You know I love my town, but this was a bit annoying.

[charliesmum]

Yesterday we wound up doing two rounds of trick or treating - I took Charlie and his friend into town around 4, then we went again after 6 when Devon's other mother came home from work. She wanted to be a part of the whole experience, which is fair, right? Our mutual friends, who have a 3 year old, weren't home until almost 6, either, and they wanted to take their daughter trick-or-treating, and we all went together. Seems fine, right?

A little after 7am we got spotlighted by a cop car and were told, via megaphone, that there was a 6pm curfew for minors. Which, let's face it, is just stupid. We, the parents, were with the children, so it isn't like they were going to come to harm/damage property. And it doesn't seem right to deny people the chance to take their kids trick-or-treating if they don't have the time/luxury of taking the day off so they can do it before 6. I appreciate the need for a curfew, but what's wrong with 8pm?

Prior to the whole 'cheese it, it's the fuzz' moment, we passed this one house that had this huge sign on their front door that said, baldly, "We do not celebrate Halloween. Do not knock. We have no candy." A simple 'no candy here' would have been fine, and would have avoided the whole judgemental tone, I think. Why not just put up a sign that says "We're uptight. Please egg our house"?

Nonetheless, Charlie came home with quite a haul. He counted, and is pleased to report he has 133 pieces of candy. Some of them are 'testamints', little packets of mints with bible verses on them, which goes to prove you can be religious and still enjoy Halloween.

Comments

[zambonigirl.livejournal.com]

I wasn't even thinking about candy last night, and three little girls came to my door dressed as princesses, and I was all, "d-do you want some ice cream? I don't have any candy..."

I felt like an idiot.

Glad Charlie had a good haul!

[charliesmum.livejournal.com]

That's just funny. Having visions of three little princesses walking away with a scoop of ice cream dripping from their bags! :)

[zambonigirl.livejournal.com]

Disposable bowls. No spoons, though.

[charliesmum.livejournal.com]

Did they accept the ice cream?

I just think it is so sweet you thought of that instead of just saying, 'no candy for you.'

[zambonigirl.livejournal.com]

They didn't, but they were sweet. I directed them to my friend's house, because I know she bought lots of candy.

[slammerkinbabe.livejournal.com]

Dude, this entry plunged me into the twilight zone. A 6 pm CURFEW FOR MINORS?! Mints with Bible verses?! Which Bible verses?! I'm scared.

[charliesmum.livejournal.com]

I forget what verses. Nothing too offensive, really. Nothing about not suffering a witch to live or anything.

The whole curfew thing bugs because we're a fairly middle-class town, with lots of two working parents who won't get home until 6. Besides, half the fun of Halloween is trick-or-treating at night. And my town really lends it self to that - lots of big, leafy trees and old houses. Great atmosphere.

[dindin.livejournal.com]

It's funny. I was just reminiscing to mom about the people in our old neighborhood who used to pass out religious literature on Haloween...I wonder why we kept going to their house each year...?

[finmagik.livejournal.com]

So no jack chick pamphlets, that's good. I hope Charlie enjoys his candy.

[charliesmum.livejournal.com]

I was trying to find Jack Chick's site to link his 'Halloween cartoon' for you to laugh at, but the site wasn't coming up. I did however find this great description of him on someone else's site: Evangelizing through comic books, Jack Chick is the Walt Disney of paranoid fundamentalism.

[cactus-wren.livejournal.com]

Aw jeez, a 6pm curfew? Even in the summertime? Cuz it's still light out then & that would be really stupid. Not that a 6pm curfew after the time chnage is any less stupid. Our trick or treating went til 8pm, which means my kids were completely exhausted this morning. But on the plus side, finishing with the trick or treating at 8pm left very little time before bed to eat any of the candy, so they weren't all juiced up on sugar at bedtime.

[charliesmum.livejournal.com]

Just a 6pm curfew for Halloween night, for some reason. Silly.

[zakkati.livejournal.com]

Gad Charlie got a good haul!

Testamints? Never heard of them, but they sound great.

X

[katje0711.livejournal.com]

I can see having a curfew, but it seems that should apply only to children unaccompianed by an adult.

Why didn't that house just leave their porch lights off? That's usually a good sign that no one is home or they are not giving out candy.

[jessii-6.livejournal.com]

your answer to cacus_wren confused me even. The curfue was only for Halloween???? That makes even less sense than all-year curfue. And in either case I think 6pm is much too early - not to mention that it should only apply to kids who are not accompanied by a grown-up.

Late comment, but:

[anngwish42.livejournal.com]

"Cheese it, the fuzz!" made my night.