November's not a bad month. That is, if you don't mind cold and rain and Christmas carols playing in every single store you step into. Right?
We usually get about 65 trick-or-treaters on Halloween. Plus or minus 10, say. Last year, I think we had close to 80. This year? 27. I've talked to friends around here and they experienced the same drop in the numbers of candy-begging urchins. I'm wondering whether this phenomenon is confined to my little corner of the world, or if it is more widespread. Did the number of trick-or-treaters at your door drop considerably this year?
And do you think the drop in numbers was caused by the election? Maybe the McCain campaign, with all its talk of "spreading the wealth" being the same as socialism, discouraged people from participating in spreading the candy around. Or perhaps the Obama campaign's emphasis on change confused people and made them think that it was time to change our Halloween customs.
And for those of you who are thinking, "Hey, Suburban Correspondent, election campaigns have nothing whatsoever to do with Halloween!" - well, I urge you to check out this article, sent to me by the Hotfessional. The sentence about the "crying children" cracks me up every single time.
We usually have 40 or so.
ReplyDeleteLast night? Seven.
There was about 1/4 of the trick or treaters out. We didn't see hardly the numbers we normally see. I wonder why. There wasn't alot of houses giving out candy either.
ReplyDeleteI know it's weird. We didn't hand out candy because we were out but there were many houses with lights out! I just don't get it!
ReplyDeleteWe had a few more than usual. We handed out a five pound bag of fun size chocolate bars. (but we probably ate about a pound or so of it ourselves)
ReplyDeleteEvery year we have people that don't live around here drive into our neighborhood and drop their kids off to go trick-or-treating. Some of our neighbors give really good treats.
Plus it was perfect weather.
We usually have a small handful regardless because we're at the busy end of the main road into/out of our neighborhood. I can count on one or two hands the visitors at the door. I can safely leave a bowl out and come back to candy still in it. While we were out being urchins, we also saw fewer houses catering to the mooching. I suspect that it was a multi-faceted thing. Halloween fell on a Friday this year so probably high school football games etc, lots of churches in our area had an "alternative" activity (festivals, trunk-or-treat, etc) and here locally was a huge annual college rivalry football game requiring pre-game tailgating. However, in our case, our neighbors gave out the good candy. We got just a small handful of what I'd consider "junk" candy (it's all junk by definition, but I'd be willing to steal 99.9999% of it from my kids)
ReplyDeleteI read that article yesterday and thought about sending it to you too! That woman was a real live witch!
ReplyDeleteThe article is too funny...or sad. No, definitely funny. People are interesting!
ReplyDeleteWe actually imported trick-or-treaters this year. Every year, we drive a trailer around pulled by an ATV, loaded with neighbors and homeschooling friends. What a hoot! This year, the moms sat in the back on a couch and chairs just like we were on a parade float. Now, that's the way to get candy!
ReplyDeleteWe only had 2 groups of kids-Our next door neighbors and the kids from the end of the street. So 4 kids total. Thats, okay-I bought the mini candy bars this year, only the kinds we like. The kids finished them yesterday.
ReplyDeletewell in my area it's because so many churches and malls and such have sponsored trick-or-treating that most people go to those. I got 4 myself, and only because I caught them on their way downtown.
ReplyDeleteWhat is up with that? I was at a large box store last night and they were playing christmas carols. I am not ready for this before Thanksgiving!
ReplyDeleteMy theory is that because it was a Friday night more people had parties and that's where the kids were.
ReplyDeleteGrilling toddlers about their political affiliations? Now why didn't I think of that?
My usual 300 or so? Maybe 150. I did notice several of my neighbors that used to had out candy were not doing it this year. Maybe people saw too few lights and decided it wasn't worth it to stop for 3 houses. I live in a very busy neighborhood and am shocked. This is the first year I've EVER had leftover candy. I usually run out.
ReplyDeleteWe had fewer trick-or-treators as well. I am guessing that it had to do with Halloween being on a Friday, and having to compete with High School Football.
ReplyDeleteWe never have any trick-or-treaters. I left out a bowl of candy with a sign asking folks not to ring the bell (new baby), just in case, but nobody came, just like usual. We live on a dark twisty country road, down which cars go way too fast, and although the houses are clustered, the clusters aren't that close together. We drive our kids to a nice little street not too far away, and every year I second guess my decision not to live in a typical neighborhood.
ReplyDeleteWe always go Trick or Treat at the local university. Because of our warm climate, the dorms are built like motels -- with the catwalks around the outside -- and the faculty/staff donate candy for the students to hand out. It's really fun, and you KNOW WHEN YOU'RE FINISHED. No more, "One more house, Pleeeeeeeeze?" (Problem? The Husband is usually recognized by a student just as my kid starts screaming!)
ReplyDeleteBut maybe it has something to do with the daylight. Didn't the time change before Halloween last year?
We had three, not including the family friends who were here to trick or treat our neighborhood. BUT, it seems the neighborhood didn't want us to visit this year as only about FIVE houses were actually handing out candy. Apparently around here, the recession has indeed, taken its toll.
ReplyDeleteLawd a' mercy we have too much leftover candy.
ReplyDeleteWe have a Halloween tradition to go to Chuck E. Cheese with the kids. I don't know at all how it was in our neighborhood but last year, due to our baby being premature and only a month old at Halloween, we stayed home and let the kids hand out candy. Although it was pretty busy, it was nothing like the first few years we lived here. We've never been home during the "witching hours" but have gotten home to the streets CRAWLING with little haunters. Last year wasn't like that but could be due to our neighborhood of young families growing up. When we moved here, our neighborhood was only a few years old with almost all young families.
ReplyDeleteI have one word for you FORCLOSURE. I live in Az where the "for sale" sign is the state bird. there is one in every other yard. We didn't even bother to give out candy this year we carried it with us and gave it out on the way.
ReplyDelete(ps I'm voting for the bay killing socialist as well, did you also know he is a maxist terrorist?) (I have loved jon stewart since 1993)
We had about 500. That is normal here in Japan. Some of the houses we hit had long lines. The kids will sure miss Trick or Treating here that is for sure!
ReplyDeleteSabrinaT
www.thirdculturekidsrmine.blogspot.com
We had at best half the kids trick-or-treating as usual. I thought maybe it was due to ToT starting late (no one starts around here until dusk), but no one showed up late either. I always turn off the light at 8:30, but every other year we've gotten a bunch of kids after that. Too much candy left over - I like to have some, but not 2-3 bags worth!
ReplyDeleteI've, um, never really counted the number of trick-or-treaters....let's see, I would classify this year's T-or-T population as consistent, large in numbers and blessedly light on the 5 o'clock shadow, high school junior herd wearing a cast of sheet as a costume and grabbing at my candy. We passed out a ton of candy and my kiddos got a ton of candy.
ReplyDeleteSo there is the data....consistent population, heavy traffic, appropriate age demographic and tons of candy.
Hope this helps.
Blessings!
Everyone on our street prepares for 200 - 300 kids (I am not joking...I just posted about it!).
ReplyDeleteThis Halloween we only had 200. It wasn't QUITE as wild as usual. But, we think it was just because all the towns scheduled it at the same time this year. Usually, we have kids practically bussed in.
I bet there were no crying children . . . they were walking away with plans to egg her house.
ReplyDeleteWow - seriously? Because that's so just - here, let me deny you for something you have no control over. like a parent is going to change her vote because her child doesn't get candy from a wacko - she'll go to Costco and buy the child a whole damn bag.
ReplyDeleteThis is so why I hate politics.
Well, our doorbell rang twice. I know we didn't miss any while we were out because our block isn't that big!! However, this has been the norm for us for the past couple of years. A church down the road does a GIGANTIC 'Trunk or Treat' with inflatable bouncy things, etc. You actually have to buy a wristband in advance. Around here (midwest) Halloween has been in decline since I was a kid. It's fallout from all the Bible thumping. My kids did well because everyone passes out large handfuls of candy these days since there are fewer trick or treaters...
ReplyDeleteThat story is CRAZAY! Some people will use ANY excuse to keep the candy to themselves. Sheesh.
ReplyDeleteI saw tons of kids--but we had mild weather helping.
I gave out 60 snack sized bags of microwave popcorn, 126 bags of teddy grahams, and 20 little thingees of playdoh. Yes, I am one of 'those' moms that gives out relatively healthy crap...but with that many kids coming around, figured I would break the mold. Or cavity count.
ReplyDeleteOur neighborhood is dark: no sidewalks, no street lights, no trick-or-treaters. (Not too many kiddos, either)
ReplyDeleteWe T&T'ed in a friend's neighborhood instead. The weather was mild, the haul was good.
But my oldest went out selling fundraiser wreaths & poinsettias yesterday. A few people said "Not this year." I totally get it. Others bought less than we expected. Luckily, we hit up a different friend's neighborhood, so my ds is earning more for his band trip than he did last year.
Last year we bought eight bags of candy and still had to go back to the store. This year we got by with five. Not sure what's up.
ReplyDeleteMy number of kids went up this year. I actually had one child show up! Can you believe it? I almost didn't answer the door. Thank god I had some candy to give him.
ReplyDeleteWe had a healthy turnout! We live in a neighborhood that other people drive to in order to trick or treat -- not because it's a wealthy neighborhood, but because it's a middle-class, relatively safe one compared to the gun-riddled 'hood across the freeway. Lovely.
ReplyDeleteWe decided to tally this year: 68. It felt about normal.
ReplyDelete~Luke
We had no trick or treaters and last year we had some.
ReplyDeleteDoes it matter that last year we were in an American suburb and this year we're in the capital of Morocco? I don't want to screw up your scientific survey here.
You would think with the ecinomic crisis that you would have more urchins on your doorstep.
ReplyDelete" Mom, what's for dinner?"
"Tonight we are having smarties with recess peanut butter cups."
It is a good way to increase the food in your home.
We are never home, we go to my parents so I have no idea how many there were around here.