The Masquerade Malady

Today is an opinion piece.  Be forwarned.

I can't speak for anybody else, but when I was a child Halloween was (and actually still is) my absolute favorite time of year.  Bar none.  It beat my birthday, it beat Christmas, it beat Easter.  Don't get me wrong, I love presents, and I love giving presents.  But back then?  If I had the chance to go out in public dressed as an alien, or a viking, or Frankenstein's monster, and rewarded with Candy for it?!  That, my dear friends, is incredible.  Even to this day I brainstorm throughout the year as to what costume I'll make for myself.  To answer the obvious, of course my costume is ready to go for this year.  Hell, I already have plans for next year's costume!  

So what's happened?

I live in a community surrounding two elementary schools, each with nearly 300 kids in attendance.  That's 600 kids in prime age to parade past my house on All Hallows Eve and ask for treats.  Last year I counted 38.  Total.  In fact for the past four years there's been a steady decline in numbers and it saddens me to no end.  I can speculate, however, as to why.

Weak parenting.  You read that correctly.  When I was young, my parents would dress me up in snow pants, three jackets and a scarf before applying my chosen costume on top.  I may have looked a bit chunky, but I was stoked and prepared for a long night of candy gathering.  I was always in it for the loot.  Nowadays parents simply take their kids to the mall where, once inside, they can walk in heated comfort as their children get their treats from the department stores.  Oh, and while they're at it, mom can pick up a new bra and dad can check out that wallet he wanted.  Because Christmas is coming up fast!  Disgusting.

Unfortunately the big plus about going to the malls on the big night has ups that can't be ignored.  Safety being one of them.  An enclosed environment, security detail, and guaranteed safe candy corporately given... you can't argue with that.  It beats having to wait once you get home while parents sift through your bag of candy, completely paranoid that somebody has slipped razors into your Mars bar.  But that's what responsibility is, right?  At this rate, soon kids won't even remember how trick-r-treating used to be done.  The onus falls on the parents to give their kids a proper learning of how things are done.

Maybe I'm being too conservative.  I don't know.

It's not even about how things are done, it's the quality of standards you see out there now.  I mean, if using your imagination is a chore, maybe the mall is the best place for you to go.  I can't remember how many sheet ghosts I've seen or kids simply wearing a plastic mask.  Where's the extravagancy?  Where's the make-up?  Where's the fun?!

Regardless, I'll still be the guy carving a pumpkin wall in front of his place, attempting to scare kids as they step up to the door, and congratulate adventurous costumes with an extra helping of assorted mini-bars.  But as I do that, I'll be the guy looking down the street and noticing that only two of every ten houses are participating.  Oh wait, that other guy has his Christmas stuff up.  So one of every ten.  Everyone else has given up.

Not me.

There's one way I know of to keep the Halloween spirit alive and well, and that is (besides makign my future kids bundle up and walk from house to house) to host and/or attend costume parties.  As an adult, when do you get to dress up for one night if not on Halloween?!  It's not about immaturity, it's not about displaying a childish nature at all - it's about having fun in the spirit of the evening.  For centuries, the Masquerade Ball has been considered one of the highest forms of social event.  The mystery of your identity lent a certain romantic charm to your actions and anybody not in costume was turned away at the door.

I don't mean to step on toes, here, but I don't even understand how religion plays any part either.  I mean, sure Halloween has deeply religious roots dating back even to ancient times, even some pagan roots... but COME ON!  That's like blaming the German people for what the Third Reich did 65 years ago.  It doesn't change the point that people should go out, have fun dressing as one of their fantasies, and socializing with like-minded people.  Of course there's also those people who don't even have excuses, which are far worse.  I'm sure everyone has had that happen: you host a halloween party where everyone's dressed up, however three or four people show up without a costume?  At that point I'd even accept a $2.00 mask or even a paper-bag hat.

It's laziness, insecurity, and a complete betrayal of one's complete lack of imagination or willingness to have a good time.  

I digress,

-Dan