Hey, it didn't suck as you say. It was just..frugal I'd say.
Today we take so much for granted. Back in the days such events involved planning and a lot of work. I remember (cause we don't celebrate halloween in my country), when I was a kid (some 15 years back) on carnival Sundays, groups of kids in costumes and masks would visit most houses in the village, waiting for the owners to recognize them. We would get treats too!) Ah! It was such fun. Nobody does it today sadly...