The 13 Halloween Traditions From Childhood We Miss Most

Fall is upon us and that means your grocery store aisles are fully stocked with Halloween candy, costumes and decorations. 

It's estimated that Americans purchase around 600 million pounds of candy each year  for the fright-filled holiday. As you might have imagined, chocolate and candy corn are the top sellers. In fact, around 20 million pounds of the classic Halloween candy is sold in America each year.

And when it comes to donning a costume and getting in the holiday spirit, a whopping 84 percent of boomers say they play to hand out candy this year, according to the National Confectioners Association.  That's not surprising as many of us have happy childhood memories of dressing up and trick-or-treating -- and then having carte blance to eat candy till we got sick.

We asked our Facebook friends what other Halloween traditions they remember fondly from their childhood. Here's what they shared with us:

 1. "DIY costumes that were scary or funny, not sexy." -- Lori Day

We're talking glue guns, glitter, accessories from mom's closet -- and using your pillowcase to stash your candy.

2. "Monster Mash." -- Adrianne Jack. 

The '60s hit song by Bobby Pickett has been a Halloween favorite for decades, telling the story of a mad scientist whose monster comes to life only to start dancing. Watch it performed on American Bandstand here. 

3. "Bobbing for apples." -- Michele Hardie.

Apples (unless they're candied) aren't all that fun on Halloween, but this holiday game sure is. It's harder than it looks. 

4. "Popcorn balls." -- Lloy Baumeister.

This yummy treat is best when homemade. Decorate with candy corn, use caramel popcorn or add some food coloring. Here's how you can make them yourself. 

5. "Halloween parades." -- Tanya Gomulka. 

Zombies, goblins and witches -- all on a huge parade float. It doesn't get any better than that. 

6. "Smashing pumpkins." -- Arnold James. 

What do you do with your leftover jack-o'-lanterns? Well, if you're a kid, you might have thought it was a fun idea to smash them. OK -- some adults might be getting into the punkin' chunkin ' fun, too. Just know that the cleanup isn't as fun.

7. "Candied caramel apples." -- Laurie Anne Wyles.

The worst thing you can throw in a trick-or-treater's bag is magically transformed into a delightful dessert when it's slathered in something sweet. Delicious. 

8. "Pillowcases for treat bags." --  Cat Turner.

Decorate or just plain white -- this is the classic way to stash all your gooodies. 

9. "Pixy Stix."-- Line Donnelly.

 Kids just love this sweet-and-sour candy powder which comes in a straw-like wrapper. Just don't down it all at once. 

10. "Trick-or-treating a night early to get extra candy." -- Jamie Greco.

Twice the candy? We're in. 

11. "Hershey's chocolate." --John Shurts.

Kisses or bars, there's nothing quite like this deliciously simple, plain, creamy chocolate.

 12. "Sixlets." -- Carol Coleman Hardy.

These chocolate-flavored, slightly malty, candy-coated spheres come in a convenient sleeve, making them easy to pop straight into your mouth. They even come in special festive holiday colors. 

 13. "Roaming the neighborhoods for candy without our parents!" -- Ronnie Kaminski Latimer.

Happy Halloween!

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