American Urban Legends: Don't Take Candy from Strangers
For Halloween 2022, I am taking a quick detour from my usual posts and the lore vs the facts for something more fun - American Urban Legends! We all have our favorite ones, told around the campfire or at slumber parties. No one ever really knows how the legend started, but we all know some version of it...
Stepping away from the facts and with no debunking allowed, this spooky season I want to bring you not just the generic story, but possible locations for origins, eyewitness accounts of monsters, and any possible "how-to" when it comes to summoning...whatever goes bump in your lore.
Now don't say I didn't warn you. After all, I didn't check the facts. Today's legend might not get you, but go looking too deep and I'm sure another one will.
Don't Take Candy from Strangers
You're walking down the street with your 3 best friends. Everyone is joking around and laughing. Suddenly, one of your friends notices the van slowly pulling up next to you. The driver rolls down the passenger window and calls out to your group. He is saying he has something sweet for you, if you wait a minute.
Stranger danger kicks in and you quickly say no. You turn to leave as he yells that he will just be a second and to wait. You and your friends take off running to the nearest open store. You make it inside just as you hear the van quickly drive off.
Every year around Halloween, we are told to look out for strangers with candy and parents need to check their kids' stashes before a single piece is consumed. Whether filled with drugs or razors, candy from people you don't know equals terrible consequences. But these stories (and the memes running extra rampant this year) all come from somewhere. Every legend has an ounce of truth and a sprinkle of origin story baked in there somewhere.
Texas Candy Lady - Terrell, Texas
In Texas, you go big or you go home and boy, they went big on this one. You get two tales of terror in one! Actually, it's a bit more like 3 rolled into one with one villain! I really don't want to spoil your appetite, so I will just say check the links, watch the videos, and think twice before eating anything sweet...
Homey the Clown - Chicago, Illinois
People of a certain age range (that I may or may not be part of 😂) will surely recognize the name "Homey the Clown" from In Living Color. But what you might not realize is there is a subset of said group that were terrorized by Homey the Clown in Chicago in the 1990s. Now, it seems to be a little fuzzy on if he was dressed as Homey or if the kids just called him that, but one thing is for sure, he lured kids to his creeper van using candy. Homey really didn't play and I am so happy I grew up in a sleepy town. (Also, can people just stop being creepy clowns to terrorize others? Clowns have a hard enough time with people trusting them without creepers adding to it.)
Dearest lore lovers, I hope you have enjoyed today's urban legends and when offered candy by strangers, please think twice before accepting a possible trick dressed up as a treat.
Now don't forget to check out the rest of the American Urban Legends. I update the main page as I share posts but to make sure you don't miss a legend, sign up for email notifications. I swear, I will only message you when there is a new post or extra important news, like if Bloody Mary is real and in my apartment.
Until next time lore lovers, stay spooky💖
~Lily
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