Officialy time for trick or treating??

[emily_in_nc]

I should have clarified. This is my first Halloween in Denver. Every year I've lived in the south and it's been on a Sunday, there have been protests.

I live in NC and this was a big story on the news tonight -- church groups wanting Halloween to be declared to be on Saturday for religious reasons. I personally couldn't care less as I am not religious, don't have children, and don't dress up. The only difference it makes to me is when I need to make sure to have candy in the apt. in case any ghouls or goblins show up! This is our first Oct. here, so I have no idea, but there are a few kids in our building so I gotta be prepared.

[Crankin]

Well, some towns in MA have designated trick or treating time, so people are aware of when the kids will be out and you can be ready. Sometimes, this happens if there are other events going on, but it has nothing to do with religion, as you all know, we are heathens here . There's usually some kind of special town celebration to go along with this.
I really don't like Halloween. When did this become a holiday that adults celebrate and go nuts over for a month? It's like another excuse to get drunk.
I would say I am getting old, but I remember feeling like this in my twenties and thirties... first I thought it was something particular to AZ, but no, it's the same here. It just didn't happen when I was a kid.
I enjoyed seeing the kids come to my door in our last neighborhood, where we lived on a cul de sac. But here, no one comes up the hill, let alone up our driveway. We moved into our house on November first five years ago, and spent the night of the 31st in the "haunted" room of the Colonial Inn. I didn't see any ghosts, though.

[Selkie]

I really don't like Halloween. When did this become a holiday that adults celebrate and go nuts over for a month? It's like another excuse to get drunk.
I would say I am getting old, but I remember feeling like this in my twenties and thirties...

When I was a kid, I loved Halloween. It was one of the few times during the year that my mother let us have candy (my brother and I trick or treat for hours to amass a big supply of goodies).

I agree w/Crankin -- As an adult, I don't see the attraction of dressing in a costume and drinking, but that's just me. To me, it's like forcing a dog to wear a costume---it's undignified! [please note the winky/smiley and don't flame me]

[Bike Chick]

I never thought of Halloween as any other time than October 31. The local towns here do set and publish certain dates, times and age limits for trick or treating. A lot of local organizations also have what is called "trunk or treat" where members of the organization park their cars in a parking lot with the trunk open and the children walk from car to car for candy. I don't think it would be as much fun for the kids but we have had a lot of incidents with razor blades in apples and this is a little safer.

Now as far as the religious aspect of Halloween, we celebrate it in my church. Halloween is the eve of All Saints Day and is when Martin Luther nailed his 95 Theses to the door of the church knowing people would be coming to church the next day and would read it. It is considered the beginning of the Reformation and we celebrate it with a church service. It is called Reformation Day.

[ScaldedCat]

I'm afraid I don't like trick or treating, I can't comment on how it is conducted in the U.S but here in the U.K it seems to be little better than demanding money (or sweets) with menaces.

Since when was it ok to go knocking on doors and expecting to be given sweets or money?
I have notices that the local Police provide to put on my front door and windows saying 'No Trick or Treat'

I've nothing against Halloween, I'm an atheist with slight pagan leanings, I just don't like the idea that gangs of teenagers or even young children with their mothers can just knock on my door and expect to be given something, it's cold, dark out and people knocking on my door every 2 minutes for a couple of nights causes I disturbance that I'm just not willing to put up with.

[GLC1968]

When I was a kid, I loved Halloween. It was one of the few times during the year that my mother let us have candy (my brother and I trick or treat for hours to amass a big supply of goodies).

I agree w/Crankin -- As an adult, I don't see the attraction of dressing in a costume and drinking, but that's just me. To me, it's like forcing a dog to wear a costume---it's undignified! [please note the winky/smiley and don't flame me]

I'm not a die hard Halloween fan, but I do enjoy it. I love to dress up and interact with others at parties when opportunity arises. Maybe I'm still a kid? Maybe it's a throwback to living near Salem, MA? Honestly, the best Halloween's I've ever had were the couple of years that I was dating a guy who lived there. That town takes Halloween VERY seriously! It's like they live all year for it. The decorations go up on Labor Day...no joke. They do it all out - haunted cemetaries and buildings, ghost tours, huge costumed balls, bonfires, you name it... Of course, the town has such a haunted history that they are kind of just living up to their past! It's honestly a REALLY good time - alcohol totally not necessary.

[GLC1968]

I remember as a kid (I believe it was when we lived in Wisconsin) that Trick or Treat was time intentionally limited one year. We were supposed to go between 3 pm and 6 pm that year (I think it was...) so that it was still light out. I remember being totally outraged as a junior high aged kid! They may have done that due to some recent kidnapping or something though.

And yes, in NC (particularly where we lived), everyone got into an uproar about trick or treating no matter what night it fell on. It's a heathen celebration for heaven's sake! Or going out on All Hallow's Eve is like worshiping the devil or something. I'm not religous, so I didn't really pay attention to the complaints. I just know that every year we were there, there were Fall Festivals or Harvest Celebrations at schools and churches so that kids could get their fun without really participating in the typical Halloween traditions.

We don't get kids at our house where we live now, so I don't pay attention. I bought candy last year just in case and I believe it's still in a drawer in our guestroom should any kids show up this year.

[sfa]

I've heard of it, but have never run into it personally. I don't get the argument that designating a date and time would let people know when to be careful of kids in the neighborhood. It's easier to remember: October 31, sunset--watch out for kids in costumes begging for candy. Much harder when you start moving the date around.

Sarah

[Irulan]

never heard of such of thing. Sure, there's parties at the malls, and don't run the kids over warnings...but mandated times? Pfft.

[Veronica]

Halloween began as a Celtic celebration. Basically it was a time to say, "We're really happy for our harvest. Please don't let us die over the winter." They sacrificed sheep and had bonfires. A lot of the rituals started as a way to foretell your future - particularly whom you would marry. The Romans came along and added in the apples for their goddess Pomona. Then along came the Christians and they really tried to get rid of Halloween, but obviously were unsuccessful.

The Christians like tying their holidays into already preexisting ones. I have always been somewhat amused that Christmas is around the Saturnalia, a lawless time in Rome when roles were reversed and people sang naked in the streets - early caroling.

Veronica

[tulip]

I grew up (mostly) in the south, and I've never heard of any protests because of Halloween, no matter what day it falls on. It's Halloween, let it be already! I can understand publicizing awareness because kids are out, for safety. A couple of years ago, I totally did up my house with fake cobwebs and stuff, and that was fun. Last year I was out of town. This year I'll be here, but I haven't planned on dressing up my house. Guess I'll have to get some candy ad put up my pumpkin lights, but that's it. Those fake cobwebs are too much trouble. There are lots of trick-or-treaters in my neighborhood.

[malkin]

Kind of an issue in Salt Lake City, although everyone knows where/when to go door to door or to parties.

I've never been clear on a rating scale of holiness/unholiness that renders trick'r'treating too unholy for Sunday night, but ok for some other night.

[Eden]

Silliness if you ask me.... condemn Halloween and you sure better not celebrate Christmas or Easter, which have just as many roots in Paganism..... (hmmmmm harvest, solstice and equinox) the only real difference is that the latter two were successfully assimilated into Christianity while Halloween has not been.

I for one will give candy to any kids that show up on my porch. Being a Sunday I'll probably actually be here... (IMHO having Halloween at a mall or before dark would take lot of the fun out of it - poor kiddos today so sheltered these days)

[ClockworkOrange]

.........................The Christians like tying their holidays into already preexisting ones. I have always been somewhat amused that Christmas is around the Saturnalia, a lawless time in Rome when roles were reversed and people sang naked in the streets - early caroling.

Veronica

".........when roles were reversed and people sang naked in the streets - early caroling"

I so hope that doesn't catch on again!

Clock

[Atlas]

Well I feel a little backward now. Trick or treating was always done on Beggar's Night which was the 30th. I don't think I ever went out trick or treating on Halloween. Not all of Iowa does this, but there are a few areas.

Here is a link about the beginning of Beggar's Night in Iowa. I guess it was to curb vandalism and it worked pretty well.