5 Things I Didn't Know About American Halloween

Before I moved to America, I thought I knew everything there was to know about the country, having grown up on American films. But it turns out that real life is not always like the movies! Which might explain the multitude of things I didn't know about American-style Halloween. Here are five such things.
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[@amyvillanueva3442]

Actually some people do give out money. Usually it 50 cents or a dollar. Although those people are mostly dentists.

[@mrmadness2699]

Amy Villanueva, my father is a dentist. I will still NEVER live down the year when he gave out toothbrushes to trick-or-treaters!

[@cupcake8867]

Amy Villanueva Yep, you will occasionally get pennies.

[@micheleparker8123]

...and it's usually in pennies...

[@madelinemoreau7692]

My grandma gives two quarters to every trick or treater

[@annam.addison2129]

Shut the front door! MONEY! You guys got money? That's awesome..... I'm catching a flight as we speak....hahaha! Thanks, Lawrence, that was fun! You also know that the original jack-o-lanterns were turnips....hahaha.... I wish I could still dress up and act a fool... oh well....Take Care you two....

[@brookenjonas]

Anna M. Addison I had a neighbor who used to pass out money. So one American I know of gave trick-or-treaters money.

[@annam.addison2129]

Brooke Jonas Thats great! I didn't know of any....one gave out comicbooks though....every year!

[@brookenjonas]

Anna M. Addison That's hilarious!

[@ESUSAMEX]

Sometimes I used to get about $5 in coins on Halloween, usually from older people who didn't want to go to the store. My grandma always gave money so that the kids didn't get sick from the sugar.

[@LostinthePond]

Sometimes, the sweet old lady down the road from me would give me a whole pound coin!

[@ohlookmarki]

Treasure this season. When the last leaf falls, #pumpkineverything will soon give way to #pepperminteverything

[@ohlookmarki]

On the side note, heeeeey I'm the 100th like on this page :)

[@LostinthePond]

Ha! Another reason to banish winter.

[@mangaanimefan3089]

Peppermint is delicious!!

[@dubuyajay9964]

You don't have pumpkin pie for Christmas?

[@marscaleb]

I actually got money from one house in my neighborhood when I was a kid. It was some Asian guy (don't know what nationality; never cared back then) who still had a slight accent. He reached into his pockets and gave us all quarters. And they were shiny and new quarters too, he was doing a good job of giving people money. But at the time I didn't think this was cool. As a kid I was upset because he wasn't giving us candy, because candy was what I really wanted. Screw your money; do I look like I'm trying to get a job? NO, I want some flipping candy! Also there was another guy on our street who gave all the trick-or-treaters an entire pomegranate off of his tree. And my mom handed out bags of popcorn. Honestly it was a pretty cool street to go trick-or-treating on back in the day.

[@OceanluvOC]

One of my neighbors in my old neighborhood was a rich attorney & he would give out candy & $5 to everyone

[@tessat338]

Some kids do collect money for Unicef on Halloween. Kids carry little red Unicef collecting boxes. Giving kids money directly means that you didn't remember to buy candy and feel guilty.

[@327hks]

I used to get money when trick-or-treating but mostly sweets . That was a long, long, long,long, long time ago.

[@ohlookmarki]

327hks nooo what happened? Why can't we bring the money back?

[@LostinthePond]

I've just had an idea: let's hide money in the sweets. (I can smell the lawsuits from here).

[@overtheedge9298]

327hks It looks like you're still a pup.

[@Madsci1]

When i was a kid Halloween was much different. All the little old ladies around town would bake. Peanut brittle, popcorn balls, fudge, brownies , caramel and candy apples, divinity, snicker doodles, M and M cookies and lots more treats. Then the candyman hit and parents lost their collective minds and that was the end of homemade treats for the most part.

[@MRuby-qb9bd]

Yep. I grew up in a rural area during the 90s. In town people only gave out store-bought stuff. One year I went out with a farm kid to all their neighbors in the country and they would let you in and give you like half a plate of fudge and hot cider. It was dope.

[@elleysmile6991]

i love this channel ❤❤❤❤! i even went and looked up British Pop

[@LostinthePond]

Thank you!

[@hebneh]

People are disagreeing in the comments here about when tric or treating started in the U.K...I don't know about that, but I do know that Halloween in the US was considered to be exclusively for kids till young adults didn't give it up and started going to work in costumes in the 1970s. And having parties. And competing in drunken costume contests in bars.

[@haleynaaliyah]

My 8-year-old was a Rubix Cube this year 😂😎

[@wendelynmusic]

when I was a kid it was witches, monsters, superheroes and princesses. it wasn't until I was an adult I saw other types of costumes.

[@rowynnecrowley1689]

Sometimes you will get a handful of change, or maybe a dollar bill, usually from a diabetic who doesn't dare have sweets in the house. But most of the time it's candy. Or the dreaded toothbrush.

[@Shakes_The_Clone]

We would get money from a few houses each year growing up in the 70’s. From the older neighbors… so maybe it was a dying tradition at that point? South Carolina, FWIW.

[@lindaterrell6104]

When I was a kid, the only time money was given out is when the household ran out of candy.

[@pandabear153]

You are very comical!

[@LostinthePond]

And sometimes on purpose.

[@Kai-uj5go]

I've gotten money once as a kid in the 90s he gave out nickles( a few per person) It was literally the only time in my life thats why I remember. Maybe he was bristish and as a kid I had no clue?

[@LMD33]

#AskABrit Coming from England, where no one is more than 70 miles from the sea, did you ever experience the feeling of being landlocked when you moved to Indiana?

[@plantguy9]

You buttoned your shirt wrong.

[@BiglerSakura]

Sweets? or maybe candies?

[@user-wr9ej6xe4j]

The scariest costume i ever saw was a half Caitlyn Jenner half Bruce Jenner costume

[@carolesherk4891]

your eyes are hilarious

[@countertenor5890]

Trick or Treat. Smell my feet. Give me something good to eat.

[@amberhunter2411]

If you don't I don't care I'll pull down your underwear!

[@biffgee6797]

Who keeps the little pumpkins safe to and from school?...... The crossing gourd!

[@nuimaleko7]

We don't really have a tradition of costume or fancy dress parties the way the UK does, so we save it all for Halloween and dress up as anyone, anything and everything.

[@LostinthePond]

That's a very good point!

[@jamesslick4790]

Entirely valid. Halloween (for adults) in the US, the equivalent of a "costume party". There is also "Cosplay" , Perhaps, In it's way, satisfying a similar function.

[@PockASqueeno]

But we do have costume parties here…

[@georgemaster689]

@@LostinthePond I recall that we had a costume contest at one of my jobs and I won a $25 gift certificate due to the fact that one of my co-workers tied with me for best costume.What a day that was.

[@larryf2821]

You do know those big pumpkins are just for jack-o-lanterns, the kind you make pie out of are smaller "sugar pumpkins".

[@jamesjfisk4968]

The British give out money on Halloween? I would have thought it felt too much like tipping, and the British generally loathe tipping.

[@elizabeths50]

The Pumpkin Festival is in Ohio. They have a "biggest Pumpkin" contest, 2017 biggest Pumpkin was 1,700 lbs

[@LostinthePond]

That is almost ten times what I weigh. That's... I can't... wow!

[@benstoyles1297]

Was that bigger than the largest attendant?

[@drflum66]

Ah yes, The Circleville Pumpkin Show. If you like pumpkins, autumn, and Halloween, this festival is for you.

[@PipsKay]

Yes the Scottish and Irish brought Halloween to America and we said: WOW that looks fun, lets do it!!!! and you can dress up like anything or anyone you'd like here in the States..I'm dreseing as a hobbit, got a cloak, hair and pointy ears and hobbit feet..on and a plastic blue LOTR sword...wait, did you say they give out money in Britain..lets adopt that idea too

[@LostinthePond]

I think we should hide money in the sweets!

[@PipsKay]

Lost in the Pond good idea

[@larryf2821]

People are so paranoid about things being hidden in the Halloween candy, that would never work.

[@negative4life]

When I was young, some people in my neighbourhood did give out money to the trick or treaters. Most of them were elderly though. That could be part of it...the younger adults just didn't stick with the tradition. That seems to be the way with a lot of traditions anymore & it makes me sad.

[@mikeelmira]

negative4life our family gave money if we ran out of candy

[@markoldgeezer167]

#AskABrit Hi, Laurence. The 5th of November, Guy Fawkes Night, is in only six days. Could you tell us 5 things about Bonfire Night that we don't know. (Bearing in mind that most Americans have never heard of Bonfire Night.) Thanks.

[@Sophie.S..]

Great idea.

[@knights8887]

As if you've never heard of it.

[@gavinreid8351]

Guy Fawkes Night. A celebration of the failure of a terrorist plot and the punishment of the terrorists.

[@angietyndall7337]

Guy Fawkes & the Gun Powder plot. Yeah,I actually know about that, but then again I always liked history.

[@jimcrovatt6988]

Money??!! If people handed out money here in America, I'd still be trick-or-treating to this day--and I'm 53 years old. There was always that one lady on the street that would hand out a religious tract with a penny inside. We always pocketed the penny and then left the tract on her front lawn.

[@LostinthePond]

Ha!

[@SuperDrLisa]

My favorite Halloween memories were roaming the streets in a home made costume with a pillowcase for the goodies. One neighbor always had a fire in the hearth and cider and popcorn to help us last longer on the road. We had to go in and sit and eat and drink or no candy! Can you imagine that today? No parents, no timetable. Do they trick or treat during the daylight in the UK or do they wait until dark? Here in Rhode Island mostly we wait until night. When I lived in NJ the kids went home when it got dark.

[@adamrees400]

Lisa Mieth where I live in the UK trick or treating is always in the dark. Its dark here around 5pm and trick or treating usually starts around the same time.

[@caulkins69]

A few years ago, the U.S. extended Daylight Saving Time to November because supermodel Kate Upton's uncle Fred wanted kids to be able to trick-or-treat when it was still light. I'm not kidding!

[@LostinthePond]

Yeah, my memories of Halloween all involve the nighttime.

[@christophercombs7561]

caulkins69 it was fair game during the night when i was a kid too

[@christophercombs7561]

Donna Rainford when i was a kid and the demographics of my neighborhood was better i would walk from my house tp my grandfathers house and back again and easily fill a pillowcase and then some

[@jordancorey]

When I was a kid in England, no one, as far as I know went trick or treating, I think it only started after ET..was released. Also we carved turnips and not pumpkins. I'm 49 by the way

[@rbeck3200tb40]

It started after ET ? The movie ? What does that movie have to do with halloween ?

[@jordancorey]

rbeck3200tb40 they went out trick or treating in it..

[@rbeck3200tb40]

I thought halloween was an old English or Celtic tradition from the middle ages so i assumed people in the UK did it all the time and didnt learn it from the movie ET ??? Im confused

[@jordancorey]

We have always celebrated Halloween but not like they do now. I'm just saying that I can't remember anyone going out trick or treating when I was a kid. I had never heard of it until I saw ET... I think trick or treating probably started in America but I'm not sure.

[@rbeck3200tb40]

Ok thats bizarre Most customs at holidays in the US are from western Europe especially from Britain I do know that in America trick or treating is from the 1700s . It might surprise you that today its not that common in alot of neighborhoods in America anymore because of safety. Usually the local churches have what they call "trunk or treat" where people put candy in the trunk of their cars and the kids go from car to car in the parking lot instead of going around to strangers houses .

[@mat7279]

Illinois Nickname: The Prairie State What it should be nicknamed: The Pumpkin State!

[@LostinthePond]

I shall petition the statehouse immediately.

[@craigchastain7016]

Mat 727 Springfield has about 1 million issues more important in the queue.

[@TheCaptainSplatter]

Ya like fix our roads.

[@richerDiLefto]

I live right next to Morton, Illinois, which produces 85% of the world’s canned pumpkin. My dad’s machine company makes and replaces the grinders in the machines that process the pumpkins.

[@pasford]

Your sense of humor is brilliant.

[@LostinthePond]

Thank you, Gabriel!

[@dottiesullivan6410]

I so like the way you compare Americans and BRITs to each other you’re so positive and pleasant unlike other sites that really cut down Americans keep up the good work👍

[@FireCracker3240]

You should see the size of the pumpkins that are decorating the hotel I work at. Seriously, they are ginormous. Big enough for two full grown adults to sit side by side on them. They weigh hundreds of pounds and it took 3 large men and a sturdy pick up truck backed up to the door to get them in place. Truly amazing, those pumpkins are. Speaking of costumes... mine is a sad history. I never had money for costumes, so every year I was forced to go as an ice hockey player with things I had at home. Year after year, I was a girl hockey player. Yay! But then one time, when I was in 12th grade, I dressed up like an ATM card. It was this huge felt costume, draped over my shoulders, and it was an exact replica of the card in my wallet. I even made ATM earrings from old, invalid cards I had scrounged off of people. It was more than a bit awkward, and hard to move around in, but I so loved it at the time... because I wasn't a hockey player. It only got better after that point. I would then dress up like Cher... 😂😂😂

[@LostinthePond]

I have to give you a lot *credit* for that costume. Hope you didn't encounter someone dressed as an ATM, though. They might have tried to eat you!

[@alicekaspersen5478]

Years ago, before 1960, on Long Island, at least, it was customary to give candy or pennies, the overly generous might give nickels. Since candy bars were a nickel each and comic books and Cokes and Pepsis were ten cents each. Candy was more customary even back then, but pennies usually came from people who worked long hours in Manhattan and elderly people who had trouble getting out to the markets.

[@vickenkodjaian5265]

Just the fact that you have a KZbin channel with all those subscribers as you said, you are already well known, and with your English humor along with your gorgeous British accent you have made it already if you ask me.

[@meganlovesdisneyandcrafts4780]

I think they do money and other non sweets because of Allergies.

[@christophercombs7561]

Disney Gamer some times its not common in my area however full size candy bars are more common than money

[@Agaettis]

a few people on my street would give money, but it was usually just a few cents, lucky if you got a quarter

[@MegaMackproductions]

I've never in my entire life received money for tick-or-treating. But then again I live in America,

[@pompe221]

I've heard of some people in the U.S. giving out money to trick-or-treaters, but only because they had run out of candy before the kids stopped coming to the door.

[@jasonlueker3032]

When I was a kid there was that one old lady that always gave out dimes. Dimes. No idea if I ever asked why, I was a prat so I’m sure I did.

[@drawin_junk7137]

Here in Ohio we have an entire festival for pumpkins

[@smilinredhead]

Have you ever been in a haunted house? My favorite haunted house is in Gatlinburg, TN.

[@LostinthePond]

I've been in a couple. I've always wanted to visit Gatlinburg - I hear good things.

[@smilinredhead]

Lost in the Pond I love it. So many great things to do there and in Pigeon Forge as well. I really want to go back some day. Maybe I will meet you there.

[@benjaminoconnor5247]

I actually run a year-round one in Orlando, which is great because we get a lot of tourists from around the UK and elsewhere in there world who otherwise wouldn't usually come across a big production haunt. Their reactions are always extremely fun, especially if it's the first time theyve visited one.

[@williamthomas5788]

Adults should not go trick or treating. They may go to parties. Or they may accompany children, who may trick-or-treat.

[@celina-onemouseketeer7653]

William Thomas adults should be able to dress up and go out at night after the kids and all the kids hand out money lol - I'm all for the last part for sure! 😂 - totally kidding of course...unless..nono I'm kidding! Happy Halloween 👻

[@moonpaints4090]

I give candy to everyone. Halloween is for everyone.

[@peteholder7134]

5 bob isn't £5, it's 25p. A bob was a shilling and when decimalisation came in (yes I'm old enough to remember) 1 shilling coins were still used for 5p until they finally went out of circulation. Likewise, sixpence was used for 2 1/2p and 2 shillings (2 bob) was used for 10p.

[@Squirreltasticqueen]

When I went trick or treating in the 90s I remember some kids asking for change for UNICEF but that's about it and I don't see it now a days.

[@carrieannmcleod5219]

When I was a child long ago (in the '60's), we would say, "Trick or Treat for UNICEF" and got money instead of treats to raise money for them. I only did it for couple of years.

[@PixieDust-eq6kc]

Anne Austin Pumpkin Pie is simply delicious! Especially with whipped cream or vanillia icecream. Its my kids favorite. You giys really are missing out. You should try it. Try the Libby's brand recipe. 😉

[@LostinthePond]

Gotta be pecan pie, for me! Mmm.

[@sweetlikechocolate437]

I'm about late(3 years to be exact!) but speaking of pumpkin....I absolutely love pumpkin spice latte. Yummy.

[@stevenator0281]

It is Celtic New Year. It is called Samhain (pronounced "SAWin"). I lived in the UK for ten years and no Brits celebrated Halloween.

[@VaBeachBeach2971]

I think every year on Halloween there was always a grandpa in the neighborhood that gave out quarters. I’ve lived in many areas in Virginia. Mostly candy but sometimes money. I think money more birthday thing.

[@liber7773]

Anglophiles are pretty plentiful in America, myself included! I’m glad I found this channel because I really love Britain

[@tracywoods4233]

You can trick or treat for unicef. You have a little box you take around for donations. And then send the money in. Not particularly the best trick or treating but..... I always wondered why those kids didn’t do both candy and money?

[@PockASqueeno]

People give out *money* to trick or treaters in England?! 😯 I need to go trick or treating in England!

[@countertenor5890]

Your wife must dye her hair if she's a ginger. In the videos in which she appears, she has dark hair.

[@Kikakowia]

Haha orange is a Halloween color because of all the pumpkins!

[@marigeobrien]

If you like Halloween and want to really experience something (and travel), you should definitely go to Greenwich Village in lower Manhattan, NY, for the Halloween Parade. It's out of this world.

[@PixieDust-eq6kc]

Anne Austin Pumpkin Pie is simply delicious! Especially with whipped cream or vanillia icecream. Its my kids favorite. You giys really are missing out. You should try it. Try the Libby's brand recipe. 😉

[@agoogleuser4443]

Yep, gotta agree on that one. Love me some pumpkin pie!

[@jamesslick4790]

Pumpkin is FLAT OUT my favorite pie. It's a "sin" that it's seen as a "seasonal" thing.

[@grimreaper86]

pumpkin pie and pumpkin cheesecake are the best

[@JDoors]

Funny you mention kids expecting sweets in the US and money in the UK. I ran out of candy (US) and went to my stash of pennies. Told the little ones to grab a handful. How many could they grab? A lot, as it turned out. The kids were screaming! "MOM! HE'S GOT PENNIES!" Ha. Got rid of a ton of pennies I'd never use anyway.

[@urbanpoodle]

Wait, I could get away with doling out pennies?! Who knew? :) I make treat bags to give out and in addition to candy they contain a toy of some sort and a $1 bill. Each year, I get a handful of "new" kids who freak out with joy when they realize there's money in the treat bag. It's really cute to see but, man, it adds up. That said, Halloween is my favorite holiday so the financial ding is worth it to me.

[@tkaefring]

Halloween is the second largest retail sales after x-mas!

[@miscellaneous.7127]

4:02 "Bob" is shillings not pounds. COME ON YOU SHOULD KNOW THIS, the *real* Lawrence/Laurence would know!

[@LostinthePond]

Indeed. That was John Travolta talking.

[@brookenjonas]

Happy Halloween! Bring the Britpop music back!

[@LostinthePond]

Same to you, Brooke! I will - I'm determined to make the band Pulp famous over here.

[@charlesstuart7290]

One of my great shocks since leaving London years ago was how the Englsih adopted Halloween which was once as American as the Fourth of July.

[@AyngeMackay]

Sometimes we got money, but not much. Pocket change from people who ran out of candy. Honestly I wanted the candy more LOL.

[@LostinthePond]

Reminds me of the time I ran out of candy and gorged myself on a stack of dimes.

[@JaelinBezel]

Yeah, you can't eat a dime, or well you CAN but I wouldn't recommend it.

[@jordanhicks5131]

I cant wait for this Halloween! "Trick or treat, gimme money!"

[@tracieholladay8221]

Well, I suppose you have a point about the money. You can go buy whatever you want with your money. But...CANDY! Come on!! Everyone loves candy. And I was lucky enough to NOT be diabetic (as I am now) at the time when I used to trick or treat, back in the late 1970s. Candy everywhere!

[@rollinwithunclepete824]

Money?!?! WTF... Why even bother dressing up unless you know you're going to get Candy! Not Sweets Heh Heh Heh! Although, an ex-girlfriend told me one time her college-age neighbors, 2 or 3 guys of course, gave out Skoal Bandits cuz they didn't have any Candy!

[@LostinthePond]

Ha!

[@negative4life]

One guy a few streets over from me gave out Marlboro reds & airline bottles. I'm sad I missed that house before he got busted. lol

[@agoogleuser4443]

Were the Skoal bandits guys possibly from NC? I've known SO many guys who use that.

[@bugone2724]

when I was a kid we got candy,money,comic books and small toys now it's just candy not much with that.

[@russbear31]

I'm old enough to remember when kids in the US used to get a lot of homemade candy when they went trick-or-treating. Homemade popcorn balls, carmel apples, taffy... Now that the world is a scarier place, everyone is leary of homemade candy. Too many crazy people who would try to hurt or poison kids.

[@Julie_from_Izba]

I really like your videos, I actually used this one for an English lesson and it was a hit. Thanks!

[@LostinthePond]

Спасибо! Я счастлив, что это помогло.

[@nickstevensmartialarts8914]

😧 The British hand out MONEY on Halloween instead of candy!? I’ve never heard that before! I’m so jealous now!

[@PockASqueeno]

Tara is a blonde, not a ginger…

[@angelfriend3710]

Yeah, the candy industry is HUGE at Halloween time. Money may have been given at one time, but sorry...the kiddos expect candy!! (...and not the cheap stuff...the good stuff: Twix, Snickers, Reese's, M& M's, etc...)

[@gregbenwell6173]

One year I dressed up as Doctor Who, (when Tom Baker was the good Doctor!!) I had the hat the scarf and everything then!! And NOBODY KNEW WHO I WAS!!!!! It was weird because they used to show Doctor Who on Public Broadcast (PBS) in my home town and still NOBODY KNEW WHO DOCTOR WHO WAS!!! I still giggle about this to this day!!

[@lisawillis8227]

Thanks for your channel, I get a kick out of your take on American vs British culture and traditions.

[@LostinthePond]

Thanks, Lisa!

[@3Authoress]

You get MONEY when you trick-or-treat for Halloween in England?! What?! How???

[@KamisamanoOtaku]

While I never received money while trick-or-treating, apparently it happens (or happened in some areas) *however,* if you really want money for your costume, you're in luck! Some Halloween parties include costume contests where a really good costume can indeed win you some cash... or at least non-candy prizes. ... Plus probably some candy prizes. XD

[@micheleparker8123]

At the end of your videos, what's the little piano music that's playing? It's so cute and appealing, I'm DYING to know!!👹👺💀😈😲

[@GraupeLie]

Hahahaha, currently I actually quite sound like your creepy voice right at the start...Wow...you get money for trick-or-treating in England? Halloween isn't as much of a thing in Germany as in the US, but we only get sweets too...And yes, since we have carneval for dressing up as...anything, Halloween is reserved for dressing up as something/someone creepy...Hahaha, your comment about the gingers :D

[@Otokichi786]

Pumpkins are a native vine vegetable pressed into service over the years by Irish immigrants. Jack 'O Lanterns are the other part of scaring off evil spirits of various kinds. Keeping hooligans from damaging your domicile started off with money, but candy has become the "treat" of "trick of treat." Originally a costume festival for kids and young teens, adults are now part of the Halloween dusk parade. Scots and Irish immigrants shaped the 19th century "hooligan street party" As for money collected at Halloween, I associate UNICEF with that, since I did that one Halloween evening.

[@Richie_P]

In England they give trick-or-treaters money?! That just seems so uncouth. And why the hell would anybody dress up as Kevin Costner? My not just skip the middle man and dress up as Robin Hood himself?

[@FireCracker3240]

I'm a proud life-long ginger, and I approved of your message, Laurence.

[@LostinthePond]

*Wipes sweat off eye-brow.

[@agoogleuser4443]

What exactly is a "ginger"?

[@shheih285]

Before my time (not telling) kids used to collect 'pennies for UNICEF' along with a bit of candy on Halloween. I give out CapriSun. Easy to tell if they"ve been tampered with. We started out giving it to parents, (hot work following the little monsters) but the kids decided they were thirsty as well.

[@mutteringcrone1210]

My grandfather's childhood experience of Halloween - which would have been in the 1920's and 30's, was that it was an adult holiday where the men went door-to-door demanding drink and generally being rude and obnoxious. I don't know how that squared with Prohibition.

[@bobtheduck]

Hopefully your wife told you not to trick-or-treat in the US as an adult. Trick-or-treating is for prepubescents* only, and the only older trick-or-treaters are only meant to be chaperones. *Really 12 and under, as there are some girls who start puberty as young as 8 in the US. People often blame milk, but that's BS because I drank more milk than anyone I've ever known, and I started Puberty late.

[@fimnorawestcaw5307]

Another fun video! Yes, folks in the US dress their houses to the 9s on Halloween, as well as on Yule/Xmas. I think it's about the stores wanting more money for themselves, and what kid could resist getting dressed up and getting more candy than they're normally permitted by their parents? I've never heard of trick or treaters getting money. Though in the 21st (as they say on Travelers) I wouldn't be surprised. Generally, from my own youth, costumes were anything from monsters to princesses, or just about anything imagined. In fact just around that time, specialty stores pop up around town specifically for selling costumes. Thanks for bringing us another interesting video.

[@sewashburn0529]

People used to raise money for UNICEF at Halloween if I remember my childhood right.

[@RVGmetallicasaw]

Wait... the brits give money to the trick-or-treaters? Okay. We just give candy. If you are allergic, or don't like something... you trade with your friends and family so everybody gets the things they like. Though Candycorn... nobody trades for candycorn. Atleast not exclusively, candycorn is somewhat like unto a low-denomination peice of currency. You add it to the chocolate bar you're trading away in order to sweeten the deal.

[@johnmcconnell9979]

Two quick comments. Pumpkins are a native species to the Americas, so it makes sense that you'd see A LOT of them here. Secondly, your creepy voice made me thing of Anthony Hopkins/Hannibal Lector. Perhaps that could be your costume sometime for Halloween; you do have something of a similar look to him when he was younger. i.pinimg.com/236x/c0/3f/ca/c03fcaf6fc153eb212ab8527837f7e3d.jpg

[@kimfleury]

About 10 years ago, I was visiting a relative at a hospital in Sarnia, Ontario, and was in a waiting area when I met a man from Scotland who was also waiting to visit his relative. He and I got to talking about the differences in culture between his homeland, mine (the US), and Canada. His parents had actually immigrated first to Boston, Massachusetts when he was about 9 years old. His first Halloween, his 14 year old brother was supposed to help him with his costume, but being at that age for going off with friends instead, big brother left little brother to figure it out for himself. The only thing little brother knew about October 31 is that it's Bobby Burns Day in Scotland, and the proper way to dress for it is to paint your face black. It has nothing to do with blackface, and he had never heard of blackface, so he did what he was familiar with. Then he was immediately expelled from school. His parents were called to take him out of school, and the school administration wouldn't listen to the appeal of cultural differences. His parents were so angry that they immigrated to Canada, where there was more familiarity with Scottish culture. It's unfortunate that today the historical significance is lost, and school children might be expelled from school in Scotland if they do it this upcoming Bobby Burns Day.

[@devingorney8051]

Candy/sweets is the traditional Halloween "gift". As an American, its my option, that if you're no longer interested in dressing up and begging/performing(arguably) for a pillow case full of diabetes you're old enough to be looking for a paper route or grass cutting job. Want money from strangers? Earn it.

[@wendi2819]

You need to watch the entire month of Scariest places in America on all month of October!!! You missed so many awesome stuff--- there are amazing Haunted House themed tours all over America the whole month! There are street festivals for Halloween all month! There is Punkin Junkin! There's also fireworks for Halloween! The wildest home parties ever are on Halloween. Tarah--- you have alot of homeschooling to give this man about Halloween!! Ha!

[@morgan9774]

Yes! You certainly can dress as Nicholas Cage from Face off who's pretending to be in Saturday Night Fever.

[@NekoChanSenpai]

Money? We're lucky if we get a full sized candy bar, maybe a quarter if there's any money. A quarter at the most if not pennies with the occasional nickel. You know you've hit a bad house if you get pocket change.

[@ashleyburbank3129]

no seriously America has a problem with pumpkin spice and it's made me angry when I was younger I could just pumpkin flavored stuff that's all pumpkin spice, pumpkin spice is crap. looking very on how much spice is added it's still better without spice

[@SunflowerSpotlight]

How do you know John Travolta in Saturday Night fever *wasn’t* her uncle? Mind blow. 😳

[@persephanie7755]

My Grandpa used to give out money for Halloween. Of course, he only gave out pennies, but years ago, the kids appreciated it. He would also keep count of how many kids came every year. One year, he topped out at over 300 kids!

[@elizabethlovett4318]

No, we don't give out money. Some people hand out healthy treats. Kids hate those houses though. These things are raisins, popcorn balls and apples. If you don't want trick or treaters, give those things out. It may take a whole night, but kids will likely never go to your house again if you do this. It's also an unspoken rule that if you decorate outside and your porch light is on for the evening of trick or treating, it's a silent declaration that you're giving out candy. Porch lights switched on and Halloween decorations say 'come here for candy' to trick or treaters in America. At least where I live, I can't speak for other regions in America.

[@vickenkodjaian5265]

I lived in Chicago five years and the rest in California. I think in the Midwest of USA Halloween is more original, in my opinion. I think the cold weather is missing in southern California after all when you think of the month of October you think of cold plus Halloween in last day of October.

[@wpl6661]

There are 42 countries in the world whose GDP is smaller than what is spent on Halloween in America each year. 6 billion dollars. You could build 6 Wembley stadiums for that amount.

[@TheCaptainSplatter]

Woot we are practically neighbors. Live near Chicago. Sure its about an hour drive, but still near Chicago.

[@cassieoz1702]

I used to hollow out 'turnip lanterns' (really swede/rutabaga) for halloween as a little girl in England, but the celebration used to mush into Guy Fawkes Night. Halloween really wasnt much of a separate thing