Halloween 2020
Halloween this year has many comparisons to that which went on during WWII, but there were no episodes of mass destruction in the cities as I have seen in Philadelphia.
WWII put quite the damper on any activity as chaotic as Halloween was back in those days, people weren’t making heroes out of criminals … according to history, war shortages made everyone edgy, and towns clamped down on Halloween pranking with both curfews and notices sent home from principals and police. There was a national plea for conservation: any piece of property damaged during Halloween pranking was a direct affront to the war effort.
In 1942 the Chicago City Council voted to abolish Halloween and institute instead “Conservation Day” on October 31st. (This wasn’t the only attempt to reshape Halloween: President Truman tried to declare it “Youth Honor Day” in 1950 but the House of Representatives, sidetracked by the Korean War, neglected to act on the motion. In 1941 the last week of October was declared “National Donut Week,” and then years later, “National Popcorn Week.”)
Halloween’s origins date back to the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, when it was believed the boundary between the worlds of the living and the dead become blurred. It has since evolved into a holiday when spooky legends, myths and folklore take center stage—each with their own dark history.
The first Halloween during WWII was in 1942, when the nation was in full-tilt war production mode and millions of men were in uniform. Children and teenagers were suddenly set free from adult supervision, as mothers and fathers spent more time working or away from home altogether. There were widespread fears of juvenile delinquency and criminal behavior. Fear was a dominant emotion during the war years and the vandalism one might expect on Halloween now seemed to portend greater crimes. Many communities did, in fact, cancel Halloween that year.
Some folks saw the opportunity to co-opt, rather than ban, the holiday by hosting costume parties, dances, etc. to lure the would-be delinquents off the streets and into safer environments. (Still not much candy available though, due to the rationing of sugar.) It worked. Halloween vandalism feel off in 1942 and after the war, neighborhoods began hosting a kind of roving festival for kids – trick-or-treating.
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Military HALLOWEEN Humor ~
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Farewell Salutes –
James Blaney – Milwaukee, WI; US National Guard, Major General (Ret.)
Eric Bunger – Sioux Falls, SD; US Army, Afghanistan & Iraq, Sgt., 82nd Airborne Division
Christopher Crossett – Philadelphia, PA; US Army, WWII, ETO, Silver Star, Purple Heart
Alpha Farrow – Lindsay, OK; US Army, WWII, ETO, Pvt., 10th Mt. Division / Vietnam & Korea, Chaplain, Col. (Ret.)
Morgan Garrett – Weddington, NC; US Coast Guard, Ensign
William Hinchey – Middletown, RI; USMC, WWII, CBI
Duane T. Kyser – Muskogee, OK; US Navy, WWII, Seaman 2nd Class, USS Oklahoma, KIA (Pearl Harbor)Rhiannon Ross – Waxom, MI; US Navy, Lt.
David Mansfield (100) – Thorold, CAN; RC Air Force, WWII
Carlisle Trost – Valmeyer, IL; US Navy, Naval Academy grad ’53, 23rd Chief of Naval Operations, Admiral (Ret. 37 y.)
Walter S. Wojtczak (105) – Newbury, NH; US Army, WWII, Major, Corps of Engineers
Posted on October 29, 2020, in Current News, Home Front, WWII and tagged 1940's, Air Force, Army, Halloween, History, holidays, Home Front, Marines, Military, Military History, Navy, USA, WW2, WWII. Bookmark the permalink. 128 Comments.
INteresting history. MY grandfather always used to talk fondly of Mischief Night when he was a boy in the 1920s in the north of England. I see from Wiki that it hasn’t quite died out.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mischief_Night
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haha, who would ever want to give up Mischief Night? The one night out of the year where you can’t get in trouble for it (as long as you don’t hurt anyone, of course.) 🎃
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My grandfather certainly seemed to have enjoyed himself. I grew up in part of the country with no Mischief Night tradition in a time before we took on Halloween as a major event.
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I hope you have good memories of it.
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To be honest my childhood was close to perfect. Fields, family, freedom to roam – out after breakfast and home when it got dark. I was very lucky. Adolescence, however, was the start of a downwards slope… 🙂
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Sounds a lot like mine! Oh, to be young again, eh?
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Great times. I wish I’d realised how lucky I was. 🙂
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You and me both, my friend!!
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I now celebrate Reformation Day (31st October), lol. 🍀
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Sounds like a plan!
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I had no idea trick or treating began at the time of WWII. This could be worked into a good story for Halloween next year. Hmmm!
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Sounds like a plan, Bev.
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Thank you once again for the history lesson, GP! I can still remember when apples and oranges were given out at Halloween.
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I never got fruit in my stocking, but I have heard about it. I hope people were able to celebrate somewhat with the fires abating.
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Thank you very much for the fascinating history of Halloween in the US.
I have bookmarked this post to quote from next year on my site.
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Glad you liked it that much!!
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It was excellent. 🙂
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This was really interesting! Halloween was about pranks until after the war, and then became trick-or-treating. No wonder parents were wary during the war. And I see how it seemed an affront to the war effort. Thanks, GP. I always learn something from you.
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Thank you for saying that. Your opinion means a great deal.
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You are most welcome, GP. And thank you.
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So, Halloween was a prank day during WWII. That was a break for the monotony off killing the enemies. haha….Great info. I haven’t saw movies with scenes of Halloween pranks. I got it from you, GP. Very interesting.
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I doubt they showed it in movies, except maybe the Our Gang Comedy. They didn’t do very destructive things like today, they were trying to help the war, not create one.
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👍
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That was so fascinating GP! I didn’t know any of that and those cartoons!
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Glad you enjoyed it and had a laugh! I hope yours was safe and fun!
(planning on having those chicken gizzards again tomorrow!! Can’t wait!)
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I didn’t know the history of trick or treating! I learn so much from your posts, thank you!
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Being as my own parents told me as a kid that their Halloweens were different, I looked into it.
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Some comparisons to 2020?
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Times are tough and the delinquents have far too much time on their hands.
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Thanks for the peek into Halloween during the war years. I had no idea that trick or treating started as a way to keep the delinquents busy. Lol. We could use some of that in Washington!
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I like the way you think, Diana!!
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Very interesting! I love to learn and I didn’t know these facts about Halloween.
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You know I love history, so I checked up on it myself. Thanks for reading it!
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Welcome!
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Great Halloween history lesson, GP! 🎃 Happy Halloween 2020!
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Have fun!!
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You always catch my interest in unexpected ways, GP. I forget how full of vandalism and bad pranks Halloween used to be back then. Now they just do that kind of extreme any day of the week… Thanks for this mindful post. Oh, I got a big kick out of the GIF images. Happy Halloween. Hugs on the wing!
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They should have a touch of Lulu and all that razz-ma-tazz and left the pranks alone, eh?!
Try to have fun and turn your clocks back!
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Ha! Where there’s Lulu, there’s trouble. You know… there’s always been something wrong with my clock. It’s so specific, that it took me a couple of years to figure out what was going on — but it changes itself a day early. The first year I thought it I had accidently hit a button and changed the time, or something. I eventually caught on. (eye roll). So my clock pranks me. LOL.
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It has your number (or it was manufactured over the dateline….. ?)
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Oh, I tried — even followed the instructions… I thought I had it right, then next time change it pranked me again. LOL, I have bigger battles to fight. Otherwise it does what I want, so I try to ignore it. 🙂
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Wonderful reminder of how adaptable Americans are. Good post, GP.
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Learned something new again. Well, we are at the war of some sorts right now too.
This morning I found a post on my FB page. Orthodox Church says NO to Halloween 😉
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Everyone has their own ideas on how to beat this thing. I think common sense should win out eventually.
Stay safe, my friend.
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Thank you! You too.
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Over here, there was a good deal of juvenile delinquency in the big cities, but not really at Halloween which was not celebrated in England until about ten years ago.
The big English cities had been bombed, creating a wonderful playground with lots to smash and things to steal, and, of course, lots of kids didn’t even remember their fathers who were away in the forces and mother was working ten hour shifts and sometimes, operating a searchlight at night as well.
The delinquents of the 1940s, of course, became the parents of the 1960s !
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haha, just as the hippies of the sixties ended up being the stockbrokers and bankers of the ’80’s and ’90’s.
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Nice tribute and historical share, GP. Have a fun weekend of treats!🎃☕️☕️
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And you as well!! Stay safe!
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Interesting history of Halloween. I like the National Donut Day. My house is closed for Halloween this year. My son told me no treats this year. Lights off at home. Some folks here will just put the candy on the front porch. Not a good idea. Last year a couple of homeowners did that and saw one kid took everything out for himself.
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There’s always someone that’ll do that. I would worry about drawing bugs to the house too, if the candy sat out too long.
Stay safe this holiday, Rose!!
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You too GP. BTW, there is no Halloween in the Philippines. They celebrate All Saints Day for dead children and All Souls Day for dead adults. They visit the cemetery but this year, I heard they close the cemeteries too because of Covid 19.
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That’s Nov. 1 and Nov. 2.
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So much has been changed this year. It is certainly one for history books.
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Interessant om lezen deze Halloween geschiedenis. Het is slechts een aantal jaar bij ons bekend .Er zijn verkleedpartijen voor kinderen en de jeugd. Wandeltochten waar men de schrik van zijn leven krijgt. Huizen worden luguber versierd en er worden snoepjes als heksenbloed, spoken drakentanden enz uitgedeeld. Dit jaar zal het binnenhuis moeten gebeuren want vrees dat we doordat we covid niet onder controle krijgen morgen in volledige lockdown gaan
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Het spijt me zo te horen, Mary. Velen van ons dachten dat deze griepvariant zo ongeveer als alle andere was, maar China heeft ons laten zien dat wereldwijde biologische wapens heel goed mogelijk zijn. Het is een enge wereld daarbuiten. Maakt me bijna blij dat ik niet jong meer ben.
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Never knew any of that history about Halloween. Interesting. I guess in many countries it’s not observed at all. Due to current pandemic situation I’ve been curious how people might practice Halloween this year? We didn’t sell as much Halloween stuff this year at Home Depot than we have in the past. Kids are always enthused however. Adults maybe not so much.
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We’ve developed a very unusual new-normal lately and I don’t really like what it’s foreboding.
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Back in the old days, back when the Celts were hanging out 2000 years ago, Halloween was a day when the ghosts of dead people were set free to wander. Not too different today, G. 🙂 When I was a child, one of my brother and my favorite pranks was to hide out in the overgrown graveyard next to our house and jump out when trick or treaters came by. Boy, little kids can run fast. We were bad. –Curt
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Tsk-tsk, young man… 🤣
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🙂 🙂
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Reblogged this on depolreablesunite.
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Thank you.
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Some great Halloween trivia.
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I’m glad you like it, Rick.
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Yes, toilet papering homes, egging homes, destroying outhouses, soaping car windows and other mischief was pretty much history by the time I came along in the early 1950s. I remember the most compelling objective in the search for treats was to learn who was giving out the really good treats like cinnamon apples or candy bars.
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Yes, even a once in a while full-size candy bar – that house got a lot of visits!!
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I missed out on every one of those really good houses, but I can’t complain about the candy I did get since it wasn’t one of those things that my family had around the house. Imagine this: my mother felt we should eat healthy snacks! LOL!
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Oh yeah, my mom was the same. But the holidays were a reprieve.
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Same here, GP. Another time was when the city picnic (my dad as Chief of Police) tine came. We rarely had pop/soda in the house, and the picnic was one time and place there was endless pop/soda in a washtub filled with ice and bottles of the sugar water!. That was a time there were other treats – potato chips and hot dogs – in endless supply. I’m sure I got a stomach ache by the end of the picnic!
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Didn’t we all!!
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Yeah!
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Kids in the midwest thought it was the height of humor on moonless nights to sneak up at midnight and drag farmers’ outhouses five feet further from the house. One group was taught the true meaning of humor when they discovered that one farmer had come out earlier and pulled his outhouse five feet closer to the house.
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Love it – you are on a roll this Halloween!!
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LOL! Good one!
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Great history ~ every time I read your posts I get not just a history lesson but also a feeling of pride to those who have made the USA a great place to live and build a life. Thank you!
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Then I succeeded!! You have no idea how happy I am to hear that!!!
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I’m with you on making heroes out of criminals. A different value set from mine. I enjoyed the Halloween WWII view, GP. Also, those GIFs were cute and that open-door policy very accurate,
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haha, we do think alike, John. Are you planning a Halloween post, even though you gave us weeks of bus rides?
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I’m doing my usual Stream of Consciousness post. It may have a Halloween flavor but I have to see when the prompt comes out. Long story short – No. 😁
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I remember a cartoon where the boss is saying, “Purvis, I want you to know my door is always open. So be careful you don’t wander in here and make an ass of yourself.”
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Hahahha. I remember a boss who’s open door policy was like a bear trap. 😁
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When my dad’s company transferred him to NY we moved to NJ. As if Halloween wasn’t enough they also had a thing called Mischief Night the night before!
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Egads, hope there wasn’t much destruction!!
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No in my day (60s 70s) toilet papering was about as bad as it got. I shudder to think what happens these days. I moved back south.
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We didn’t celebrate Halloween here at all, until it started to ‘creep across’ in a big way in the 1980s. I doubt it would have had a consideration in wartime Britain. 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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I agree. The bombings were horrific enough.
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Oh forgot to add …that is a creepy clown🤡😨
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You sent me a Stephen King “It”, eh?
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LOL! Enjoy your trick or treating GP!
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We don’t get kids in our neighborhood, I’m sad to say. But it’s fun remembering.
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Aah…adults can have fun too. I will do a virtual knock on your door…trick or treat🎃🍬🍫🎃🍬🍫🎃🍬🍫😃😉🎃
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Thanks, sorry I don’t have those emojis to send you, so I’ll substitute these….. 🥧🥧🍩🍰 Hope you like them!
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Yummy! Thanks 😆
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Love your Halloween toons!!
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Thanks!!
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An interesting bit of history, And things do certainly change over time.
Sometimes it is sad to me. From what I have seen, at least where I live, Halloween has really been co-opted by adults. Kids get relegated to a few minutes of “Trunk or Treating” in the church parking lot while adults wear costumes to work and have lavish masquerade parties.
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Not much goes on around here and like you, it makes me sad. I had such fun memories of getting dressed up and eating candy!!
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Yeah. Me too.
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A parallel I hadn’t thought of
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Only the public aren’t acting the same, are they?
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Nope
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Thank you for the very interesting view on the history of Halloween! Very nice to read about the different shapes they’d wanted to give it. “National Donut Day” would be lovely, but only Donuts as treats? I think we would be also treated. 😉 Enjoy your day, and lets hope rioting will come to and end. Michael
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We don’t get any kids here in my community and I can be okay with that as long as we don’t get the protestors instead!!
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Sounds without fun, GP! 😉 Trick or Treat, could be nice. But, dont worry! Here they dont celebrate Halloween, they are “Roman-Catholic”. 😉
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Many of us are too, but Halloween is not a religious holiday – just a fun day.
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Most of our people here are far away from fun. 😉
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That is a shame, Michael.
Keep smiling, it’ll make them wonder what you’re up to! 😁😁
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😁 The only you are able to do, here. 😉
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From the number of over-the-top yard decorations this year, it seems like the celebration’s going to go on in one way or another. Putting candy on the curb is an awful suggestion. The fun of Halloween always has been the interaction between trick-and-treaters and people at the homes they visit, and the local officials who are saying “Don’t celebrate” are not being celebrated.
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Dress up as a Surgeon, makes the kids nurses and orderlies?
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Reblogged this on John Cowgill's Literature Site.
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Thank you, John.
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You are welcome.
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Love this post GP and of course, the cartoons. Hope people will take note and behave appropriately. At least I can personally vouch that there is no candy shortage this Halloween although if we don’t have any trick or treaters I have a huge bag of chocolate to consume…..
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haha, we don’t get kids here either. Wish I had some candy about now!!
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Some days candy is the only answer. 🙂
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I wasn’t even sure when Halloween, trick or treating and pranks started. Interesting strategy. We haven’t canceled trick or treating, but the governor’s advice is to “remain six feet apart” and “put the candy in the child’s bag.” I’m not sure how that works.
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Halloween just isn’t what it used to be.
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An interesting bit of social history! I’ve never considered how the war effort might have affected Halloween.
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It’s like thinking about the butterfly effect. Everything we do and say, in some way affects a change.
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Yes, I think you’re right.
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Interesting history !
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Thank you, Beth!
Stay safe.
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So thats how we got trick or treating!
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Holidays do sometimes change over the years.
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But I had imagined it was old world stuff!
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I’m sure things from the past have crept into it.
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