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Halloween candy treats

Lots of treats for Halloween. (Provided photo — Diane Chase)

My niece stole my imaginary wedding day. Finally someone in the family with some imagination. Her Halloween wedding had all the fun of a costume party because it was one. My husband didn’t foresee the ease of planning a Halloween wedding. We dress as the bride and groom, get married by a pastor and have a reception in a haunted house. Easy. There is no need to choose chicken or fish with Halloween-themed food available. I wasn’t asking that we make the guests feel their food in darkness while an eerie voice announces choices of “eye of newt, spaghetti “brains.” It could happen if we renew our vows.

My family is puzzled over my love of a tradition that can focus on fear. I am the family member who won’t walk the dog across the street at night but can admire a well-put-together Grim Reaper costume. I’m complicated that way. I’ve never watched Jaws because I want to swim in pools, lakes, and oceans. I know enough about the film, so I don’t need the highlight reel. Logically, I know that a shark isn’t likely to dwell in our public pool, but I’d rather live in ignorant bliss than wonder about the possibility.

The most important thing about Halloween is the choice of candy. Sure. Costumes are necessary, but my kids made a bigger deal about what candy to pass to friends. They didn’t want to be embarrassed by our candy choice. I couldn’t get boring candy or “heaven forbid,” something healthy. Learning that candy wasn’t always the holiday’s main focus was interesting. (My children won’t believe it.)

Some sources link Halloween’s ghoulish past to the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, originating from two Gaelic words, “sam” and “fain,” meaning “end of summer.” People dressed in costume to hide from and drive away any phantoms. The festival ended the harvest and welcomed the beginning of winter. Communities were superstitious and thought the divide between worlds thinned and the dead could return to cause mischief such as crop failure and famine. People gave gifts of food to appease any troublesome spirits. In some locations, children went “souling,” going door to door to pray for the souls of lost loved ones in exchange for small treats.

In the 1920s, Halloween transitioned from pranks and vandalism to organized community-based activities in the United States. According to Halloween historian Lisa Morton, it wasn’t until 1936 that the words “trick-or-treat” first appeared in a print magazine. Treats were originally homemade goodies such as popcorn balls or fruit and nuts. With sugar rationing during World War II, the event took a hiatus but returned with the postwar baby boom. Candy companies seized the opportunity to market bite-size treats to save parents from baking while also promoting safety. Here we are today, still giving candy to tiny strangers. This year, consumers will spend about 3.5 billion dollars on Halloween candy.

Downtown businesses, trunk n’ treat gatherings, as well as local communities will continue the tradition of passing out candy to those little witches and ghouls. Be safe and enjoy the treats!

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