Halloween
31st October 2008 – 8.22 amHalloween is upon us again, as can be told by the Headless Horseman terrorising orphans. Meanwhile, back in the real world I need to work out whether to buy some sweets to hand out to trick-or-treating neighbourhood children. It doesn't sound like a complicated decision to make, but I can turn it in to one.
I know there are children in the neighbourhood, I've met some of them. Others I've seen around, and even more I have hoped wouldn't be malicious enough to kick their football at me as I walk past. I also believe kids still like to go trick-or-treating on Halloween. After all, free sweets! In past years, I didn't want to buy too many sweets because I didn't want the temptation to scoff them all myself afterwards, and I am not going to be the sensible adult and start handing out fruit. That is antithetical to the spirit of Halloween and the trick-or-treat custom. I have to find a balance.
Two years ago I bought a few big bags of sweets and dumped them in to a bowl, ready for any becostumed children turning up on my doorstep. One goup came, I feigned a slight horror, and handed out some sweets to each child. In retrospect, I felt awfully stingy because they were the only group who turned up and I was left with almost all my sweets. I think it will be best to have no sweets left than to have most of them remain.
Last year I bought another batch of sweets ready to hand out, planning to be as generous as possible without bringing glares upon me from the accompanying parents. What I had forgotten was that Halloween fell on my regular D&D night, and I had left my home before any groups had turned up. None of the sweets were taken.
This year I was wondering if it was worth buying another selection of sweets or if I should instead turn the lights off and pretend I'm not home. Bah, the latter option is being mean, so I bought a bucket of sweets. Besides which, I have some young relations who would make good use of any leftover sweets, and the bucket has a decent selection that I can happily send to the contributers to Snacks Across the Pond.
I just hope the Headless Horseman doesn't turn up on my doorstep. What sweeties do you offer a man with no head? Maybe a sugar cube for his horse.
3 Responses to “Halloween”
Happy Halloween. Remember it's a great day to give to charities.
I'm failing as a Halloween host. A tiny vampire and princess just knocked at the door, and all I had was cans of Red Bull and maraschino cherries.
There have been no trick-or-treating children and I am left with a bucket containing more sweets than I first supposed. Ah well!