Okay, I was all ready to chill out, and at least temporarily stop being so uptight about the issues I have observed with the negative developments that have plagued MY favorite,secular, American holiday of the year--HALLOWEEN!
For the record, I am older than 35.
While simply reading the news, this story jumped out at me.
IS 12 Too Old to Trick or Treat?
Seriously?
You know I loved it when my kids were toddlers. You could be lazy and buy a silly, costume at your local box store for under 15$ and strap your darling in a stroller and light it up with glo-sticks.
Yea!
Easy and Cute!
Parents are in control 110 percent. Even if you let the little inch worm out of the stroller, they can't go fast or far. And you have more control over the candy.
The issue is, you can't get too elaborate with the costumes, because they might eat it some of the components. They could get something wrapped around their neck, or not realize that glitter doesn't go in their eyeballs.
One of mine actually gnawed through a large glo-stick one year.
sigh
Now they are of an age to be more interesting with regards to Halloween.
My kids are now old enough to contribute to the design and execution of costumes. Although it's true, I have less control over them. They are ambulatory [!The Horror!] and it's harder getting the candy away from them, before they eat half of it. But we are able to do more.
Very very soon, ONE of them will be too old to trick or treat by the rules listed in this story. As a parent/family who takes their kids trick or treating, If this were the absolute rule in my area, I would feel cut off. Please note that it would not be just the kids but me too. I would feel that we--as a family were being deprived of a special holiday observance, an aspect of familial traditions that give the parent the joy of witnessing and participating in her children's creativity and fun.
I like seeing adults in costume too. Even though some venues were very very crowded, I did see some excellent adult costumes, everything from themes from movies and books, and I see adults in costume, with their pets in matching costumes. Why would you deprive them of the fun of this holiday? This one time of the year, that we can get out of our skins, out of our heads, and explore an alternate identity, even as grown ups. I see it as potentially a healthy cathartic experience for those who have larger, more intense celebrations and parades, not unlike Mardi Gras. And even in smaller venues, it allows young and old to be a bit strange or quarky, to display their fear or humor, or fascination with the Other.
As a nation we have deprived ourselves of many rites of passage, at least in terms of communal ones, we deny ourselves the pleasure of decompressing with anything but perhaps television, music, or alcohol.
Why is that?
And see how healthy this isn't? See how difficult it can be for a culture to get a grip, when they hold on so tight, that they loose all sensation?
Honestly, I will give anyone candy, in a costume. Even, dare I say it? People old enough to vote!
I don't care if they have a five o-clock shadow, or if someone's precious little princess has lost her baby fat! That doesn't mean they are too old to trick or treat!
I saw a comment below the story that a man in his 60s went as Brittany Spears one year, and Ann Romney the next.
That is cool! I would give candy to that guy and probably take a picture with him if he let me!
What is up with this weird trend toward shutting down fun? Is this our psychological ramp up to the austerity measures? Have we lost our fun-bone? What is it about this Neo-Puritanism? Those people were miserable, we know it from their history--why emulate that?
What I see in this story, if I were to follow the thought all the way through, is that only little kids get to trick or treat, and the bigger kids are left out of the cold, too old for candy, but clearly not welcome at *adult parties either for obvious reasons!
That will end well [note snark].
I observe, that if you are having issues with large-sized, older teens intimidating or scaring residents--Then I would be willing to guess that town/community has a problem bigger than just Halloween. That there are year round issues that have not been adequately dealt with. Which begs the question--If your community has an issue with hooliganism, why assume that your solutions would be a good example or appropriate for communities that are not having those same issues. Why suggest that everyone shut Halloween down for for teens just because your community cannot, for whatever reason, pull it off?
I have often gone trick or treating as an adult chaperone for children, even as an older teen. And although I didn't want a bag full of candy, a nice candy bar or caramel was always appreciated.
This year, we are doing a lot already for Halloween. Next year, we are going all out. I suppose it could be considered a defiant gesture that we will not quietly on this issue. I will be sure and write a diary about this year's Halloween adventures later next week.
Happy Halloween everyone--have a safe and fun holiday!