For those seven magical years growing up at 110 Flamingo Street, life was so much simpler than it is today. Sure, some may say it just seems that way because I was a kid then and an adult now — but no. Life was simpler back then. And here are a few examples.
What day is Halloween? If asked, any kid living back on Flamingo would respond, “Halloween falls on October 31st every year.” If you ask them, what day do you go trick-or-treating, they’d look at you funny, then answer, “On Halloween, of course.”
These were two simple questions back then that resulted in logical answers from kids. But ask adults those questions now, and all that logic goes out the window.
Nowadays, the answers about when Halloween is and what day to go trick-or-treating are anything but simple. See if you can follow the logic below because I certainly can’t. And I pride myself as being one of those logical kids who grew up back on Flamingo.
Halloween is on October 31st each year, and on that night, kids of all ages go trick-or-treating, but only if it falls on a Friday or Saturday. If not, everything changes.
For example, let’s say Halloween is on a Sunday and Monday is a school day. Families are busy getting ready for school the next day so if little ones are going out trick-or-treating, it will greatly be abbreviated or not allowed at all. If not done on Sunday, then the traditional candy gathering is done on Saturday night.
Everything changes if Monday is not a school day. If so, kids can go trick-or-treating on Sunday night, instead of Saturday. Confused? Hold on tightly to your broom stick, Dear Reader, it’s about to get a whole lot worse.
Tuesday or Thursday. Halloween and trick-or-treating on these days can be done any time after sundown — with three exceptions. First, if the next day is a school day, all activities are to be finished before 7 p.m., which still gives time for a quick dinner, baths and a normal bedtime for the younger goblins and monsters. The second exception — weather, and third exception — The Grand Exception, are at the end of this story.
Wednesday. Perhaps the most confusing day for lots of folks. For some, Wednesday is a church night, and if October 31st falls on this day, trick-or-treaters of all ages will be attending services and not out gathering candy. Luckily, this only happens once each seven years. Unfortunately, in two years it will happen again.
But don’t worry, today’s society has come up with solutions. Folks can either trick-or-treat on Tuesday night or even early Wednesday afternoon before church. But knocking on doors asking for candy the day before Halloween puzzles a lot of candy givers. Plus, walking around neighborhoods in a costume while it’s still daylight out isn’t nearly as spooky as when it’s dark.
This brings us to Monday, and the reason for writing this story. Last week, I asked The Wife what day Halloween fell on this year. Smiling, she replied, “It falls on October 31st like it does every year.”
Needing more clarification due to soccer practice and lots of homework, I asked when our Girly Girls would go out trick-or-treating. This time she replied more slowly, “On Halloween,” then added, “Do we need to get you checked?”
Stormy weather. A little rain or snow on Halloween isn’t a problem, and the candy collection isn’t affected. But in the cases of storms or sleet, all trick-or-treating is called off and is rescheduled for the following night.
This rescheduling works only if it’s a Friday night. If Saturday is rescheduled for Sunday night, then the kids will have to go out Sunday afternoon, and if Sunday is stormy, then kids go out on Monday night.
If storms happen on a Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday night then all trick-or-treating must be completed before 7 p.m. the next clear night if the next day is a school day. And if the next clear night is a Wednesday, then kids will have to go out after they finish homework but before dinner and church.
Finally, The Grand Exception. Parents can always pull the plug on trick-or-treating for any reason. This is called The Grand Exception, can be invoked on any day of the week.
After writing this story and reading it over once more, I’m still really confused. So, I ask again, Dear Reader, “What day is Halloween and when do kids go trick-or-treating this year?”
[Rick Ryckeley has been writing stories since 2001.]
