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When did Halloween get to be such a big deal? I guess I just don't get it.

Let me state this right up front. I am not a fan of Halloween. I never have been, not even as a child.

The concept of extorting candy in lieu of some horrible consequence seems incongruent with most of my upbringing, but it was presented to us as appropriate for one night a year so I accepted it on those terms.

However, the holiday has been transformed from a single night of revelry into an entire month of celebration. My neighbors have numerous decorations including "Halloween Lights" which have been alit all month. It's a far cry from the simple Jack-o-lanterns of the past.

And speaking of pumpkins, it is no longer satisfactory to cut simple diamond-shaped mouths, noses and eyes. Pumpkin carving is now an art form requiring a steady hand and hours of patience, of which I possess neither.

I am not a ghoul, but I guess that I just don't get it. But my message to everyone else is: have funand above all be safe.

And please keep an eye out for the kids. It's their night!

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Posted by Richard Weisser - Coweta Fayette Real Estate - Newnan homes for sale on 10/31/2009 07:16 AM

Comments (36)

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Originally posted at: Coweta Fayette Real Estate and Newnan Homes for sale blog by Richard Weisser of ERA United Realty: When did Halloween get to be such a big deal? I guess I just don't get it.

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36 Comments on When did Halloween get to be such a big deal? I guess I just don't get it.

OCT

Some folks get all excited. Interesting your second paragraph...substitute tax money for candy and the same rings true!

Richard. Hate to admit it but I agree. I suppose it's just custom. Trick or Treat is fun for children. However, the Halloween thems of "Treat or Trick" leads to a lot of vandalism and that spectre is always there.

I don't "get it" either.

Gary...

Lol, well, it IS extortion, isn't it? Have a great and safe day my friend.

Since I didn't grow up in the USA, I really don't get it. I have never been trick or treating in my life. However, I see it now as just a fun excuse for the kids to play pretend and show off which kids love to do.

Gary..it has grown and the decorations start the first week of October!!

I don't get it either. Although I have a few fun memories, mostly it is just another night. I don't think I have had a trick or treater for over 15 years. I do have a hay bale on tap just in case one of those pesky cows decides to go out and join the festivities tonight.

I agree with Rich and Lenn but did go a buy my candy for the kids.
If the kids enjoy it I can put up with for one night.
Its the vandalism, smashing pumpkins, hangin TP, that makes it unwanted.

Richard, re the photo - now, that's what you call branding

Hi Richard. My wife is from Europe and there they keep the kids in on Halloween as it is the devils day before all saints day. So it is a day to be feared rather than celebrated

GOOD MORNING RICHARD! Kids in costumes having good clean fun - I'm good with that over the alternatives these days for them. Rewarding it with candy? I think that for many adults, seeing kids smile and being able to give away something so simple is cool for them one day a year! I do agree about carving pumpkins - the competition there is steep! But we still do the triangle eyes and mouth ones! --Gabrielle

Love Halloween. .is another opportunity to be a kid again. . .guys and gals. .you are missing it!

dress up
pretend
scare people
run
eat candy
LAUGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Lenn..

There is ALWAYS an underlying fear ... which I find unsettleing. Thanks.

Stacey-Ann...

Ah, but there is a dark side too! But for now, have fun with the kids! Thanks my friend.

Pat...

I know it. It's too much for me! THX

Andrea...

You gotta keep an eye on those cows! lol and thanks.

Dan...

There is a very dark side to the day that doesn't appeal to me. Thanks so much for the comment.

Janice....

That pumkin was carved by our talented and artistic office manager, Caila Richard! Thanks for noticing.

Richard:

You are right. There is definitely a "dark side" to this holiday and some people can get carried away with that. But, I enjoy seeing the kids dressed up and coming to my door, especially the little ones. I look forward to it. (Maybe because I don't have any.) The problem is that I never get many of them in my neighborhood, but I am definitely ready for them today.

Hi Richard:

It's just a chance for everyone to be silly for a day...

I do enjoy seeing creative costumes and eating chocolate!!

Charlie...

It can be frightening for some cultures. Thanks for sharing.

Gabrielle...

And I'm OK with a day or two ... but a whole month? But I'm also a firm believer in "to each his own" so I'm not against it, it's just not my cup of tea. Thanks so much for the comment.

Fenando...

Then have a fun and safe Halloween my friend! Thanks for the positive response.

Hi Richard,

You are right there is a dark side for some who get carried away. For the majority it's a day to be creative, dress up and be silly and feed that chocolate craving! I love the little ones with their folks in hand dressed up in imaginative costumes! The kids are bright eyed and excited to see those candies drop in their bucket! Love your pumkin and Janice is right to call it great branding!!

Richard, I think the have fun and be safe is great advice. A few of my neighbors are really going all out. I'm going to dinner in Georgetown!

I see that you had a fairly steady hand when it came to carving the pumpkin in the photo. We won't be home this evening so I will need to be careful when it comes time to leave.

Richard: It surprises me that you are not a fan of Halloween. You seem like a festive guy. And it's during your favorite time of year. Very interesting.

Hi Richard. Boo!

Come on. Lighten up a little...

I love your pumpkin, by the way.

Thanks for writing,

Ken

I am a BIG fan and hand out Full-Sized Bars of Sugar (CANDY!). Our house is "marked" (Think: Depression Years) and each year we get more Ghoulish Creatures at the Door. Only a few say anything, let alone the TY exultation. But, I/We still enjoy doing for the KIDS what others did for us many moons ago!

This year we are taping a business card on each side of the 80 bars. Is this Ghoulish, unethical, suave, tasteless, or just good fun and probably the waste of 17 cents x 2 + the 50 cents for the Sugar?

Furthermore, do any of you feel as I and despise the Greeting Card businesses saying "Happy" to all the holidays. "I hope that you and yours have a most Ghoulish Halloween!"

Richard - Halloween is a great time for children. I gladly dole out candy. Somehow I think there should be an age limit or a height restriction on door to door trick or treating. Nice Halloween pumpkin ! Cheers

Wow...

It looks like something has knocked the formatting out of whack!

Richard...I guess if you look at it as just a fun time, you get it. I have heard many of the stories on the meaning, and that bothers me some, but, I look at this as just a fun night fo the kids.

Although, a bit of trick or drink has yeilded some good fun!

Ah, c'mon Richard! Fess up! YOU carved that pumpkin, didn't you? LOL

Debi

One of my posts went out of whack recently too - but went back to right soon after - yours looks fine to me.

I love Halloween. Used to be such fun as kid going to the "cup cake" lady's house. My aunts and uncles that were just a few years older than me used to go with my little brother and I well into their teens. I loved that night where I got to go out with them and feel "grown up" staying out late. I always made great costumes for my daughter. It's a fun holiday. My husband carves great pumpkins too. I posted ours last year and will about dark thirty tonight.

I never thought about it as a kid all I new is the faster I ran the more houses I could get to and the more candy I'd collect. Very simple for me. Now it is about the kids and i do enjoy seeing them all dressed up.

Okay Richard, I popped back over to invite you to visit my blog tonight to see the one beautiful little girl who comes to my door year after year and says Trick or Treat! She's why I get it.

NOV

Bah! Humbug! Oops! Wrong season. The commercialism of holidays to increase the bottom line has really diluted the effectiveness of holidays and diluted their enthusiasm. I used to look forward towards Christmas and Halloween. Today, they are just another day of the year☺☺☺

Helping you live your American dream...

Richard, any holiday that has the potential for retail sales is given maximum advertising exposure and eventually becomes a money maker for those selling the products that go along with it. Though some areas tend to celebrate more than others.

Hey Richard, looks like you have a lively debate going on here! Have mixed emotions about Hallowe'en. Don't want to be the spoiler of kids fun but agree it is the vandalism afterward that we could do without! Thanks for mentioning things are "whacked" here, thought it was our computer!

Hi Richard,

I am not a huge fan of the day either, but am always up for fun for kids, as long as it is good clean fun. What makes me sick is the insanity with the marketing, and everyone thinking their child must look like something off of a hollywood set, done by a makeup artist and wardrobe designer.

I never understood the "threat" side of a prank if you don't give us candy. Somehow for that one day, it became acceptable for kids to toilet paper and "egg" houses... and the adults thought nothing of it... in fact they'd say the following day "boys will be boys"... "you have to give them an outlet to vent"...

really?

I'm 58, and here to tell you that Halloween has always been a big deal in our area. I have numerous fond memories of trick-or-treating as a youngster and carting home what seemed like hundreds of pounds of "candy-goodness" which I promptly stashed under my bed and savored during the long, ensuing Winter months ahead. Today, Halloween is just as big as ever - maybe bigger, as more and more adults get into the spirit through elaborate decoration and personal costuming. Love it!

Richard:

The same thing that has happened here happened in a post of mine a few days ago. Bob Stewart fixed it for me when I pointed it out. It may be that long link that is in comment #22. You may want to try taking it out and it may solve the problem.

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