Halloween approaches. We do not observe it, but I read an article earlier today from Fortune magazine about the giving of candy. It got my dander up, made my hackles rise, and other expressions of displeasure.
Here it is if you want to give it a go.
I can't explain why but for some reason it made me absolutely furious.
To me, it had a Marie-Antoinette-like "Let them eat cake" air about it.
It might as well have been written by a dentist. It definitely was written by someone with more money than he or she knows what to do with.
Am I over-reacting? Tell me what you think.
Or just call me Scrooge and get it over with.
I did not get the same message that I think you got.It seemed to me that the article was saying that neighbors were trying to out-so each other by giving out bigger and sometimes pricier candy. Of course children will stop at those houses. Most of us take advantage of a good deal. As far as giving out candy I do because I truly enjoy it. The size or amount depends on the number of children I expect.
ReplyDeleteI'm late with my replying and there's really no excuse. Thank you, Emma. We didn't have a single trick-or-treater as the night was cold and rainy.
DeleteI have never been one to keep up with the Joneses, so I don't care what size candy the neighbors give out. We hardly ever have trick or treaters, but I buy a few fun size bags to enjoy, fewer calories for me. ;)
ReplyDeleteI'm late with my replying and there's really no excuse. Keeping up with the Joneses gives people ulcers. We didn't have a single trick-or-treater this year because of the cold and the rain.
DeleteI am with Emma.
ReplyDeleteWe are most unlikely to get more than one or perhaps two 'trick or treaters' here. They will (if they are lucky and there is some in the house) receive a small treat. Keeping up with the Jones is low on my list at the best of times, and Halloween doesn't enter the equation.
I'm late with my replying and there's really no excuse. I apologize or apologise (choose preferred spelling). Halloween this year was cold and rainy and not a single trick-or-treater showed up at our door.
DeleteMost of our neighborhood has gotten older like us so we don't get many trick or treaters. When we did I bought small treats but handed out more than one. I never cared what the neighbors gave out. We did what we could afford.
ReplyDeleteSince we get fewer kids now last year we did something different. I made up small "goody bags" for a few nearby children and we went to their houses to hand them out early. Then we went out to eat and came home later.
Bonnie, our neighborhood has gotten older as well but there are still a few children about. The swimming pool at the front of the subdivision is full of them during the summer months. However, not a single trick-or-treater showed up as the night was cold and rainy.
DeleteI am very late with my replying and I apologize for the delay to one and all.
We've played along for years (little gifts not full sized bars) but this year we'll be at the back with no lights showing. Don't know why we imported this custom from you anyway. In my day we only had mischief night on Nov 4th - all tricks, no treats.
ReplyDeleteTasker, I'm very late with my replying and I apologize/apologise. It's November already. Who would have thunk?
DeleteNot many Americans know about Guy Fawkes, whom I noticed you didn't mention by name.
Halloween. Different things to different people. The name of the magazine says it all. There seems to be a lot of one upmanship going on here and quite the seasonal boost to the profits of chocolate and sweet (you can immediately pick I'm not American, I didn't use the word candy) manufacturers.
ReplyDeleteI see it as the people about whom the article is written having more money than they know what to do with, rather than the writer of the article.
Anyway, an interesting read.
My thoughts on Halloween. Bah, humbug.
Alphie
Thanks for you comment, Alphie! I'm very late in replying; it's November already. We didn't have a single trick-or-treater this year as the night was cold and rainy.
DeleteI am boggled at the phenomenon full stop. But then I am from New Zealand. We all know how bad sugar is since 'That Sugar Movie' ... but that to one side, my issue is with profit-greedy consumerism. And plastic. Say no to buying ANYTHING you don't need. And say no to buying things you DO need if it's wrapped in something that is not recyclable or compostable.
ReplyDeleteI am always excited to see a comment from the great Katherine de Chevalle (a.k.a. Kate). Sugar, plastic, and consumerism -- an unholy trinity if there ever was one.
DeleteOver here we call it begging, really. That's what I was taught as a child, 'you don't go begging', you can go carol singing from door to door and sing about Jesus and Christmas and get ten pence or a Christmas cracker because you're actually gifting something yourself. I completely agree with this and aware I sound grumpy for it. As time has passed children no longer make much of an effort anyway I've noted, and, believe it or not, they expect cash, not sweets or 'candy' and if you shut the door on them saying 'no thank you' they may well egg your house or let your tyres down. I don't answer the door at all on Hallows Eve. The kids these days all all fat enough.
ReplyDelete