themselves, if they're old enough, bring a bag of candy a piece, regardless of the size. Buy a couple of pinatas, make some games, and get some friends to help you host it. Scarey stories, a camp fire, marshmellows, something! If you can get a whole company or church to help support you? Even better.

Get a group of friends that aren't afraid of walking in the dark or wearing a costume in public, and go out for the night around the streets where you'll expect some kids. And fully be in costumes. Not slutty or "Adult only" themed ones, keep them modest. It would be definately more comforting for adults you run into that are taking their kids around. And have maybe one large basket of candy for a couple of people in your group to make some laughs and pass out the candy to the kids. Be silly, act out in the streets. (More props if you get kids shows for costumes that they'll recognize and act as the character)

Make your house noticable, even from the corner of the street or farther. Make it fun and entertaining for the kids, and make them work for the candy! Like a small maze if you can in your backyard, have someone in the maze, and someone outside to instruct the people as they go. Or have a guide. Might take up a good 20 minutes, but the adults and children wouldn't mind if you make it a spooky one!

Get your block involved and restrict your street if you can for a small party for the neighbourhood, and have everyone help out. I know a few neighbourhoods did this in those expensive areas for Christmas for those in the city, I'm sure any neighbourhood can too. Get crafts going, have people pitch in. If its enough to attract the block, you're garanteed visitors.

Last and not least, try to make something yearly, so people remember its there! You might have to be loud and make flyers, or go door to door in the block depending on what you do, for the first time or two, but it's not that bad. :)

As for my group, think we'll go with the running around with baskets of Candy....

Random Ranting's of the Infamous Kayil

Halloween: Lets Face It.