When I was just a little older than Michael, I stopped going trick-or-treating. I figured that when all you can think about is how cold you are and how you can’t wait to get home, it’s time to retire from the practice, so from the age of 13 on, I stayed home and handed out the goodies!
I remember Trick or Treating for UNICEF and a neighbor would say, “Do you want a dime for UNICEF or candy for yourself. You can’t have both”. Can you imagine the dilemma there?
The first year I stayed home I manned the door. It was a presidential election year. Every single little kid – and I’m talking the REAL littles, with their parents standing back from the door – would say, “Trick or Treat; vote for [Carter/Ford]!” It was really very depressing.
I took my baby in a stroller to a few neighbors’ and handed each a little baggie with a graham cracker in it. They put it in his bag and everyone was happy.
My brother was four years younger than I was. remember very well when I was Mike’s age that I used the same excuse to go – I had to take my kid brother – darn the bad luck !
We would go around with the UNICEF collection a day or two before Halloween so we could be 100% sugar driven on the actual holiday. A few adults would shame us for doing it, but most didn’t mind at all.
Mike sounds like some of the 20-somethings that come to our door with their 6-month-old in a ‘costume’. (I still give the candy — it’s worth the laugh).
When I was growing up in Anaheim, the unwritten rule was once we were in Jr. High, the trick or treating stopped. So only the elementary school age kids came to the door. It worked for many years, but by the time we sold Dad’s house after his passing, that rule was long gone and some of the teens who came to the door were downright scary – and I don’t mean their costumes.
Back in the 50’s and 60’s people gave out a lot of apples,oranges,cheap penny candy,even cookies and other homemade treats. Now it’s all chocolate bars and chips from walmart and Costco.Hey,I’m not complaining,it’s just difficult to estimate how much to buy so there will be copious amounts left over for myself afterwards!
I remember the year I had a plastic costume. It was so cute, but I hadn’t thought it through and froze my butt off. Later somebody realized those were flammable and they quit making them.
My son is Michael’s age and having the same dilemma. Now that he’s just about old enough to run around this one night with friends (no adults) and really have fun, he hears he’s too old. He loves candy no less! He would take Michael’s route, but have o deal with his sister.
Where did you get t hat one? UNICEF is an international branch of the United Nations. As such, the trick or treat campaign died out because little children were being traumatized by right wing adults suddenly verbally assaulting them for being “communist agents”, and this was long before 1988 – like 1950s.
legaleagle48 about 8 years ago
When I was just a little older than Michael, I stopped going trick-or-treating. I figured that when all you can think about is how cold you are and how you can’t wait to get home, it’s time to retire from the practice, so from the age of 13 on, I stayed home and handed out the goodies!
Joan32 about 8 years ago
What happened to Unicef collection that older kids did? We would get a roll of dimes to hand out.
dlkrueger33 about 8 years ago
I remember Trick or Treating for UNICEF and a neighbor would say, “Do you want a dime for UNICEF or candy for yourself. You can’t have both”. Can you imagine the dilemma there?
Wren Fahel about 8 years ago
The first year I stayed home I manned the door. It was a presidential election year. Every single little kid – and I’m talking the REAL littles, with their parents standing back from the door – would say, “Trick or Treat; vote for [Carter/Ford]!” It was really very depressing.
MIHorn Premium Member about 8 years ago
One teen came to our door dressed as an ad for his parents’ pizza place. We get our pizza there now.
Grutzi about 8 years ago
I took my baby in a stroller to a few neighbors’ and handed each a little baggie with a graham cracker in it. They put it in his bag and everyone was happy.
Linguist about 8 years ago
My brother was four years younger than I was. remember very well when I was Mike’s age that I used the same excuse to go – I had to take my kid brother – darn the bad luck !
I Go Pogo about 8 years ago
We would go around with the UNICEF collection a day or two before Halloween so we could be 100% sugar driven on the actual holiday. A few adults would shame us for doing it, but most didn’t mind at all.
sbwertz about 8 years ago
I had a brother six years younger than I and we lived in a rural area, so I took him trick or treating well into my teens.
Fido (aka Felix Rex) about 8 years ago
Mike sounds like some of the 20-somethings that come to our door with their 6-month-old in a ‘costume’. (I still give the candy — it’s worth the laugh).
JanLC about 8 years ago
When I was growing up in Anaheim, the unwritten rule was once we were in Jr. High, the trick or treating stopped. So only the elementary school age kids came to the door. It worked for many years, but by the time we sold Dad’s house after his passing, that rule was long gone and some of the teens who came to the door were downright scary – and I don’t mean their costumes.
Night-Gaunt49[Bozo is Boffo] about 8 years ago
Stopped trick or treating, though I don’t recall how old I was. I stopped when I went to high school.
Alphaomega about 8 years ago
Back in the 50’s and 60’s people gave out a lot of apples,oranges,cheap penny candy,even cookies and other homemade treats. Now it’s all chocolate bars and chips from walmart and Costco.Hey,I’m not complaining,it’s just difficult to estimate how much to buy so there will be copious amounts left over for myself afterwards!
LuvThemPluggers about 8 years ago
I remember the year I had a plastic costume. It was so cute, but I hadn’t thought it through and froze my butt off. Later somebody realized those were flammable and they quit making them.
masnadies about 8 years ago
My son is Michael’s age and having the same dilemma. Now that he’s just about old enough to run around this one night with friends (no adults) and really have fun, he hears he’s too old. He loves candy no less! He would take Michael’s route, but have o deal with his sister.
hippogriff about 8 years ago
USN1977
Where did you get t hat one? UNICEF is an international branch of the United Nations. As such, the trick or treat campaign died out because little children were being traumatized by right wing adults suddenly verbally assaulting them for being “communist agents”, and this was long before 1988 – like 1950s.