Halloween 2009

I think holidays these days can be a little contrived and disconnected from our modern-day lives.  I think 50 or 60 years ago halloween was special because you got to go door to door and get little candy treats.  But today I don't think a day goes by that my kids don't get a treat of some sort.  Perhaps in the depression a mint or chocolate (heaven forbid) was hard to come by but nowadays halloween is really just an excuse to put on a costume.  And isn't halloween supposed to be scary?  Witches, goblins and ghosts?  I see more ninja turtles, Hannah Montanas and ballerinas than anything even remotely scary.  What's up with that?  And why even say "trick"? Has anyone ever said 'no, I'm not going to give you candy so trick me'?  I don't know, I think we really need to rethink some of these holidays and perhaps come up with something better.  We should just call October 31st 'Disney Day' whereby everyone can dress up like Tinkerbell or Aladdin and make a pilgrimage to Mecca Orlando.