Halloween Trunk-or-Treat

This summer there was a huge debate that started and continued into the school year and made it onto the news: should the date of Halloween be changed? 

Why would anyone even suggest changing the date of a holiday that children can look at and not ask what day it falls on?  I remember when I was a child in one place I lived, there were two nights for trick-or-treating and being scared (my fave part!)  When we moved to a different state it became only one night, which was disappointing, but not because of the smaller amount of candy!  After all, I have four siblings!  The debate, however, was to try to convince the government to change Halloween from the 31st of October to the last Saturday in October.  While I can sort of understand why parents would want to have Halloween be on the weekend, meaning Friday or Saturday, there is a fairly new event that is Halloween-oriented and typically scheduled for either Friday or Saturday - Trunk-or-Treat.

Trunk-or-Treat is an event that allows children to go to a place where groups, businesses, and other people set up vehicles for trick-or-treating.  The first time I heard about one was about five or six years ago when a local church hosted one.  The next year, there were two - one at the church and one put on by the local high school.  Since then, it has become a yearly event that has actually grown in size from one block to apparently three this year.  It's a bit safer as well than going to different areas to trick-or-treat, but my husband and I plan to be ready for possible costumed candy-hunters.  Of course, the candy will be something we like, but I love Halloween for the scares, not sweets, though those are pretty good. 

Trunk-or-Treat has made there be fewer trick-or-treaters going door to door in those towns that have them and I've heard fewer reports of Halloween hijinx in the towns that have them.  While some still celebrate in the traditional way of door-to-door trick-or-treating, it feels like Trunk-or-Treats and decorating the home without expectation of Halloween visitors.  It allows for Halloween to remain on its traditional date, but still have parties surrounding the day.  For those who've already celebrated, hope your Halloween was safe and scary, for those who've yet to celebrate - have a happy Halloween.

At work I've been seeing signs that say "It's beginning to look a lot like Halloween" and I couldn't help creating the following parody:

It's beginning to look a lot like Halloween
Everywhere you go;
Take a look in the five and ten autumn once again
With candy corn and pumpkins aglow.
It's beginning to look a lot like Halloween
Skeletons in every yard
But the scariest sight to see is the children that will be
At your own front door.A pair of hopalong boots and a pistol that shoots
To help disguise Barney and Ben;
Dolls that will talk and will go for a walk
Is the quest of Janice and Jen;
And Mom and Dad can hardly wait for the night to end.
It's beginning to look a lot like Halloween
Everywhere you go;
There's a ghost in the Grand Hotel, one in the park as well,
The pale kind that doesn't mind the boo.
It's beginning to look a lot like Halloween;
Soon the screams will start,
And the thing that will make them true is the scare that you do
No matter your costume!