To Trick or Treat; That is the Question!

Some say it was the Celts who began the practice we now call Halloween, Trick or Treat, over 2000 years ago. Celtic priests would beg for favors in exchange for protection of souls which evolved into Irish peasants who begged for "soul cakes". But it was the English who took it a step further, they put on masks and costumes on All Hallow's Eve and begged for treats and if treats were not provided them, they played some tricks.

As a young girl in the 60's, the trick part of Halloween in the small farming community I lived in was as much a part of the fun as the treat part was. As soon as dusk began to fall, the young children, 12 and under donned their costumes and went door to door, to neighbors and friends and collected their bounty of Halloween candy. Within a couple hours, home they went to unwrap their loot and count how many real candy bars had been obtained compared to the penny candy.

As we got a bit older, around 9:00 in the evening was the time the teen Halloween trickers hit the streets and roads. I remember toilet paper rolls being tossed at the trees of favorite teachers and bad ones alike! I remember soaping the windows of the grumpy old lady in our neighborhood and I remember a few more outlandish tricks. There was that one time the football players (my future husband) and the cheerleaders (us) painted the town's water tower with peace symbols and rainbows. It was the sixties!

For those who indulged in trick or treating, there was no doubting the safety of the candy, it had been provided by people who knew you and cared for your safety. There were apples and homemade popcorn balls, but we even liked those. And there were Halloween parties with all the traditions; apple bobbing, costume contests, and great fall treats with apple cider and pumpkin cookies.

But the Halloween tradition has gone through many changes since that idyllic time. Questions about safety of treats have resulted in parents being rightfully opposed to trick or treating. Schools no longer celebrate costume Halloween parties due to the bad rap the holiday gets from many, including the religious right which objects to Halloween on religious principles.

And even if a Halloween celebration occurs, many parent prefer to keep their children at home for smaller private Halloween parties with family and friends. There are still some communities that have trick or treaters out on Halloween night; and there are ways for trick or treat to still occur with safety.

Halloween Trick or Treat Safety Tips

First of all, have your child carry a flashlight to see and be seen, and place a reflective patch on their Halloween costumes to help them be seen.

Watch out for those dark Halloween costumes. If your child is dressed in black, add some bands of white somewhere, like their face and use reflective patches and flashlights.

Trick or treat for Halloween in a small group with an adult walking along.

Only trick or treat at homes of people you know.

Keep Halloween costumes short enough for safe walking in the dark and encourage your child to walk slowly to avoid loose steps or items in yards and on sidewalks.

If a sword, cane or some other long object is part of your child's Halloween costume, make sure it is not sharp and that children don't use it in a manner that would hurt someone or themselves.

Watch out for pets. A neighbor might forget to put up his dog that nips at children. Be sure to shield your child from pets that are unknown. Encourage them not to reach out and pet strange animals.

Encourage your child to not dart into the street between parked cars, but use the cross roads and look for traffic coming both ways when they trick or treat for Halloween.

Do not allow children to eat any Halloween candy until a parent can check it out. Of course, if you've went to the houses of people you know, that shouldn't be a problem, but just in case.

Many churches and special organizations are offering trick or treat options for Halloween, called Trunk or Treat, where people can drive to the parking lot, park their car and open the trunk with Halloween candy in it. Trick or treaters dressed in their Halloween costumes walk from car to car, showing off their costumes and getting candy from all the participants. Trunk or treat is a safe and fun way to still have fun trick or treating but in a controlled environment. If would still be important for a parent to check out the candy from Halloween trunk or treats if not all the participants are recognizable, or again, just have your child accept treats from people they know.

And remember, Halloween isn't really about the candy. That's just a nice side treat. It's about the fun of dressing up in costume, laughing with your friends on a crisp fall night, enjoying the atmosphere of fall, the fun of childhood and the joy of children having fun for Halloween.