Halloween has barely arrived, yet there’s already Christmas music playing in stores. I navigate my way through aisles of ornaments and Thanksgiving-themed trinkets to find the last googly eyes headband. ’Tis the start of the season — candy season, that is.
So many holidays have become synonymous with sweet treats, they’re unavoidable. Kids start trick-or-treating early in life, receiving candy that captivates their taste buds. These experiences hold them hostage for life, planting memories of sugar-associated fun in their developing brains.
Halloweens in Vermont were always a little bittersweet. I would devise the best costume I could think of, only to cover it up with a coat on Halloween evening. The end of October was always a little too chilly for me to go without a coat unless I were wearing an insulated costume of sorts.
Although a footed onesie sounds like a perfect costume now, it never did then. The one Halloween I have spent in Vermont with my children, a friend pulled us around Townshend Acres on a tractor. Candy was everywhere, but I think we started our trip with more candy on that tractor than we ever collected amongst us.
My daughter asked me how much candy I used to get as a kid. I thought back. Before today’s “minis,” there was “fun size” — probably double in size, but we were instructed to take one (or two).
People also tried to mitigate our fun by giving us apples or some other healthier choice. (Boo). A favorite do-it-yourself treat for .