I LOVE Halloween. The Sax household always gives out good candy and we stay open as long as the trick-or-treaters continue knocking on our door. We don’t care how old the little ghosts or goblins are. Everyone is welcome.
I grew up as one of six kids. We were dirt poor. We didn’t eat every day and we didn’t have running water. Yes, in rural Canada and U.S.A., there are still homes with outhouses. We lived in one of these homes.
Halloween was a magical time for us. We’d spend months making our costumes. Once we made Native American costumes out of burlap sacks, sewing each hoarded bead on by hand, plucking feathers from our chickens for our headdresses.
Pumpkins for our Jack O’lanterns would be chosen from our own patch. Each of us would design a part of the face. I might have the honor of designing the left eye of the Jack O’lantern or two of his teeth. The seeds would be dried, salted and roasted for a delicious treat.
On Halloween, we’d rush home from school, grab our pillowcases, and trek to the neighbor’s house. We lived in the country so there were miles between houses. The poor farmers would give us apples. The rich farmers would give us full sized chocolate bars or cans of soda. We’d stay out as long as we could because this was our candy for the year.
My parents charged a ‘tax’ on Halloween candy (because they didn’t have money for candy either). Ten percent of all candy collected went to my mom and dad.
In our northern community, Halloween is a social day. Trick-or-treating is a way for neighbors to visit neighbors. One parent would stay at home and give out treats. One parent would walk with the kids and visit with neighbors. When the little kids grew tired, the seniors would dress up and take their place. There was always a pot of coffee brewing for the adult trick-or-treaters. There was no worrying about the safety of candy because we knew everyone we received candy from.
Now that I live in the big city, I give out packaged candy and buy my pumpkin. However, I continue the tradition of greeting and meeting my neighbors, being part of this wonderful community event.
Almond Joy is one of my favorite chocolate bars.
