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| “There is a fine line between mooching and trick-or-treating. Teenagers who walk around the block with no costumes, but claim to be a “teenager” for Halloween: moochers. Those who put much thought into their costumes and then stroll around the block and are under the age of 15: valid trick-or-treaters.” —Enterprise, 2003 |
Halloween Etiquette
Q. — When receiving an invitation to a Halloween party, and the hostess requests one to come in costume, is it necessary to comply ?
A. —Yes; it would be rude not to come in a costume if requested to do so. — By Roberta Lee, 1938
Dear Bessabel: I am a 13-year old boy and am in the eighth grade at school. My problem is that I want to go out “trick or treating” on Halloween night but my parents think I am too old. What do you think? — Haunted Henry
Dear Henry: Sometimes I have to agree with parents and this is one of those times. Why don't you gather your gang and give a Halloween party at your house? You could bob for apples in the bathtub, build a bonfire for weiner roasting on the patio, and give prizes for the craziest costume. This business of growing up can, at times, be a painful process. Especially when we have to give up things like ‘trick or treating,’ the tooth fairy, the Easter Bunny, and Santa Claus. — By Bessabel in Teen Time, 1958
Halloween is for costumed kids, get over it. Those who walk around without costumes should not be awarded the gift of free candy. There is a fine line between mooching and trick-or-treating. Teenagers who walk around the block with no costumes, but claim to be a “teenager” for Halloween: moochers. Those who put much thought into their costumes and then stroll around the block and are under the age of 15: valid trick-or-treaters. If you are old enough to work, you are old enough to share the wealth with those who are younger than you. You are also old enough to buy your own candy. When people run out of candy because of moochers, children go home unhappy. This is the last thing you would want to do to a Halloween-bound child. Then again it could be worse.
It seems that there has been a growing epidemic among houses around town...the “light shut-off.” The amount of dark homes is something to frown upon. It is understandable if one has an ailment or if someone has died, but those are pretty much the only exceptions. In any other case, you must dish out an assortment of candy. Yes, an assortment it's so vanilla to pass out just one type of candy. Then there is candy corn, and other unwrapped goodies. If you do not already know, those are not allowed. Any good parent would throw those out since they are unsafe. So, it does not matter how good your homemade rice krispie treats are, save them for your own kids.
When giving out candy, please do not be a scrooge. By this I mean those who feel that one mini-snicker per child is plenty. I understand that the possibility of running out of candy and being a "light shutter-offer" is a real concern. A bag of assorted Halloween candy usually runs about $3.00, which is not so much to spend when taking in account the purpose: the contentment of our neigh- borhood children. Your neighbors did it for you when you were a teeny trick-or-treater, now is your time to do the same. So step up to the plate and mind your Halloween etiquette! — Editorial in “Experience,” October 2003
How Old is Too Old?
Dear Henry: Sometimes I have to agree with parents and this is one of those times. Why don't you gather your gang and give a Halloween party at your house? You could bob for apples in the bathtub, build a bonfire for weiner roasting on the patio, and give prizes for the craziest costume. This business of growing up can, at times, be a painful process. Especially when we have to give up things like ‘trick or treating,’ the tooth fairy, the Easter Bunny, and Santa Claus. — By Bessabel in Teen Time, 1958
No Masquerade Mooching
Halloween is for costumed kids, get over it. Those who walk around without costumes should not be awarded the gift of free candy. There is a fine line between mooching and trick-or-treating. Teenagers who walk around the block with no costumes, but claim to be a “teenager” for Halloween: moochers. Those who put much thought into their costumes and then stroll around the block and are under the age of 15: valid trick-or-treaters. If you are old enough to work, you are old enough to share the wealth with those who are younger than you. You are also old enough to buy your own candy. When people run out of candy because of moochers, children go home unhappy. This is the last thing you would want to do to a Halloween-bound child. Then again it could be worse.
It seems that there has been a growing epidemic among houses around town...the “light shut-off.” The amount of dark homes is something to frown upon. It is understandable if one has an ailment or if someone has died, but those are pretty much the only exceptions. In any other case, you must dish out an assortment of candy. Yes, an assortment it's so vanilla to pass out just one type of candy. Then there is candy corn, and other unwrapped goodies. If you do not already know, those are not allowed. Any good parent would throw those out since they are unsafe. So, it does not matter how good your homemade rice krispie treats are, save them for your own kids.
When giving out candy, please do not be a scrooge. By this I mean those who feel that one mini-snicker per child is plenty. I understand that the possibility of running out of candy and being a "light shutter-offer" is a real concern. A bag of assorted Halloween candy usually runs about $3.00, which is not so much to spend when taking in account the purpose: the contentment of our neigh- borhood children. Your neighbors did it for you when you were a teeny trick-or-treater, now is your time to do the same. So step up to the plate and mind your Halloween etiquette! — Editorial in “Experience,” October 2003
🍽Etiquette Enthusiast, Maura J. Graber of The RSVP Institute of Etiquette, is the Site Editor for the Etiquipedia© Etiquette Encyclopedia
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