The Ghost of Hallowe’en Past

This is a photo of me and my father in costume back in 1967. We were in period dress to celebrate Canada’s 100th birthday, but since I couldn’t find a photo of me as a kid at Hallowe’en, it’ll have to do. My point is, that things have changed a lot since my trick-or-treating days. Back then parents thought nothing of sending their kids out unescorted. You’d be safe as long as you didn’t wear a mask and stayed within the magically protected two block radius of home. Nothing bad ever happened if you remained in a group and stuck close to home. While there was the popular rumour of razor blades in apples, no one I knew ever got a sharp object embedded in their loot, even though we all got plenty of apples.

Back then many people handed out items you never see today – apples, handmade fudge and freshly baked cookies. Store bought sweets were usually Kiss Candies or Kraft caramels. Chocolate bars and chips were like gold and we all knew which houses were handing out these prime treats. While I didn’t mind the caramels (despite my recent rant), I couldn’t stand the malted molasses taste of Kiss Candies and left what I wasn’t able to trade in a cookie tin until they became hard as marbles. I don’t know if Kiss Candies still exist, but I’m pretty sure no one makes fudge, candy apples or popcorn balls for the neighbourhood kids any more. Popeye cigarettes have likely met a similar fate.

If I had to pick one childhood Hallowe’en treat, it would be the pink candied popcorn that came in a box with an elephant on it. I’m sure the dye was carcinogenic, but it was sweet and crunchy and Hallowe’en was the only time I remember seeing it. I’m sure if I stumbled upon it today it, I’d find it had the texture of Styrofoam and the flavour of sugared cardboard. But in my memories it’s a delicacy. When it comes to kids and candy, rarity makes the heart grow fonder. With so much mass produced junk food so readily available, I wonder what this generation of trick-or-treaters will reminisce about. Or will they just remember the thrill of going door to door and having stranges hand them candy?