Hallowe'en is scarier today than it was in the good old days

Fueled by commercialism, Hallowe’en is scarier today than it was in the good old days. It now begins in September in the aisles of Dollarama and similar stores and continues in scary mode for approximately two months. By the time it actually arrives, its fright factor has considerably diminished.

In recalling the Hallowe’ens of my childhood days, I remember paper costumes, simple masks and a neighbourhood canvass for candy that involved a few stops with a small bag, rather than a pillowcase. Stedman’s was the go-to store for costumes, although some of us wore outfits assembled by our mothers. I remember that my first Hallowe’en

disguise was a paper pink and blue Little Bo Peep outfit which was sold minus sheep. By the time I had advanced to Mrs. Gardiner’s grade three