Yes, it's true: we were the first generation to go "trick or treating" so, in essence, Boomers (and our parents) invented Halloween traditions as we know them.
And we know how to do Halloween right.
Kids, that means if you want a fistful of good, un-nutritious candy instead of kale (yep, a woman in VT is dispensing it), an apple, or rice cakes (in our neighborhood, whoever dispensed apples was off the next year's tour list - & luckily rice cakes hadn't been invented yet), you must go to the homes of the people who know what Halloween is all about – Boomers.
But, before I go on about how Halloweeny we are, let's get in the holiday mood with a well written/quite the chuckle recount of how it all began, from columnist Michael Howlett:
"Halloween originated in Ireland and was called Hallow E’en, or All Hollows Eve among the sober people. But, who are we kidding...we’re talking Ireland; there are no sober people...
Folk lore has it that during this pagan holiday the veil between the living and the world of the dead was (veeerry) thin... Because of this, the dead just walked right through the veil to visit the living, which was more thrilling for the dead than the living, who would hide under their beds chugging whiskey.
"Halloween originated in Ireland and was called Hallow E’en, or All Hollows Eve among the sober people. But, who are we kidding...we’re talking Ireland; there are no sober people...
Folk lore has it that during this pagan holiday the veil between the living and the world of the dead was (veeerry) thin... Because of this, the dead just walked right through the veil to visit the living, which was more thrilling for the dead than the living, who would hide under their beds chugging whiskey.
However, that didn’t stop the dead from a-knockin’ so the Irish decided to try something different. In their drunken state, they ascertained that leaving food and candies for the dead would appease them, and prevent them from making scary noises and performing some nasty tricks, such as cutting off the head of the family horse.
Just in case being nice didn’t work, the frightened people would carve out turnips and rutabagas, and place embers in them to ward off the evil spirits, who would often laugh and joke a great deal before eating the family dog.
The Roman Catholic Church got a little fed up with all this foolishness and created All Saints Day, also called Hallomas, on Nov. 1 and All Souls Day on Nov. 2 in an effort to get rid of this Hallow E’en craziness. However, it didn’t work and the Druid Holiday is bigger now than it has ever been."
Just in case being nice didn’t work, the frightened people would carve out turnips and rutabagas, and place embers in them to ward off the evil spirits, who would often laugh and joke a great deal before eating the family dog.
The Roman Catholic Church got a little fed up with all this foolishness and created All Saints Day, also called Hallomas, on Nov. 1 and All Souls Day on Nov. 2 in an effort to get rid of this Hallow E’en craziness. However, it didn’t work and the Druid Holiday is bigger now than it has ever been."
And in America, Boomers' influence keeps its popularity intact because we love Halloween. A study by the National Confectioners Association (NCA) shows that people aged 60+ are most likely to hand out candy on the big night. It also shows that we’ve got plenty of candy on hand. Only 37% of Boomers report running out of treats, vs. half of the general population. Groovy
So...given that we were the first generation of trick-or-treaters, we are the first generation of grandparents who have trick-or-treated ourselves. Of course, the NCA study gives another reason Boomer abodes are the best place for good treats: we're also most likely to be home. While 51% of the 18-to-29 year olds will most likely be attending a Halloween party, only 14% of the 60+ generation will be partying away from home.
So to all those out kids who get their trick-or-treat bags full to the brim of all the good stuff, we Boomers gladly say, “You’re welcome!”
You have been boo-fficially alerted....
PS: If you want to hand out candy made in America, go with:
So...given that we were the first generation of trick-or-treaters, we are the first generation of grandparents who have trick-or-treated ourselves. Of course, the NCA study gives another reason Boomer abodes are the best place for good treats: we're also most likely to be home. While 51% of the 18-to-29 year olds will most likely be attending a Halloween party, only 14% of the 60+ generation will be partying away from home.
So to all those out kids who get their trick-or-treat bags full to the brim of all the good stuff, we Boomers gladly say, “You’re welcome!”
You have been boo-fficially alerted....
PS: If you want to hand out candy made in America, go with:
- Mike & Ike's,
- Tootsie Rolls,
- all Hershey's products,
- Butter Fingers,
- DOTS,
- Jelly Belly's & Jelly Belly's Candy Corn, and
- Dum Dum pops.
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