The Halloween I fondly recall was straightforward, delightful, and filled with joy — a time when all you needed was a costume and a bag for candy. I can still smell the cheap, synthetic scent of those drugstore masks. I remember sprinting through the neighborhood, struggling to breathe behind the “made in China” mask, surrounded by who knows what kinds of chemicals. That overwhelming scent clung to me as I rushed from house to house, holding tightly to my plastic orange pumpkin, its flimsy handle having broken off long before I could collect my tenth Tootsie Pop.
My mother wasn’t particularly crafty, and I’m not either. The difference is that she didn’t have Pinterest to inform her of the “correct” way to celebrate Halloween. One year, however, she decided it would be fun to create a homemade costume for me. For reasons unknown, she chose a peacock theme. What fourth-grade girl, slightly self-conscious and a bit pudgy, wants to don a leotard adorned with a riot of colorful feathers? That year, my mother glued on what felt like a thousand feathers to a leotard.
As I paraded through school, those feathers began to shed alarmingly fast, and I ended up with a plastic bag to collect them as I molted everywhere. Yet, despite the chaos, it was a blast. Halloween was simply fun. As a child, the combination of costumes and candy was magical. Fast forward to today, and Martha Stewart, Heidi Klum, and Pinterest have redefined Halloween.
Halloween Then:
- Costumes: Between October 20th and 25th, your mom would ask what you wanted to be for Halloween. The options were limited to a witch hat and black dress, a simple sheet with eye holes, or a quick trip to the drugstore to find a costume on sale.
- Candy: While at the drugstore, she would grab a few bags of candy. On Halloween night, she’d toss it all into a large kitchen pot to serve to trick-or-treaters.
- School Parade: When the school Halloween parade rolled around, she’d drop you off, relieved that the teachers would manage the chaos of energetic kids in costumes, hyped up on sweets.
- Pumpkin Carving: Carving pumpkins meant a trip to the local grocery store for a couple of pumpkins, a sharp kitchen knife, and some candles scavenged from the junk drawer.
- Decorations: Decorating for Halloween consisted of hanging sparkly witches and skeletons bought from the drugstore alongside candy and costumes.
- Dinner Before Treating: On the way home, she’d swing through the drive-thru at McDonald’s for something “healthy” before you overindulged in candy.
- Trick-or-Treating: If you were older than seven, she’d send you out with friends to trick-or-treat, trusting the neighbors and knowing you wouldn’t get into too much trouble.
- Candy Protocol: Apples were tossed away because of urban legends about razor blades hidden inside. The mantra was “just eat the candy, kids.”
- Parents’ Role: While the kids were out, mom and dad handed out candy, kicking back with drinks and snacks, enjoying the sight of ghosts, witches, and the occasional creative costume.
- Candy Frenzy: Upon returning home, you and your siblings would gorge yourselves on as much candy as you could fit into your pillowcases or plastic pumpkins.
- Photography: A few Polaroids captured those moments.
Halloween Now:
- Costume Planning: Moms now ask their kids what they want to dress as in the spring to ensure they can capture the essence of the latest blockbuster kids’ movies. No one wants a mismatched Elsa, after all. Pinterest boards are created well in advance.
- Candy Supply: Moms now hit Target early in the school year to secure the best candy for trick-or-treaters, with extra points for non-GMO snacks.
- Crafting Supplies: They often follow up a Target trip with a visit to Michael’s to buy decorative baskets and seasonal items to enhance their candy-giving setup.
- Costume Accessories: In July, moms comb through catalogs, selecting elaborate “Wishworks” costumes, complete with flying wings and stylish roller skates, ensuring there’s a backup costume for Halloween night photos, just in case.
- Professional Makeup: Once costumes are finalized, they book a face painter to ensure the makeup perfectly matches the costume, scheduling sessions for both the school parade and Halloween night.
- Sustenance for Treating: Moms plan elaborate neighborhood potlucks, serving organic chili, homemade cornbread, and garden-fresh salads to keep the kids fueled for trick-or-treating, often with two adults supervising each child.
- Trick-or-Treat Containers: Monogrammed, glow-in-the-dark totes are ordered from high-end retailers by August 1st to avoid sell-outs.
- Halloween Decor: While kids are in school, moms fill baskets with decorative gourds and seasonal accents from local nurseries.
- Pumpkin Events: Pumpkin carving transforms into an event, complete with specialized tools from upscale stores, and meals like pumpkin soup and spiced seeds accompany the activity.
- School Celebrations: Moms attend school socials, baking gluten-free, organic cookies for bake sales and bringing apple slices instead of candy, as sweets are banned.
- Photography Mania: Every costume is meticulously photographed for various social media accounts, ensuring no detail goes undocumented.
- Candy Control: After trick-or-treating, mom takes all candy bags and allows only one piece per day, keeping sugar intake to a minimum.
Happy Halloween!
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In summary, Halloween has transformed from a simple day of costumes and candy into a meticulously planned event that reflects modern parenting trends, with a focus on authenticity, health, and creativity.