I sure remember loving Halloween when I was a kid. I loved figuring out my costume and carving a scary pumpkin.I had no clue of the roots of this holiday, and I bet that’s the case for most kids today. Of course I loved being able to run around the neighborhood with friends, stopping at every house to add to a growing bag of candy. It was rare for a house to be dark – as in no one was home – so we would not ring the front door bell, and yell “trick or treat!” there.

In the past, I have been that person who answers the door and puts a handful of good candy into childrens’ bags. But now, I don’t get many trick-or-treaters where I live, but even if I am home, I confess I don’t answer the door. Am I a bah humbug of Halloween? I suppose you could say that.

Contrary to the stereotype that the childfree just don’t like kids, it’s not because I don’t want to see kids, or see them dressed up in costumes. I do – I especially appreciate seeing a creative costume and giving kudos to the kids who came up with them.

What I have a tough time condoning is participating in kids getting gobs of candy. According to a 2011 TIME article, “Now that’s Creepy: Americans Will Blow 7 Billion On Halloween” the National Retail Federation indicates that of the almost 7 billion dollars that will be spent for Halloween, 2 billion of it will be on candy. What do you think that number is in 2018? 2.6 billion.

And there is more recent talk about how kids are starting to agree that they eat too much candy around this holiday. What would they like instead? A gift  – like a video game.  So they want Halloween to become more of a gift giving holiday? Sounds like wanting  Christmas #2 – or a “Creepy Christmas” to me!  I won’t be in on that either.

To the childfree out there, how do you do Halloween when it comes to the trick-or-treaters and why?

Updated from 2018 post

Pin It on Pinterest