Leave it to Hershey’s to commercialize our neighborhood tradition.
Every year an anonymous neighbor leaves a ghostly gift at our door days before Halloween, merely asking us to pay it forward.
This year, we were “phantomed” just two days before Halloween, so we rushed to Target to put together our gift. The shelves were somewhat bare, but imagine my surprise when I discovered “You’ve Been Booed” Hershey’s Chocolate kits. Oh, joy.
Tempting, but no, I didn’t buy into the whole Hershey’s Trick Or Treat Commercialized Halloween. We’re spreading the holiday sweets, but keeping it simple and cheap.
Start the Phantom Tradition in your Neighborhood
1. Print out the poem. Over the years, we’ve received different version, but they’re all good. Last year, we were given The Phantom Ghost, but this year we’re using this version (found on About.com):
The air is cool, the season fall,
Soon Halloween will come to all.Ghosts and goblins, spooks galore…
Tricky witches at your door.The spooks are after things to do,
In fact a spook brought this “Boo” to you!The excitement comes when friends like you,
Copy this note and make it two.We’ll all have smiles upon our faces,
No one will know who “BOO”ed who’s places!Just two short days to work your spell,
Keep it secret, hide it well.Please join the fun, the seasons here .
Just spread these “BOO’s” and Halloween cheer.
2. Print out the poem, sign, and a set of instructions, and place them in a bag with a few treats. Then, secretly deliver the package. That’s my kids’ favorite part. They love to sneak in, drop the bag, and run away before anyone sees them. When they were little, their stealth skills left much to be desired. After years of practice; however, they’re practically at Secret Agent Level.
We’ve really enjoyed this tradition in our neighborhood, as it gives our families, who are otherwise spread far apart on large lots, a chance to share a fun activity while fostering a little community spirit.
Nevertheless, keep in mind that some families do not celebrate Halloween and may, in fact, be offended by this tradition. Hopefully, you’ll know your neighbors well enough to know if this is the case.
What are you neighborhood traditions at Halloween and throughout the year? Please share in a comment.
More On Living By Learning About Halloween:
When Your Child Enters The Scary Halloween Years – Leaving the cute costumes behind.
Jack O Lantern – Video and recipes all about this tradition and the History of Halloween.
Opting Out of Halloween Tradition – Our costumes, and Halloween Themes, through the years.
Halloween Hoopla – Putting on the weight during the holidays.
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{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
This is great!
I think this is such a great tradition. I would love to try it next year.
That sounds like fun. Would’ve worked better for me in my old neighborhood. My new neighbors are a bunch of fuddy duds.
Haven’t been booed in a while but like it to stay community based not commercialized!
Anne
Actually, I’ve never heard of this one! (but doorbell ditching is a fave with tweens, so I’m sure it would be a hoot) This is actually the first year I haven’t hosted the Halloween ‘poolside parade’ and costume contest for our island community, as my 13-year old wants to be w/her friends at school, and frankly, Shaping Youth has been taking up more than its fair share of time lately…but our ‘usual’ tradition was very retro: pin the nose on the pumpkin, ishy squishy brains (hunting for ‘body parts’ in pasta) bobbing for apples, glow chalk art, etc.)
I’ve been loving the ideas at GreenHalloween.org, and am thinking the Forest Ethics anti-junk mail petition could make opening that door a ‘twofer’ since almost 90% of people do NOT want junk mail (so going green wouldn’t be a ’scene’ w/pushback) —might make that a tradition…we’ll see how what kind of reception I get w/the nearby tribe. Happy Halloween!
p.s. I missed the Thurs. GNO again, dangit!