SNET Internet : Features : Survey : Halloween

Which of the following most closely expresses your views regarding kids going out trick-or-treating?

It's a great tradition - 913 (20%)
Fun, but you have to be careful - 2,125 (47%)
Organized Halloween events are better - 740 (16%)
It's really too dangerous - 172 (4%)
It's a sanctioned form of blackmail - 129 (3%)
I dislike everything about Halloween - 487 (11%)

Your comments:

"I think Halloween is great. It is fun for the kids and there is no reason not to let them enjoy their night. Years back there were reports of candy being tampered with. As usual the media ran with it and scared everyone to death. What was never reported however was that these tamperings later proved to be false. In most cases the items were placed there by the persons making the report, usually to cause trouble for a neighbor they disliked. According to information I have seen there has never been a confirmed case of candy tampering.

My one concern with halloween lately has been adults taking it away from young children. Setting up their homes to be very scary haunted houses and often staking out the front yard as dead guys and spooking the trick or treaters. Lets give the little ones a break. Save that stuff for later when the big kids come out...ok guys?" Katie, Wethersfield

"I think it is fun for little children but at this time you have to be careful about what candy they get because of all the kooks who put foreign objects into the candy." C.Y., Fairfield

"It may be safer to trick or treat at the homes of family members and close friends prior to attending an organized event." M.L., Manchester

"I love Halloween. I like to have the kids come to my house trick or treating. It has definitely changed since I was young. Being in a small town is better, beause you know most of the people." Donna, Moodus

"Do we really need a special day for ghosts, witches and everything else that is morbid. Come on folks!" A.S., Bloomfield

"I think that Halloween is great for kids and adults of all ages. Your never too old to go out and Trick-or-Treat. But you still have to be careful no matter what age you are." F.A., Wolcott

"I am a grandmother of 11. I think people should remember when they were YOUNG. If you go with your children to people you know in your own neighborhood then I see nothing wrong with it. One of my grandchildren said they can't wait for Halloween to dress up as their favorite character and go trick or treating. It's not the candy but the excitement of the night. It's been a tradition for many years and I don't think that we should break tradition just because some man living in a cave decided that he doesn't like Americans. Like the President said We must go on with our lives and especially for our children and in my case my grandchildren. I plan on taking them out trick or treating. If you don't like the tradition then turn off your light, MINE WILL BE ON. Have a Safe and Happy Halloween." J.B., East Hartford

"Trick or Treating is a fun activity which I have enjoyed myself as a child and now enjoy even more, through my own children and those of my friends and neighbors. What our alarmist news media and popular urban mythologists fail to mention in all their reports of so-called 'product tampering', is that in virtually every case, the tampering was traced back to their own parents or families. I will continue to support this wonderful tradition in a safe and responsible manner.

A further note: If you've ever noticed, any activity, besides shopping, that will get you out of the house and away from the constant bombardment of television commercials, is decried by the media as unsafe or irresponsible." J.B., Naugatuck

"Halloween finds its origin in the Celtic festivals worshiping the gods of light and dark. It's believed on that night the human and supernatural veil of worlds were parted and spirits both good and evil, roamed the earth. The souls of the dead were thought to return to thier homes, and families and friends would put out food and drink for their ghostly visitors in hopes of appeasing them and warding off misfortune. Thus today when children dressed as ghost or witches go from house to house demanding a Hallowen treat or threatening a mischievous trick, they unwittingly peretuate the ancient rituals of Samhain." Fred, Griswold

Previous survey results are available.