Comments on: Halloween Apples!

By: Neil

Neil — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 02:58:13 +0000

I too grew up in Edmonton in the ’60s and it was “Halloween Apples” all over town – sung, no less, to a minor third interval. There was not a “Trick or Treat” to be heard, and definitely no ringing of doorbells. A friend of mine who grew up in Calgary tells me that he too used to say “Halloween Apples”. Anyone else from Calgary care to comment?

Anyway, could it be a Prairie thing? How about you Saskatchewanites (? I just realized that after 50 years I still don’t know what to call you! Is that correct?)

I’m sad to hear that it is being replaced by “Trick or Treat”, that always seemed to me to be an American saying…

By: Bob Armstrong

Bob Armstrong — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 15:23:53 +0000

I know I’m late to this, but I agree that this is a generational, rather than purely Manitoba, difference. I went “Halloweening” in Alberta from 1965- 66 and from 1969 to 73 or 74 and we said Halloween Apples. Trick or Treat, and Trick or Treating, replaced Halloween Apples and Halloweening, probably due to the influence of American television.

By: saurabh

saurabh — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 05:43:15 +0000

I grew up in New Jersey in the US, and we had that smell-my-feet rhyme there, too. Must be a genetic legacy of being human.

By: Ryan

Ryan — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 18:23:54 +0000

That’s funny. Perhaps in Winnipeg we hold on to things more antiquated for a little longer… take for example all the random small-scale examples of modern architecture that have stuck around for this long: “the wave” style Safeways, anyone? too bad they’re being torn down… the route of Halloween Apples too, it seems.

By: Josh

Josh — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 05:53:30 +0000

I grew up in Edmonton and it was nothing but “Halloween Apples”…and with no MB connection. I haven’t heard it in years. Good times.

By: Emma

Emma — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 18:26:20 +0000

Thanks for the input, everyone. I am a bit sad to report that although we had close to 100 kids, not one of them said “Halloween Apples”! It sounds like a revival of the saying is in order

By: mrchristian

mrchristian — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 02:34:13 +0000

Ha ! Toast ! That’s great.

So, Emma. What was the outcome?!

By: david

david — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 16:05:27 +0000

I hope the custom ISN’T fading away – is what that should say – sheesh proofread!

By: david

david — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 16:04:29 +0000

I grew up in winnipeg and of course it was Halloween Apples. As an earlier poster said, you would say it louder and louder until the door was answered. Moving out of Winnipeg, you heard nothing but trick or treat, so that was really odd to me. I have lived all across Canada and never run into the great saying we said in Winnipeg. Maybe slightly ahead of our time?!
I hope the custom is fading away, as it is a great saying for a great city to be proud of.

By: Winnipeg Pro Painting

Winnipeg Pro Painting — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 15:46:03 +0000

Trick or treat and halloween apples for this guy! great blog!