Happy Haunting!

As we prepare for another Halloween, let's look at how the holiday has changed over the years.

Trick or treating really became widespread in the United States in the 1950's.  Kids were as likely to get coins, nuts, fruit, or drinks of Kool-Aid as they were candy.  Once the candy companies realized the fortune to be made, kids could expect taffy, atomic fireballs, chewing gum, and mini Baby Ruth, Butterfinger, and Milky Way bars.  Popular costumes included skeletons, witches, ghosts, cowboys and TV characters like Zorro and Superman.  In the 1970’s and 1980’s came fears of their kids being poisoned or fed razors hidden in the treats they received.  These decades also saw Halloween beginning to become a huge celebration for adults as well as kids, trailing only New Years Eve as the largest adult party night in the United States.  Alternative trick or treating options became available, like events in churches and malls.  Halloween celebrations today combine many of those factors, and the choice of costumes ranges from political and historical figures to outrages designs meant to shock or amuse.  Halloween is also the source of many scary movies.  "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown" is my favorite.  Let's remember that the holiday is all about fun and keeping the little child inside us alive.  Have a great time and remember to keep the kids safe!