Some years ago I was in Berlin on Halloween, eating in a burger shop
and feeling sorry for myself. A crowd of teenagers, a few of whom wore odd elements of what might pass for costuming, came into the shop. They essentially said to the people working at the shop: 'We are trick-or-treaters. Give us french fries." At first, the people behind the counter ignored them. The teenagers responded by milling rowdily about and insisting that they be given fries, blocking the route to the counter for other people. Finally the burger-workers relented. The teenagers felt, however, that the fries they received were not in a large enough quantity. I think that eventually the burger-workers gave over some actual hamburgers.
Yesterday, I was in a coffee shop in Oxford, UK. Two children under the age of twelve entered, both dressed in what were obviously Halloween costumes, with face paint, and carrying plastic pumpkin buckets. (Note: yesterday was October 21.) The children went diligently from table to table doing the following: First, declare "trick or treat," then hold plastic pumpkin bucket toward person sitting at coffee shop table working on laptop, then stand plaintively looking at said person, holding bucket. Remain in that position.
I said to the older child, "It is not Halloween." She said, "We are going to visit our uncle and he does not observe Halloween."
Only the creepy guy on the sofa in the back of the shop gave them anything. He gave them some change.
