Growing up in Missoula, I lived for Halloween and trick-or-treating. I didn’t care much about what costume I was wearing. It was all about the candy. Full-size candy bars were like unicorns when I was a kid—rare and almost mythical. I also didn’t have the luxury of my parents taking me to different neighborhoods to trick-or-treat, and I couldn't go to a single location like the Southgate Mall. I had to trick-or-treat in our neighborhood, and if the neighborhood wasn’t very generous that year, well, I just expanded my route. I stayed out as late as possible, trying to fill that pillowcase with as much candy as I could get. I loved using a pillow case for my haul, I would beg my mom not to wash it for weeks because it still smelled like candy. Maybe I had a bit of a problem.

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I always thought that people were very generous to kids who trick or treat. According to a new report, Montanans aren’t as generous with Halloween candy as I thought they were. In fact, you could say we’re downright stingy. Couponbirds.com conducted research on candy generosity across the states, and Montana didn’t rank high. We came in at 44th out of 50 states. Pennsylvania took the top spot, while one of our neighboring states, Idaho, ranked at #4. So if you’re planning a trick-or-treat trip, Idaho might be worth the drive. Utah also ranks high at #3—not just for candy but for Halloween spirit and decorations where they come in at #1. Who would have thought that Utah would be one of the most Halloween-spirited places in the country?

US Map of Most Halloween Candy
Credit: CouponBirds/Canva
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So this year, let’s be a bit more generous with the kids. Let’s see if we can improve our ranking and give out more treats than tricks. I think we can do it together, Montana! Look back on what Halloween was like in the '80s below.

LOOK: 13 Things That Will Make You Nostalgic for Halloween in the '80s

1980s-era Halloween had its own vibe, from the waxy candy bags to the widespread fear of razor blades in apples. Think you can handle the nostalgia? Keep scrolling if you dare!

Gallery Credit: Stephen Lenz

LOOK: How Halloween has changed in the past 100 years

Stacker compiled a list of ways that Halloween has changed over the last 100 years, from how we celebrate it on the day to the costumes we wear trick-or-treating. We’ve included events, inventions, and trends that changed the ways that Halloween was celebrated over time. Many of these traditions were phased out over time. But just like fake blood in a carpet, every bit of Halloween’s history left an impression we can see traces of today.

Gallery Credit: Brit McGinnis

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