One thing that’s interesting about modern Halloween is who gives out the candy and who collects it.

In my family we’ve always had two parents. One to take the little ones out collecting candy, the other stays home to give out candy to all the neighbourhood kids. On our street we knew which houses were retired couples, childless couples and etc, those who had no kids to go out trick or treating (candy collecting). Most childless families did not stay home and give out candy. That seemed fair enough since they weren’t collecting any back. Of course, there were some exceptions. One neighbour loved to scare the piss out of all the kids. He set up elaborate Halloween displays on his lawn and made us sing for our candy.

However, now, there seem to be fewer people who are staying home to give out candy, yet just as many out to collect it. Some people are single parents, one parent can’t be in both places – giving out candy and collecting it with the kids. Others who might have stayed home choose not to- some just don’t want to bother, some don’t want to spend the money on Halloween candy. Whatever the reasons are, some people choose not to participate.

But, I think if you have kids out collecting candy you are responsible for keeping Halloween (the candy part) balanced. Myself, I am a divorced woman without children. No one is collecting candy so I feel no guilt about not staying home to give it out. (I used to do so but our old street had a total of three groups of kids come to the door, I outgrew the candy project).

On the other hand, my sister has three kids (two are candy aged). She and her husband have sorted out which of them will stay home and which will take the kids out. My sister is staying home the first half, to hand out candy. Later she will take out the older kid for more streets in the candy collecting route while her husband stays home to put the kids to bed and mind the candy distribution project. I thought I would go down to assist, for part of the night, at least till I’m not in danger of encountering trick or treaters on my drive home.

Anyway, I don’t think it’s right for there to be families who are not taking and giving. Even if you have to get a relative to do it, someone should be balancing the candy collecting with candy giving. Otherwise, who will the kids collect candy from? Eventually, there will be hoards of trick or treaters wandering the streets with all the houses unlit and uncandied. Madness will ensue, dentists will go bankrupt.

Save the candy! Keep the supply and demand balanced. If you’re a single parent bribe your relatives to hand out candy on your behalf. Don’t just take those candy crunchers out door to door, give something back to the candy mobs.

After all… it’s called TRICK or treat for a reason!