Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, trick-or-treating regulations have changed; even so, half of the students at Morton East will trick-or-treat this year.    

 According to “Five interesting facts about trick-or-treating” from the Daily Journal, it is believed that the idea of trick-or-treating originated in the 16th century during the Celtic Festival where people would go from door to door singing songs in exchange for food. Interestingly, trick or treating became popular in the U.S. around the 1930s. According to “How trick or treating became a Halloween tradition” from History, by the 1920s, pranks had become a Halloween activity by rowdy teenagers who caused 10,000 in damage.  

Additionally, because of sugar rations, there was a pause in trick or treating during the World War II outbreak. In present time, Americans spend an estimated $2.6 billion (about $8 per person in the U.S.) on candy on Halloween, leading to the nation’s second-largest commercial holiday. According to a random survey of 100 Morton East students, 50 out of 100 said they would go trick or treating. 

“Yes, if there’s safety precautions, but if not no,” junior Ashely Gomes said.  

Safety precautions will be essential for students like Ashley, but there’s others who aren’t really into the Halloween spirit, following up Ashley, another student said,  

“I’m not going trick or treating; I’m going to stay home, and watch shows,” senior Luz Mora-Bejar said. 

Students were also asked to tell what their Halloween costumes plans were, 

“I’m either going to dress up as an elf or a panda,” junior Kenia Hernandez said. 

Another student said,  

“I’m probably going to dress up as a clown,” sophomore Theresa Romizez said. 

Additionally, a teacher was asked if she had plans of dressing up,  

“I am not sure if I will dress up, but my kids are going as Bo Peep and Woody from Toy Story. My daughter wants me to be Jessie, so I may try to do something along those lines. I definitely will not be in full costume, but maybe I will get an ANDY shirt or something that I can wear with them that goes with the theme!” Parenting teacher Ms. Colleen Del Monaco said. 

Furthermore, students were asked if they had plans of going trick-or-treating. 

“I am going trick or treating with my friends,” senior America Lule said. 

Moreover, another student mentioned, 

“I would go with my friends,” senior Daniel Villanueva.  

Students were asked if they had already started Halloween shopping, 

“Yes, I started Halloween shopping, I started last week,” senior Fatima Garica.  

Another student added,  

“I started Halloween shopping at the beginning of October, I already got my costume and mask,” junior Ashley Gomes said.