Halloween was once a popular holiday around Jones County (the area I'm in).
Then one of the snob churches had judgement night. I don't think all churches are snobby just certain individual ones because of the people going to it. I'm Christian and I respect other people's religions.
After that most everyone around here thought it was bad to celebrate Halloween. Some people just like ruining stuff for people, too. I was 12 or 13 when the first judgement house in the area was staged. The church had judgement house and started the thing about Halloween being bad/dangerous around here so people would pay to go through judgement house. My church paid for the youth group to go through it. It was just a spook house that told you that you were bad and you should come to their church.
I trick or treated till I was 15.
When I was 15, we went to one street, it wasn't a well known neighborhood but it was all nice/fancy houses in a good area. We walked to a few houses on the street and got candy, but not much. Then at the last house with a porchlight you could see another house down the street, the very last house on the road, that was all lit up. You could see pumpkins and jack-o-lanterns. My friend's mom wasn't picking us up for a while so we walked down to it. When we got there we found signs saying not to bother them. That we were going to hell for trick-or-treating, and other mean stuff. They had a bowl on a table, that was decorated for Halloween, that had pamplets telling all these reasons why you go to hell for celebrating Halloween and trick-or-treating. They did all this decorating just to do something mean to kids. Tricking them into walking up to their house to be told that they're sinners. Possibly ruining a kids Halloween and scaring them in a bad way. That was just heartless.
I went with the same friend to take her younger brothers trick-or-treating the next year. I just went to look at costumes and decorations. I didn't actually trick-or-treat, but I got some candy anyway, because everyone thought I was dressed-up they would ask me to come get candy or had the boys bring me candy. It was just the way I dressed. Try being the only goth kid in your area, before it got trendy, it'll get you a lot of weird looks. I didn't even know what goth was, I thought it was a type of music, it's just the way I dressed.
Now the churches have Fall Festivals. Which are cool, except when they call it a "safe alternative to Halloween".
The area is getting better again. It took about 15 years for people to lighten up. Some are still trying to ruin it for others.
It'd be nice if people who don't like the holiday at least looked at it this way:
It's fun, legal, and it makes great memories for kids and their parents. Kids get to dress up and pretend, which is something most kids love to do. Lots of people get creative around Halloween.
Plus, look at how giving people are. They spend money buying candy and treats and give them to any kid that comes to their door. Whether the costumes are expensive or cheap, homemade or store bought, actual costumes or face paint. No discrimination. That is such a cool thing.
Total strangers will help to make good memories for children on Halloween.
Only Christmas is a more giving holiday.
