Trick-or-Treating is Not for Cars
A healthy community holiday includes thinking of other people's children.
Dear Friends,
One of the most wonderful things about an old-fashioned Halloween is that it is a community holiday. Trick-or-treating is one of the last traditions of neighborhood togetherness that Americans have. It is, in fact, arguably the last one that is widely-practiced.
When people engage in Halloween decorating and celebration with that in mind, this holiday based on poking fun at evil and removing its power overflows with goodwill and kindness, especially towards neighborhood children.
But what happens when some adults stop thinking about other people?
That’s when true danger comes into play. And by danger, I mean cars.
Read more in my essay at Let Grow today:
“Stop Trailing Your Trick-or-Treaters by Car”
What do you think about Halloween, community, and risk? Does this happen in your neighborhood?
Take care,
The closest town to us goes all out for Halloween-- in a good way. Everyone is out and chatting for blocks and blocks. We live in the Northeast so the weather and carpet of crunchy leaves are just perfect too.
You are right that Halloween appears to be the last remaining neighbourhood tradition, where we knock on each other's doors, actually get to interact with each other, and show goodwill especially towards young children. Although I am not a fan of the displayed gore and death, I appreciate the opportunity to meet many new faces, an opening to connections that carries over into the rest of the year. Fortunately our neighbourhood is very safe, and everyone is out on foot (no crazy drivers). The year of the pandemic, many older people made a particular effort to offer children joy, and had prepared outdoor tables heaped with candy bags, and even a candy shoot that could be operated from inside the house, working around some of the restrictions at that time. I had not grown up with this tradition in Switzerland, but appreciate the neighbourhood ties that it helps to form each year :)