posted
So last year was my wife and myself's first Halloween in our new house. We were really excited because we live in a very large development with tons of children. We stocked up on candy, decorated the house, and were ready to go. We were a little disapointed by how many houses on our street had their lights off indicating they were not distributing the treats.
Soon we found out why. It was the worst Halloween of our lives. The parents were extremely rude, the children ruder, and the high school students were just scary.
I don't think we are going to participate this year. I feel terrible because some of the children were very sweet. I just don't know if we can handle the stress of everyone else.
Posts: 3134 | Registered: Mar 2005
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quote:Originally posted by pH: How were they rude? The parents, I mean? Why would anyone be rude to people who are giving them free candy?
-pH
Demanding some for themselves, demanding more for their kids, even inquiring if we had different types. I was even a little shocked at the number of parents not getting out of their cars, and just followed the really young ones down the street.
Posts: 3134 | Registered: Mar 2005
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posted
Maybe you can find a Halloween event in your community like a school or church group to volunteer with so you can still participate in the experience without all that hassle. They actually asked if you had different candy that what you were handing out? That's pretty rude.
Posts: 1319 | Registered: Jul 2005
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quote:Originally posted by MandyM: Maybe you can find a Halloween event in your community like a school or church group to volunteer with so you can still participate in the experience without all that hassle. They actually asked if you had different candy that what you were handing out? That's pretty rude.
I like what my boss does in his neighborhood. All the parents just go to the same house with their kids and do a candy exchange.
I think kids might come by our office this year, their is a day care in our building. That should be fun.
My religious organization is out, while it seems many American Jews don't really care, Halloween isn't exactly a preferred American tradition it seems.
Posts: 3134 | Registered: Mar 2005
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posted
Our local Main Street area usually has a Halloween night every year, where the shopowners stand out in front of their places and hand out candy (and coupons). Well lit, with spooky dark alleys for ambience, lots of people walking about, almost a street party atmosphere.
I live down a long dirt road, surrounded by other long dirt roads, few lights, lots of dogs, and I wouldn't let my kids trick or treat around here. Instead we'd head over near their school where they were guaranteed to find sidewalks, participating familes, and more often than not their schoolmates.
If you want to participate, why not contact the local JayCees and see if you can help out with their haunted house? Head to the hospitals (with permission) and take some candy around to the kids stuck there for the holiday.
If you really wanted to stick with your neighborhood, you might try hooking up with like-minded neighbors and throw a party for the neighborhood kids, or at least the well-mannered ones.
Posts: 7790 | Registered: Aug 2000
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quote:Originally posted by rivka: Why would we bother? The kids get enough candy Simchas Torah and Purim!
For the costumes! For me, Halloween was never about the candy--that was just a bonus. The real event was getting to design, make, and wear the most fantastic costume my imagination and skills could create (well, my skills and those of my mother and brother. They helped me a lot when I was little).
Posts: 16059 | Registered: Aug 2000
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quote:Originally posted by rivka: Why would we bother? The kids get enough candy Simchas Torah and Purim!
For the costumes! For me, Halloween was never about the candy--that was just a bonus. The real event was getting to design, make, and wear the most fantastic costume my imagination and skills could create (well, my skills and those of my mother and brother. They helped me a lot when I was little).
Ah, but we get costumes for Purim to.
Posts: 3134 | Registered: Mar 2005
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quote:Originally posted by pH: How were they rude? The parents, I mean? Why would anyone be rude to people who are giving them free candy?
-pH
Demanding some for themselves, demanding more for their kids, even inquiring if we had different types. I was even a little shocked at the number of parents not getting out of their cars, and just followed the really young ones down the street.
Most of that does sound fairly obnoxious, but staying in their cars doesn't; that could just be the parent wanting to give the kids the experience of walking from door to door, going about it on their own, while still giving them the protection of a parent keeping an eye on things.
Of course, if I were a parent I'd just park somewhere and walk with the kids to whatever neighborhood they were visiting, and then hang back in the shadows as they went from porch to porch (assuming that the kids were old enough for this).
Posts: 16059 | Registered: Aug 2000
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quote:Originally posted by rivka: Why would we bother? The kids get enough candy Simchas Torah and Purim!
For the costumes! For me, Halloween was never about the candy--that was just a bonus. The real event was getting to design, make, and wear the most fantastic costume my imagination and skills could create (well, my skills and those of my mother and brother. They helped me a lot when I was little).
Ah, but we get costumes for Purim to.
Really? I didn't know that. What kind of costumes?
Posts: 16059 | Registered: Aug 2000
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That's pretty rude.
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