Memories of Halloween

Believe it or not, I’m old enough to actually remember Halloween! The real one, not the watered down politically correct version that we (don’t, can’t, aren’t allowed to) enjoy now. Anyway, I grew up in the sixties, and without any fact checking, allow me to tell you a few of my childhood memories or at least the way I recall them. Forgive me if I get any of the details wrong.

I remember how we dressed up to go trick-or-treating! We wore those cheap little flimsy costumes that we bought at TG&Y. They probably cost 2 or 3 dollars at the most and they lasted through the big night and a few days of play after that. The little plastic masks (most likely made of some toxic material) were the worst! Regardless of the temperature, you sweated like crazy and the things just stuck to your face like glue. Until the rubber band broke and the wind blew it off down the street. Despite the smell and the sweat, you’d pull the rubber band tight and poke a hole in the side of the mask and tie it back together, so you could wear it some more. And of course, it got tighter and more uncomfortable each time. The self-torture of Halloween as a child!

There were lots of devils and witches and ghosts and monsters, but nobody seemed to think we were all going to hell for it. There were also plenty of cowboys and Indians and nobody got offended and felt the need to protest. It was make believe. Harmless fun. I always preferred the superhero costumes myself. Superman and Batman mostly, with a towel held by a clothespin as my cape. And of course, a plain brown paper sack for the goodies!

We waited for dark and for Dad to come home so we could prowl the neighborhood. The actual neighborhood. Where we actually lived. We made it up our block and maybe to the next one over depending on whether or not Dad thought our bags were full enough and then we came home to compare our candy treasures and eat as much as Mom would allow before making us stop for the night. (By the nineties, as a parent, I was taking my kids to the mall and the local schools and churches for the “Trunk or Treat” and “Harvest Festival” events, but that’s a whole nother story!)

I’m sure there were some scary movies around back then, but more than likely, we would watch nothing more frightening than the Charlie Brown special and our biggest fear would then be getting a rock in our bags instead of candy. We didn’t fear getting a piece of candy with a needle or a razor blade, or some such insanity. We feared getting fruit or some other non-chocolate item. It was definitely a simpler time.

Regardless of when the date fell on the calendar, NOBODY wore their costumes to school. Or even thought about it. The anonymity of the street you lived on under the cover of darkness was one thing, but to show up at school in the daytime wearing a Halloween costume? Could you be more uncool? Maybe it was just where I grew up, but I never understood that. (I did have to deal with the issue as a school administrator a time or two. Still don’t get it!)

Anyway, that’s probably enough nostalgia for now. So, be safe out there and enjoy the holiday. I really do wish that today’s children could experience an old-fashioned Halloween, but I suppose those days are gone for good. Maybe if your kids (or grandkids) are still young enough, you could sit them down and tell them a few stories of your own.