The Death of Halloween: Is Trick-or-treating Nearing It's End?

All around the world Halloween has been celebrated for years and years. Celebration festivities include trick-or-treating, wearing costumes, carving pumpkins, and many others. It would appear to me that in some aspects, parts of this celebration are nearing their end. More specifically, trick-or-treating. At least in America anyways.

I remember growing up here in Midland and every year until the age of 12 I would go trick-or-treating, whether it was with my friends or my family, sometimes both. Every year in elementary school there would be Halloween parties in just about every classes, and even a parade of costumes throughout the hallways involving the whole school. It seemed like this place was the ultimate trick-or-treating neighborhood.

But recently, trick-or-treating has almost seemed to disappear in my neighborhood. I'm 19 now and haven't trick-or-treated since i was 12. But over the years, when I have been home for Halloween it seems as though the tradition of trick-or-treating has up and vanished like a ghost.

The past two years I've noticed it the most. Last year weather had a lot to do with it, but it seems as the the spirit of the Holiday is gone. A few days before last Halloween I asked if we were even handing out candy, I was told "no". I took it somewhat rough. These neighborhoods filled my pillowcase with candy when I went door to door. It's only right that I do the same. I ran off to Walmart to buy a few things, mainly candy and a light-up door hanging pumpkin decoration.

I thought to myself at least we'll be prepared now. And two days later when Halloween came, we didn't get a single trick-or-treater. I had heard there were a few youth church parties going on but I don't think there was a single kid in a costume walking up and down our street the entire night.

I don't blame the kids and I honestly don't care, it's a choice but something just doesn't seem right that the tradition seems to be on its last legs. With many scares of razors in candy and the "Obesity Epidemic" gaining exposure, it seems like Halloween is still the scariest holiday of the year but for all the wrong reasons and it is causing a lot of people to not even notice the existence of this holiday. We'll most likely have to just wait and see whether or not this holiday regains popularity. I personally would hate to see it go, it's tradition after all.