Thanks for the compliments guys and gals. 
Halloween "treating" is indeed fading in America, but it is being replaced but even newer traditions. Most people do not buy or hand out candy anymore. I've noticed a trend to give away items instead of candy, too. Like pencils, notepads, little plastic figures, tops, etc. I actually like this, because otherwise my kid ends up passed out after the sugar rush, and my husband eats the rest of her candy (not good for either of them).
Mostly now, kids tend to go to specific locations instead of house to house. Like, the mall will have trick or treating for 2 hours, and the school or local church might organize a "Trunk or Treat" where local groups decorate a car or other vehicle and hand out treats. These are the best. Each vehicle will have a theme, and the adults dress up as well. There are often photo booths, cotton candy, hot dogs, hayrides, and other fun activities. This is way better than door-to-door, and what we do each year now. Anyway, a lot of the places have a toy or candy for the kid, plus a coupon or candy for the adult WITH the kid.
I have also noticed a trend that kids stop dressing up about in their tweens, but start again in their late teens. So basically, that "age of not believing" as Bedknobs and Broomsticks says, kids stop doing Halloween, but it becomes cool again in mid to late teens (lots of walking dead, zombies, car crash victims, vampires, and anything gory is popular for older teens).
I will keep dressing up for Halloween even when I'm an old lady. It is the one time of year when anyone of any age can play make believe and not be teased about it.
Halloween "treating" is indeed fading in America, but it is being replaced but even newer traditions. Most people do not buy or hand out candy anymore. I've noticed a trend to give away items instead of candy, too. Like pencils, notepads, little plastic figures, tops, etc. I actually like this, because otherwise my kid ends up passed out after the sugar rush, and my husband eats the rest of her candy (not good for either of them).
Mostly now, kids tend to go to specific locations instead of house to house. Like, the mall will have trick or treating for 2 hours, and the school or local church might organize a "Trunk or Treat" where local groups decorate a car or other vehicle and hand out treats. These are the best. Each vehicle will have a theme, and the adults dress up as well. There are often photo booths, cotton candy, hot dogs, hayrides, and other fun activities. This is way better than door-to-door, and what we do each year now. Anyway, a lot of the places have a toy or candy for the kid, plus a coupon or candy for the adult WITH the kid.
I have also noticed a trend that kids stop dressing up about in their tweens, but start again in their late teens. So basically, that "age of not believing" as Bedknobs and Broomsticks says, kids stop doing Halloween, but it becomes cool again in mid to late teens (lots of walking dead, zombies, car crash victims, vampires, and anything gory is popular for older teens).
I will keep dressing up for Halloween even when I'm an old lady. It is the one time of year when anyone of any age can play make believe and not be teased about it.
“Eternity is a terrible thought. I mean, where's it going to end?”
― Tom Stoppard, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead
― Tom Stoppard, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead
