美国多个州出台政策，超过12岁就别在万圣节出去要糖果了

在西方国家，万圣节前夜孩子们会把自己打扮得很夸张，然后挨家挨户地去要糖果，并大叫“不给糖就捣蛋（trick-or-treat）”。不过你大概不知道，玩这种游戏还有年龄限制，不是你想玩就能玩的。

How old is too old to go trick-or-treating? As Halloween approaches, Chesapeake, Virginia says the answer to that question is anyone over the age of 12.

几岁的孩子不再适合玩“不给糖就捣蛋”？随着万圣节临近，美国弗吉尼亚州切萨皮克市的答案是，超过12岁就不适合玩这个游戏了。

City officials recently announced that doorbell-ringing candy seekers over the age of 12 could face a misdemeanor charge, up to six months in jail, and $25 to $100 fines. They’re far from alone: WAVY’s hrScene reports that nine towns in Virginia have make it illegal for teens to trick-or-treat. The Associated Press reports that officials in Meridian, Mississippi, Bishopville, South Carolina, and Boonsboro, Maryland, also have set the cutoff age at 12. The phenomenon isn’t limited to the US: In 2017, Bathrust, a town in Canada, banned anyone older than 16.

切萨皮克市官员近日宣布，12岁以上的人按门铃要糖将会面临轻罪指控，最高可判处监禁6个月，罚款25美元到100美元（173元人民币到690元人民币）。不光是切萨皮克市，WAVY旗下的hrScene网站报道称，弗吉尼亚州的9个城镇已经立法禁止青少年玩“不给糖就捣蛋”。美联社报道称，密西西比州的莫瑞典市、南卡罗来纳州的比夏普维尔市、马里兰州的布恩斯伯勒小镇的官员也都将这一年龄定在12岁。这一现象不仅限于美国：2017年加拿大的巴斯拉斯特镇禁止16岁以上的人玩“不给糖就捣蛋”。

There’s no widely accepted etiquette for who gets to trick-or-treat. Most kids naturally stop doing it when they become teenagers. Still, some parents believe they should preserve their kids’ childhood traditions as long as possible. This debate was the topic of a Today show segment in September 2017, and in an unofficial survey, 66% of viewers responded that there should be an age limit.

对于几岁的人能玩“不给糖就捣蛋”没有普遍认可的标准。多数小孩在进入青春期后就自然地停止玩这个游戏了。但是，仍然有一些父母认为他们应该尽可能长久地保留孩子的童年传统。这个话题在2017年9月还上了《今日秀》，据非官方调查，66%的观众表示玩这个游戏应该有个年龄限制。

Officials say they won’t be actively looking to catch teenage trick-or-treaters in the act. The age limits, along with measures like curfews, are part of a broader push to limit pranks and vandalism. Some parents think that preventing older kids from participating in Halloween traditions will have the opposite effect. Hans Broedel, a University of North Dakota history professor and expert on early traditions, told the AP that “trick-or-treating in a large part is embraced in this country because it serves to cut down on teenage vandalism,” adding “telling teenagers they can’t go trick-or-treating isn’t going to stop them from going out on Halloween.”

官员称，他们不会积极去抓捕那些玩“不给糖就捣蛋”游戏的青少年。玩这个游戏的年龄限制就和宵禁一样，是限制恶作剧和破坏行为的广泛措施之一。一些父母认为，不让大孩子参与万圣节传统游戏会产生反效果。北达科他大学历史系教授、早期传统专家汉斯·布勒德尔告诉美联社说，“不给糖就捣蛋游戏在美国被接受，很大程度上是因为它有助于减少青少年破坏行为”，他还说：“告诉青少年不准玩不给糖就捣蛋游戏并不会阻止他们在万圣节出门。”

A Facebook post last year argued that all kids, regardless of age, should be allowed to take part in trick-or-treating. It was shared more than 4,000 times, with close to 700 comments illustrating just how bitter this debate has gotten, according to The Kansas City Star.

据《堪萨斯城星报》报道，去年脸书的一个帖子指出，所有孩子，不论年纪多大，都应被允许参加“不给糖就捣蛋”游戏。这个帖子被分享了超4000次，评论近700条，这足以说明讨论的激烈程度。

Some parents argued that kids shouldn’t be coddled. Others argued that even older kids should be encouraged to take part in the sense of wonder and excitement of Oct. 31, and most said they were willing to give candy to whoever darkens their stoop. That seems consistent with the scientific studies that find play is integral to helping children develop into healthy, well-adapted people, and that play encourages kids to develop collaboration and creativity.

一些父母提出，孩子不应该骄纵。其他一些父母则认为，即使是大孩子也应被鼓励参与到万圣节前夜的惊喜和刺激当中来。多数人表示，他们愿意给任何化装的来客分发糖果。这似乎印证了科学研究的观点。先前有研究表明，游戏对于帮助孩子成长为健康、适应力强的人发挥着不可或缺的作用，而且能鼓励孩子培养合作精神和创造力。

Given how over-scheduled, anxious, and unhappy today’s teens are, maybe a little Halloween magic is exactly in order.

考虑到现在青少年的繁忙日程，考虑到他们有多么焦虑和不快乐，也许万圣节来一点点魔法正是他们所需要的。