rowing up, I barely knew what Halloween was. In the ‘70s it was largely an American ‘thing’. And as, which was my guide to everything American, never did a Halloween episode, it team member, writer Claudia, grew up trick or treating. ‘I loved it except for one neighbour who held out a tray of roast potatoes one year!’ Claudia said. ‘I guess it was different,’ she laughed. In my suburb now, it’s very organised. The week prior, we get a flyer in our letterbox with a sign we can put in our window if we’re happy to take part. I’ve come to look forward to the parade of kids and their parents wandering the streets with their orange buckets. One of our writers, Lisa, says her daughter Ava, 13, looks forward to Halloween almost as much as Christmas. ‘We decorate the house, and spend hours deciding on our costumes,’ said Lisa. ‘And usually someone in the street holds a party where we eat spooky-looking food.’ Lisa’s dad and stepmum live in the US and, she said, they ‘go all out with decorations and partying!’ Jude’s mum Joan grew up in northern England around where the tradition of Halloween began 2000 or so years ago. ‘Mum still remembers going trick or treating with her granny,’ said Jude. ‘But it was a bit different to today’s version. They didn’t wear fancy dress and children had to do a trick to get a treat, such as a piece of fruit, which was a treat back then. Mum’s trick was usually to sing a song.’ It made me wonder how our neighbourhood kids will react if I withhold the Freddo Frogs and really do ask for a trick when they come knocking!
