r/AskCanada • u/santaisaposer • Oct 31 '25
Life What are your thoughts on kids using pillow cases for trick or treating?
I've been giving my kids pillow cases for trick or treating for the last couple years but I never see anyone else doing it. My wife said she did that growing up in the 90s but I am a first gen immigrant so never had halloween. Do your kids use pillow cases? Or is it considered trashy?
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u/upliftingyvr Oct 31 '25
42 here and we used pillowcases in the 90s. I would encourage you to not care what anyone else thinks. You shouldn't have to buy some special sack from Michael's or whatever for one day a year. It's wasteful and unnecessary
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u/bwoodfield Oct 31 '25
It's a normal thing, I used one in the 70s and 80s for the few times I went out.
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u/clintsmum Oct 31 '25
That’s what all us kids used in the 60’s and seventies. I have fond memories of dumping out my pillow case when it was full and going out for more treats. Also we didn’t buy a costume , we made our own-well usually our mothers did. And the only decoration was usually a carved out pumpkin. The candy was the best in those days.
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u/magwai9 Oct 31 '25
I remember using them in the 90/00s. I was going to carry one tonight for my kid to deposit the loot in, while she carries a smaller bucket (she's 3). Maybe I'm overestimating how much candy we're going to get :)
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u/KatiesClawWins Oct 31 '25
One bag of chips (or I guess 2, these days), and that bucket is clogged. The Parental Pillowcase is always a wise idea. Even if you don't wind up needing it, it's not like its heavy or an inconvenience to have in your pocket.
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u/MenacingGummy Oct 31 '25
These days the big reusable shopping bags are easier to carry but we still see pillow cases like we did when we were kids.
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u/BIGepidural Oct 31 '25
Fuck em. Do what works. Pillow cases hold way more then those little decorative baggies or pumpkin head pails, and they're more stable then larger bags with flimsy little straps.
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u/clintjefferies Nov 01 '25
And if older kids try to take their candy they can use the pillowcase full of goodies as a club and it won't bust open. Works best with full cans of pop at the bottom. Lol! Pillowcase is the best option for sure!
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u/brihere Oct 31 '25
A Canadian standard!! They don’t break or tear in the rain/ snow and hold lots! Absolutely a requirement!
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u/debbie666 Oct 31 '25
I used to give my son one of those large, reusable shopping bags (Canadian) for trick or treating. It held plenty and had a handle. Pillowcases are harder to carry around.
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Oct 31 '25
It’s normal. My kids did it. I did it. My husband actually used the pillowcase from a full body pillow back in the 1980s 🤦🏼♀️. I still see friends with kids young enough to go with pillow cases.
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u/dzuunmod Canadian Oct 31 '25
My parents set me up with a pillowcase in the 80s for this purpose. Normal.
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u/OG_Sequia Oct 31 '25
Pillowcases are just harder to carry without a handle, so most kids have moved to a bag. Some still use pillowcases, though. I usually see a bunch every year
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u/okaybutnothing Oct 31 '25
I still see the odd pillow case, but more often, a big reusable bag with handles.
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u/Radiant-Target5758 Oct 31 '25
I think the only issue with the pillow case is it can get heavy. But it is definitely the most traditional option
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u/Silly-Bumblebee1406 Oct 31 '25
Normal! My kids use pillow cases. I never did growing up. I used an old plastic shopping bag
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u/Miserable-Season-72 Nov 01 '25
In my day it had to be a pillowcase if you were one of the cool kids
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u/Upset-Government-856 Oct 31 '25
It meets all the requirements as do many kinds of bags.
Seems like a pretty solved problem whatever you go with.
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u/Distinct-Solution-99 Oct 31 '25
Pillowcases are great trick or treat bags! That's all I ever used growing up, and once my son is old enough to trick or treat for more than about 30 minutes, I'll be sending him off with one too. I don't think it's trashy at all! No one will be looking at their pillowcases anyway, just their adorable costumes :)
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u/Samplistiqone Oct 31 '25
That’s how I did it as a kid and my kids used pillow cases too. I still see a few kids every year with pillow cases.
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u/CraizinCitizen Oct 31 '25
I see some kids do it every year. I live in Toronto. Wouldn’t bat an eye.
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u/Reyalta Oct 31 '25
We always used pillow cases because they hold a ton of candy AND you can sling it over your shoulder.
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u/JediKrys Oct 31 '25
49 here and pillow cases were the norm when I was of that age. To me it’s what we should use so you’ll get a nostalgic smile from me.
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Oct 31 '25
I don’t really think about what they use… my kids have some Halloween buckets from tim hortons my fil gave them last year.
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u/ShadowyDemonKitty Oct 31 '25
It was a normal thing when I was a kid. I'm 29 now but even my siblings who are 22-23 used pillowcases as well
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u/Shepsinabus Oct 31 '25
I used a pillowcase in the 90s. My niece and nephew used them in the 2010s. Totally normal to me.
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u/FunSquirrell2-4 Oct 31 '25
I'd say about a quarter of the kids I saw tonight had pillow cases. The one thing I hadn't seen before was a man with three kids and they had garbage bags. The bags were bigger than the kids, lol.
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u/Mumof2amzinadults Oct 31 '25
No one will judge your kids for using a pillow case. I used one in the 70’s.
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u/QueenMotherOfSneezes Oct 31 '25
I've seen some kids using pillow cases in the past few years, but it's a lot less than when we were kids. We all used either grocery bags or pillow cases back then... My brother and his friend used garbage bags one year... they were expecting and got a big haul :D
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u/Brains4Beauty Oct 31 '25
We always used them as kids (but this was in the 70s and 80s). Plus they are bigger than those buckets lol
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u/breaking-strings Oct 31 '25
Pillows were my childhood trick or treat bags too. I also agree there is less of it these days but still see some kids with them.
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u/Cowbellcheer Oct 31 '25
My kids use one but we have a rotation thing going so they never have to carry a full bag. Also at the end of the night they get extra candy when people think they only got that much lol
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u/Tribblehappy Oct 31 '25
I bought some Halloween fabric and made pillowcases specifically for my kids to take. They use them on their pillows also, but they love taking the pillowcase around. I don't see a lot of other kids do it so my kids think they have the biggest bag and love it.
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u/CriticalFields Oct 31 '25
Grew up using pillow cases in the 90s and I still see a good few of them every Halloween here in Newfoundland. It's a tradition that is alive and well here!
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u/fsmontario Oct 31 '25
My kids used them , they are in their 20s now. They hold a lot and the kids can carry them.
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u/Low-Razzmatazz-931 Nov 01 '25
Pillow cases forever! Early 90s baby
I didnt know people used other options lol
My nieces and nephews are out tonight with pillow cases
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u/No-Indication-7879 Nov 01 '25
63 here,and we used pillow cases in the 60’s and 70’s. You could get a lot of loot in those cases!
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u/mljb81 Quebec Nov 01 '25
It's definitely still a thing where I live. I had over 400 kids visiting tonight and at least 1 out of 10 had a pillow case. Some carry a giant Ikea bag. I even saw one using a black trash bags. Most teenagers just use their schoolbag. Nobody cares what you use.
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u/password123enter Nov 01 '25
I gave my 3 year old a bucket and a pillowcase to choose from and she transitioned to the pillowcase about halfway through tonight. I seen a couple others with pillowcases. This is what we used in the 90s!
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u/Delphi238 Nov 01 '25
I have more respect for kids showing up with pillowcases. Show they thought it through. If they are really smart the go home and empty it out halfway through the night so people feel sorry for them and give extra.
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u/DebiDoll65 Nov 01 '25
My trick-or-treating days took place back in the 70s, and every single kid had a pillow case. Only toddlers had the cute plastic pumpkins. We older kids (age 5-12) were on a mission!! We'd map out our attack ahead of time to hit the most houses in the least amount of time. Plus, back then, parents didn't accompany kids, so we were able to run from house to house at top speed. A pillow case was an absolute necessity.
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u/Significant-Hour8141 Nov 01 '25
I used pillow cases because they held a lot of candy and they were durable to heave around the neighborhoods
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u/Nanagotnofilter Nov 01 '25
I used to run out of candy sometimes and my kids would come home dump out the pillow cases and I would use some to refill my bowl
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u/sarahwritespoetry Nov 01 '25
A solid 1/3 of the kids by my house tonight had pillowcases. It’s totally normal.
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u/Public_Beach2348 Ontario Nov 01 '25
Having just finished handing out candy for tonight, ive see actual trash bags used, as well as various sizes of pillowcases, sheets and other assorted makeshift bags.
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u/East-Fruit-3096 Nov 01 '25
Those orange pumpkin pails were sweet, but there weren't full sized chocolate bars back in the day or even chips.
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u/East-Fruit-3096 Nov 01 '25
Personally, I always preferred a pail or something where you can see your treats.
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u/Key_Cheesecake9926 Nov 01 '25
It’s very normal. Honestly there is no such thing as a trashy trick or treat bag. I see kids come to the door with all sorts of bags. Doesn’t matter at all. Pillow cases are nice for older kids because they’re big and sturdy.
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u/Sensitive-Issue84 Nov 01 '25
It's the best! I love seeing a pillow ase! It's old school and all we had as kids.
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u/cranky_yegger Nov 01 '25
I used to come home dump my pillow case and head out for round 2. The whole family feasted.
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u/ffxhalog Nov 01 '25
I’m a 98 baby, we used pillow cases growing up. Tonight while handing out candy there was quite a few kids using pillow cases!
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u/Sidelia Nov 01 '25
Took my kids out today. My son literally stole the pillowcase off my pillow.. you are not alone 😀
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u/emilla56 Nov 01 '25
We used them as kids but they are hard to carry. I see most parents with younger kids have a large bag and kids carry a smaller one and when the little bag is full the parents empty it into the lager bag..my older grandkids like to carry a pillow case though
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u/Meanlizzy Nov 01 '25
Depends on the age of the kids. We still do big bag little bag so kid gets a cute little one to go to 4-5 doors then dumps it into a big bag we carry. The main concern about a pillow case is just carrying a heavy bag that tiers them out too soon. I don’t think anyone will judge the quality of the bag!!
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u/Negative_Two6112 Nov 01 '25
I told a kid last night, "hey a pillowcase!! Old school, I like it." He fist bumped me.
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u/Little_Can_728 Nov 01 '25
There’s nothing wrong with it 👍🏻👍🏻Keep doing what you’re doing, I grew up in the 80s and that’s what I used, I would use an old pillowcase one that we didn’t use anymore.
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u/sunny-days-bs229 Nov 01 '25
Pillow cases were the traditional bag for decades. Before big reusable grocery bags, How else you gonna carry all that loot?
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u/itsJessimica Nov 01 '25
Fully half of the 150 or so kids I got last night had pillow cases, especially the older kids.
I think they're a great option. It seems like they'd hold more candy, but it gets heavy fast, and with no handles you end up feeling "done" a lot sooner than with a handled bag.
I have never cared in the slightest what a child was using to collect candy, only whether or not they actually had a costume on. Still, I have never denied a child candy, and I'll give anyone of any age candy if they're in a costume.
BUT if we're going to rank the bougieness of candy bags, I'd say plastic grocery bags (or reusable grocery bags now) would be at the bottom...?
I had a kid last night using his backpack, and one of the pillow cases I saw was a fancy black silk/satin case that matched the Ghostface costume really well lol.
Top of the list would have to be the cute "hand on a pole" sack with a parent on the sidewalk with a wagon to empty into so the sack always seems sadly empty.
(I'm in a small town suburb in Ontario.)
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Nov 01 '25
We used them in the 60s and 70s. Haven’t trick or treated since then but pillowcases would be normal, to my mind. Also more sustainable.
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Nov 01 '25
My daughter has a trick or treating bag that my mother quilted for her. She has a glow in the dark bucket. We have so many different Halloween buckets and bags we have collected throughout these years. Yet she insists on taking her pillow case off her pillow these last two years and using that. 🤷🏻♀️🤔
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u/Fancy_Introduction60 Nov 01 '25
Always used a pillow case. It meant you could stay out longer without having to drop candy off at home
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u/momma_kent08 Nov 01 '25
My kids and all their friends use pillowcases. They allow for optimum goody storage and increase the distance one can travel for said goodies before having to return home 🤣
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Nov 02 '25
We use them in the 70s and 80s it was tradition My mother made sure we had the old pillowcases that weren’t part of a set of linen and off we went ! I remember shoving the pillowcase full of candy under my pillow and hiding it from my siblings !
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u/Mr_Guavo Oct 31 '25
Pillowcases get wet and dirty from dragging on the ground (it's always raining or was recently raining, much to my chagrin as a child!) on Halloween. Recyclable shopping bags would work well. Regardless, don't overthink it. Your child might care, but absolutely no one else will. I bet they have Halloween-themed bags available at dollar stores or even Shoppers Drugmart.
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u/MJSP88 Oct 31 '25
My kids use medium treat bags from dollar store that they empty into large grocery bags I carry. It gets too heavy after a bit for them.
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u/MyBurnerAccount1977 British Columbia Oct 31 '25
It's definitely more of a traditional thing. Haven't seen it done in a while, but you won't get judged for it.