When I was a kid we made our own costumes (mostly) and did all the trick or treat stuff. Of course we were especially happy to get money, but didn't complain if we got fruit etc., These days kids arrive at my door for several days before and on Halloween, not saying "trick or treat" but simply "anything for Halloween?" as if they were common gardener beggars!! We usually try and put on a bit of a show for them, such as putting a few creepy pictures up inside the windows, turning off the light in the front hall and just using a candle, hanging a cardboard skeleton out and so on. If the kids today enjoy it as much as we did, then I'm happy for them. Since countries that have Halloween (a celtic festival that originated in Europe) generally don't have an indigenous carnival (a meditteranean festival) so Halloween is the one chance kids get to dress up and do all the carnival type stuff. I'd like to see it less commercialised though, and a bit more emphasis put into encouraging the kids' own creativity, at school or at home.