I have mostly fond memories of Halloween.
It is, to me anyway, the best holiday. Grounded in an ancient Celtic festival, Halloween is a fun holiday simply because both adults and children can enjoy it with shared personalized creativity and enthusiasm. Children decide who—or what—they want to be; adults get to choose as well. Sometimes they even work hand in hand! Whereas the winter holidays and the Fourth of July usually have a division of age groups with both garnering a certain amount of holiday/family stress, Halloween brings both age groups together in a shared effort to do one thing.
Hunt for small, overpriced candy!
My only ill memory of Halloween occurred when I was ten years old. The Karate Kid had been released on VHS / television and I wanted to go as a black belt. My mother made my white uniform and belt from a bed sheet—thin material with almost no heat-saving value whatsoever. Halloween came and it was in the mid-30’s. Despite wearing a coat, I still froze to death. I remember wanting to go home but the need for sugar drove me on.
Even in misery nothing would stop me from attaining the Snickers my father coveted!
Thanks, Mom and Dad!
It was still in the pursuit, however, of sheer teeth-rotting pleasure! And that is what brings us together today on this October 31st!
Here is what I used to and still do covet from time to time in the form of Halloween candy:
- #5. 3 Musketeers: Such a simple candy bar. I can’t even tell you what is in it, to be honest. Even though I dare not eat a full bar—mostly because I’d be physically ill, I think—I can eat several dozen of the small Halloween candies if I pace myself through a week. So good!
- #4. Starburst: Just thinking about these tart little candies makes my teeth hurt! Isn’t it great! At one point in my life I would eat so many Starbursts my tongue would turn the oddest shade of pastel colors and my mouth flesh would erode from the acid. Love them!
- #3. Snickers: Even though my father tended to steal these, I still managed to hide enough from the old man to get my fix. Unlike 3 Musketeers, I can eat Snickers until the dentist passes out!
- #2. Tootsie Rolls: One of the older candies, I just love how a tootsie roll can either be chewed like taffy or sucked on like a Starburst for minutes of endless enjoyment. That’s why they are #2 on my list!
- #1. Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups: Simply the best! Milk chocolatey goodness encasing peanut butter, the combination lethal to teeth enamel. I eat these periodically throughout the year, but when October returns I can’t… help…. myself… to a whole bag! Ha!
There you go. My top five favorite Halloween candies. I’m sure my list differs from your own. Share if you like! Tell me what you are looking to score tonight!
Would Samhain be proud?
I don’t know. But ultimately he’d be sitting at the dentist like the rest!
Happy Halloween, everyone! Be safe!
i love all those candies (i'm a major sugar-holic) but candy corn will always taste like Halloween to me. not a great trick or treat goodie, though. pretty much anything with brand-name chocolate inside a sealed factory wrapper will do. ;)
No marathon bar? No 100 Grand bar?
I take it you're not a fan of chewy caramel.
Wow. I've never heard of anyone liking Tootsie Rolls before. Not a fan of them, meself. The flavor is all wrong and the way they get themselves cemented to your teeth when you try to chew them is just... ick. I'm more of a Twix/Milky Way/Snickers person. My faves are probably the Crunch-like chocolates wrapped in Halloween-themed foil. The kid inside me also enjoys Blowpops that turn your mouth blue/red.
I actually loved tootsie rolls until I was describing them to someone from Germany and said "they are chocolate flavored wax." After that I just don't get as excited about them anymore but if I'm desperate I will eat them. I actually love laffy taffy and bit-o-honey.