While living in England, I got used to America being blamed for just about everything.

But when I heard Halloween blamed as an American holiday, I was surprised, and a little excited.

As a country of mostly immigrants, I have found few traditions with roots truly in America.

I did a little research, and sure enough, it is not an American holiday, but I was more than happy to take the credit.

The British have only recently (in the last five years or so) started trick-or-treating as we think of it.

My husband and I got full costumes, bought distinctly American candy such as Reeses Peanut Butter Cups and Tootsie Pops. (Most chocolate bars we enjoy here they make in the U.K., and better!)

As children came to our door, they were surprised, shocked, impressed and a bit scared by our costumes and decorations. It was great.

I lived in England for almost five years and enjoyed dressing up and decorating the house each year for the stream of polite trick-or-treaters.

We hunted and hunted and paid way too much for small pumpkins so we could carve jack-o'-lanterns.

Pumpkins don't grow well in England. They traditionally used turnips or gourds.

It was one time of the year we got to meet the whole neighborhood.

Parents took groups of kids, like a walking carpool, from house to house trick-or-treating. Hours ran from just about 6 to 9 p.m., and then it was done, like an unspoken rule.

Kids, in general, were dressed in costume, only took one piece of candy (even if we encouraged them to take two) and almost always said thank you.

When I told friends and family back home about the joyous Halloweens we celebrated in England, what a disappointment I felt when I heard alas, trick-or-treating has nearly died out here in the U.S.

It has been replaced.

For some reason - rumors of poisonous or dangerous candy, distrust in neighbors, who knows - it has been replaced with home parties, trick-or-treat at the mall or downtown, and church parties.

I'm not saying anything is wrong with celebrating in these ways, but to do that in place of trick-or-treating is a disservice.

Halloween was the only time of the year I saw anyone go to the old lady's house that lived down the street while I was growing up.

She did her house up so scary I was frightened to approach her door, until my best friend summoned the courage and came back with a full-sized candy bar! Well, the lady must have been a smart one, and kept those on hand to stimulate traffic, because my bar was snack-sized.

Trick-or-treating is a way the neighborhood can get out and get together.

It's a chance to go for a lovely walk. It's a chance to say hello, or maybe bond a little with the family. It's a chance to teach good manners and keep an eye on the neighborhood, make sure any who desire to play more tricks than treats are discouraged.

Carve the biggest pumpkin you can find. Dress up. Trick or treat. Enjoy the holiday, family and community.