When black cats prowl and pumpkins gleam, may luck be yours on Halloween. Unknown
One of the days I especially miss being with my grandchildren is Halloween. When I lived nearby, I attended the school costume parade and went trick or treating with my daughter’s family. Even when my toes froze, I loved being part of the excitement.
My kids won’t let me forget that, as a health-conscious young mother, one year I gave out nickels and another toothbrushes to Trick or Treaters. Most years I acquiesced and gave out candy. However, after my three kids sorted their candy, their favorite part, I offered them a wrapped gift in exchange for their loot. They could freely keep the candy or accept the gift. They always chose the gift—a big box of crayons or a small toy. Although they loved the sorting, the candy didn’t have much of an allure for them.
In ancient times, it was believed the souls of those who had died returned to visit their homes, and those who had died during the year journeyed to the otherworld on Halloween. Masks were worn to avoid being recognized by ghosts and it is in those ways that witches, hobgoblins, fairies and demons became associated with the day. Now, it is a day of fun for children and adults.
Trick or Treat??
Affirmation: Memories and traditions are special.
Coaching questions: What traditions do you enjoy? How did you celebrate Halloween as a child or with your children?
This is my granddaughter, Marcella, dressed up as a taco for halloween this year.
Life after losing a mother 
We lived out in the country but in a row of houses that were built right after WWII. So every child in the township came to our row of houses to trick or treat because they didn’t have to walk miles from farm to farm to get treats. It was the days of home-made treats such as popcorn balls or taffy apples. We would go out to gather our treats and bring them home. If there had been more beggers at the door then mother had prepared for, she would harvest our loot and re-distribute the bounty. But we would travel miles beyond our row of houses to the farms in the county walking up long lanes to houses that didn’t answer their doors. But it was always fun.
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What a great story! I used to re-distribute my kids’ candy also. As a kid, I used to Trick or Treat for UNICEF. It worked for me because I didn’t care about candy.
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