A big city is finally celebrating Halloween?! – q1043.iheart.com

Des Moines, Iowa will let kids trick or treat for the first time since 1938!

Iowa’s capital had banned this Halloween celebration for decades to curb “hooliganism.” What did they do instead, you ask? The city came up with its own holiday called “Beggars’ Night”. Children dress up in costumes the day before Halloween and are expected to tell a joke before receiving candy. The kids could also sing a song or recite poetry, and now that Halloween is back, maybe they’ll wear red jumpsuits with masks since the city is home to Slipknot.

The return of the holiday was also practical for Des Moines residents, as heavy rains and thunderstorms were expected on Beggars Night, so the city moved the festivities to Thursday, October 31.

“I didn’t realize we were such an anomaly because for us it’s normal,” said Debbie Westphal Swander, owner of a costume shop. “At least this year we will be in sync with how the event is celebrated everywhere else.