to"Trick or Treat" Costumed children go from house to house IN COSTUME soliciting treats (the treat is supposed to be CANDY!!!) from their neighbors. According to this custom, children greet each homeowner with the cry "Trick or Treat," suggesting that some sort of prank will be played unless treats are provided. (Formerly, trick-or-treaters vandalized the house or played tricks if no treats were produced, however since this is a criminal offense...since the early 20th century, the threat of tricks has been largely ceremonial. Beginning in the late 1960s, the practice of trick-or-treating went into a sharp decline after unsubstantiated rumors spread about homeowners distributing poisoned Halloween candy or candy to children. Many parents also became concerned about their children wandering through the neighborhood after dark.

Today, many parents accompany children when they go trick-or-treating which adds to the safety and also gives the parents a chance to enjoy an activity with their children and in many cases an excuse to dress up themselves! In some areas, costume parties have replaced trick-or-treating as the favored form of Halloween entertainment. Hosts of these parties often hold contests to select the best costume among the guests. Traditional Halloween diversions have also enjoyed renewed popularity as party activities. For example, many Halloween parties feature contests of bobbing for apples, a centuries-old game in which contestants try to retrieve apples floating in a tub of water using only their mouth. While children's Halloween parties are generally held in private homes, many bars and nightclubs sponsor modified versions of such festivities for adults. Unfortunately however many children to not have a party available to attend, and this makes them miss out on all the fun and excitement of dressing up in costume. Missing the chance to go out trick or treating with the children also is a loss of a great opportunity for an evening the parents can share with their children as well as a great opportunity to meet their neighbors.

How to be a great trick or treater!

1.WEAR A COSTUME!!!! (Think up a neat original idea for a costume and then invent a way to make that come about. You can either purchase one in a store, or construct it yourself. many towns have thrift shops with loads of used costumes to choose from or you can used old clothes and put it together yourself.

2. CARRY A LIGHT (puttin reflective tape on part of the costume can also aid in being seen at nite for safety reasons)

3.ONLY GO TO HOUSES THAT ARE LIT UP AND DECORATED FOR HALLOWEEN (halloween is against some peoples religion, and some are too poor to give out candy, so respect their wishes and skip that place)

4.RESPECT PROPERTY (dont vandalize property, break things or smash people's pumpkins. they put a lot of hard work into decorating for YOU to see!) (respect fences, don't take short cuts through flowers or across yards...stay on sidewalks and driveways whenever possible)

5. SAY THANK YOU!

2. Put up poster on neighborhood poles, bulletin boards and in your yard pointing to your house for trick or treating

3. Buy some decent candy! Think chocolate! But if you can only afford the cheap stuff... at least toss in one or 2

4. You drop the candy in the bag, dont let them grab it. that way you can regulate what they get.

5. Some poor kids' parents cant afford costumes. if you can afford it, go to a party outlet and buy some cheap face masks. if a child arrives with no costume, give them a mask first, have them put it on and then give them the candy. Let them keep the mask.

6. Tell them how great their costumes are...encourage them for next year.

7. If you can afford it, buy some inexpensive halloween gifties to give to spectacular costume efforts that come to your door.

8. Tell the trick or treaters to tell their friends to come see YOUR efforts at decorating and invite them back next year.