Search Observer-Reporter

Search Archive

11/2/2009 11:32 AM

Email this article • Print this article  

This article has been read 205 times.

There is no date on a calendar to point to that shows when Halloween ceased being a minor observance at best - and quite often an annoying one at that for property owners - and made the move into something bordering on the obsessive.

It used to be that Halloween was for little children whose mothers dressed then in cute little costumes and who went around the neighborhood mooching candy treats from neighbors whose own children were doing likewise.

The kiddos would mumble "trick or treat" and the neighbors would feign fright or delight at the originality of the costumed figures who had no idea what the significance of the "trick" part was because what they wanted were treats.

A few things happened, I'm sure, to spoil the fun for the gleeful little kids. Bad kids took it upon themselves to put the trick back into trick or treat by applying bar soap scribbles to house and car windows, draping bushes and trees with trails of toilet paper, ringing doorbells and then running away, and throwing shelled field corn at houses just to hear it clatter against the siding and roofs.

Rate This Story:
1 the lowest - 5 the highest

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5

Current rating:

Retailers found a ready market for teeny-weeny candy bars and big bags of candy corn and individually wrapped hard candies, and while they were at it, they produced all manner of flimsy costumes and ugly rubber masks.

Then the adults got into the act, holding theme parties that called for elaborate costumes, the more competitive the better. And food and beverages were served, so much of the latter that kiddies walking in their own neighborhoods were at risk from speeding and/or drunken drivers. It is all now becoming a horror show, ugly masks or not.

Oh, and did I mention decorating houses with orange twinkle lights, blow-up witches and monsters with purple faces, or lighted, plastic, air-filled pumpkins?

What happened to the fun, the little kids saying "boo" and giggling and counting the pieces of candy that the neighbors put in their pillowcases? Where are the homemade candy apples and little waxed paper bags of peanut brittle?

What's scary is that it's all gone now.

n

Anniversary waltz

Oct. 31 - Patty and Ray Phillips of Washington, their 45th

n

Welcome to our world

Austin David Smith, born Wednesday, July 22, 2009, to Amy R. and Justin Smith of Canonsburg

n

Birthday candles

Nov. 1 - Mike Dudurich

Nov. 2 - Traci Mathis

Nov. 3 - LaMar Woodley

Nov. 4 - Andrew W. Smialek

Nov. 5 - Ciarra McAdoo, Carol Pennington

Nov. 6 - Paul Leta

Byron Smialek's columns appear Tuesdays and Saturdays. Send anniversary and birthday greetings to 1312 Banetown Road, Washington, PA 15301. His e-mail address is: byretired@live.com

Home

0 comments

All comments will be reviewed by administrators and posted to their respective articles within 24 hours. Comments deemed inappropriate will not be posted.

Subject:
Body:
Poster:

Enter text seen above: