h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I'm in the United States, and we usually play Halloween. When I say play, most people who want to join the game put decorations outside their houses (a carved pumpkin or even a cut-out paper pumpkin will do) to let costumed kiddies know that you'll hand out candy if they come to the door. People who don't want to play don't turn on a porch light or decorate.

When I was a child, we dressed up and went trick-or-treating in the neighborhood. Later I felt too old for it. Still later in college my friends and I had costume parties. Now it is our turn to pass out the candy.

And I rather enjoy it. The parents stand back and send their children up to the door, coach them to say "Thank you" when I drop a candy in their sack. Then I say "Happy Halloween" and they say "Happy Halloween". When it gets late, I bring in the pumpkin, turn out the light, and go to bed.

Sometimes I have had to work Halloween night. I left a bowl of candy outside the front door once. The other times I just left the place dark and undecorated. I've never had a problem.

I've read the comments posted in the other threads, and am a little surprised. I would never think to hand out money, and I can't remember ever receiving money as a child. I think I would have remembered that. The idea of Mischief Night seems a lot like ritualised vandalism. I never played tricks on anyone. I can only remember one occasion when a trick was played on us, that was when I was a child, and the boy's father made him come over to clean the mess off our windows before letting him back in the house.

There are other little games for older children, like bobbing for apples, telling ghost stories and watching scary movies.

That does sound like my world, in souther Ontario. As a youth, 'Trick or Treating' was great fun in our small village, and nearly every house had something to give to us 'scarey' little ghoulies, witches and hobos. Of course, wearing some of Dad's work clothes, and some dirt on the face, was the simplest costume to round up. The most common treats were oranges, apples, caramel popcorn balls, candied or caramelled apples, and yes ... even the occassional house that was unprepared dropped pennies in our bags. Trickes were very rare, and that was only on the home of the village curmudgeon. Usually bars of soap, scribbling on windows. Easily washed off in the light of day, and always by some neighborhood kids.

For over 20 years now, being married and without children, it's our turn to give. Our house is literally situated between 2 streets, and so we have to man both front and back doors. And we absolutely love it, seeing the littlies in their costumes and having so much fun. My wife and I have happily noted that anyone under an obvious 13 or 14 years of age, there is always one or more adults with them. This week, we gave out chips and mini candy bars to 120 costumed folks, and this was on a night where there is also a community sponsored "Boo-Fest" party for all age groups.