EinBebop
10-30-2003, 01:19 AM
Years ago (at least 25), some ultra-conservative Christians (God bless 'em) in my hometown of Barstow, CA, decided that they wanted to stop Halloween. So they convinced the city council to hold the biggest local event of the year (a parade they call Mardi Gras for reasons which still escape me) on Halloween night, all but guaranteeing a very small trick-or-treat turnout. You have to admit it was a smart idea, even if you don't agree with their goal.
But the people of Barstow were a little smarter (I never thought I would be saying that). The entire town just started trick-or-treating the night before. I kid you not. Growing up I thought the whole world celebrated a two-day holiday: Trick-or-Treat on the 30th, Halloween/Mardi Gras on the 31st. It's not until I met some kids who were double-dipping (going to Victorville/Hesperia the next night for two nights of trick-or-treating) that I even got a clue.
So tonight, a day ahead of the rest of the world, the kids of Barstow will be out door-to-door begging for candy. :D
[EDIT]Tragic footnote: My brother called right after I typed that and said that the smoke was so bad in Barstow that they've closed the schools for the next couple of days, and that parts of Hesperia/Victorville were being evacuated. I had no idea they were so close to the fire. I guess no trick-or-treat this year. :(
But the people of Barstow were a little smarter (I never thought I would be saying that). The entire town just started trick-or-treating the night before. I kid you not. Growing up I thought the whole world celebrated a two-day holiday: Trick-or-Treat on the 30th, Halloween/Mardi Gras on the 31st. It's not until I met some kids who were double-dipping (going to Victorville/Hesperia the next night for two nights of trick-or-treating) that I even got a clue.
So tonight, a day ahead of the rest of the world, the kids of Barstow will be out door-to-door begging for candy. :D
[EDIT]Tragic footnote: My brother called right after I typed that and said that the smoke was so bad in Barstow that they've closed the schools for the next couple of days, and that parts of Hesperia/Victorville were being evacuated. I had no idea they were so close to the fire. I guess no trick-or-treat this year. :(