Kerrs Original Kisses - © 2017 Canadian Press

Hallowe’en 2017 Postmortem…

This is not really a food post, but an observation on changing realities in changing times. During the long periods between doorbell rings last night, wondering where all the kid were, I had the opportunity to reflect on how Hallowe’en – and Hallowe’en treats – have changed since I was a kid…

Halloween Mini Candy Bars - © skillet.lifehacker.comMini Candy Bars: These and tiny bags of Chips are about all you get
from the supermarket for Hallowe’en, now…

I remember, when I was elementary school age and the kids were going out as Robin Hood and Maid Marion, Tinkerbell and Peter Pan, Witches and Warlocks and The Mummy, Dracula, Frankenstein and other classic horror characters. I also vividly recall the wonderful variety of great stuff that poured out of our goodie bags at the end of our evening’s hauntings.

Candy Corn (still a fave, but only if packaged…) traditional Kisses, Kraft (wrapped) Caramels, Marshmallow Skulls, Rockets (Smarties to some in the U.S.), Sweet Tarts, Lollypops, Tootsie Rolls and Tootsie Pops, Sunkist Raisins, Apples, Oranges, and occasionally Candy Bars – full Sized! Not to mention the lady up the street who made Candy Apples! And so many more…

How times have changed

Now the range has dwindled dramatically. Sugar-based Candies such as Lollypops, Sweet Tarts, Rockets, Caramels, Kisses and the like are now missing from the shelves as the end of October draws nigh. Too expensive to make, to be sold in big bulk boxes at any kind of competitive price. And that covers a lot of old-time favourites!

Fresh Fruit has been gone for a while, since idiots who think they’re promoting Christianity over Paganism, or just playing horrific pranks, started injecting them with drugs and embedding sharp objects in them. What a shame. Apples and Oranges were always the ‘healthy’ alternative to ‘more candy’.

Kids today have no idea what Hallowe’en used to be like.

Signs of change…

Candy Bars have always been prized Hallowee’en bag treats. But they’ve shrunken dramatically since Chocolate and Sugar prices started to rise. When I was little, most candy bars were ten cents apiece – ten for a dollar. A great thing for the better-off to give out, to show off their wealth. And still not too expensive compared to other candies. Now, All you get is boxes of tiny little ‘single bite’ bars. The packaging almost weighs more than the product. And, here in Canada, you only have two brands to chose from.

Small bags of Potato Chips and other Salty Snacks have appeared only relatively recently on the Hallowe’en treatscape. They were a natural as candy prices started to get ridiculous, costing next to nothing per 6 oz. / 170 g bag. In this case, the packaging really does cost the manufacturer more than the product inside!

Unless you go to a Bulk Foods Store, that’s all you’ll find for sale now. And even there, the prices are steep and there are few wrapped goodies available. Unwrapped treats, of course, were basically banned by society years ago.

My survey confirms the erosion…

As the trickle of kids came and went at my door last night, all I saw in their goody bags were little bags of Chips. I asked a couple of kids what they were getting. They said Chips and ‘a few’ mini Candy Bars. The skyrocketing cost of Sugar and Chocolate are starting to price even the baby Bars out of the Hallowe’en treat market.

Another sign of the times… So many mini Candy Bars were left over at my go-to supermarket, they were giving them out in ones and twos to customers as they waited in line at the cashes yesterday afternoon. Next year, maybe no Candy Bars at all!

We’ll see…

~ Maggie J.