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For St. Louis Kids, Telling Jokes Is a Part of Trick-or-Treating

Some residents have been performing rhymes, singing songs or telling jokes on Halloween since the 1930s. It may even be closer to the roots of Halloween than the rest of the country’s habit of handing out candy free.

When 7-year-old Jimmy Striler dons his Red Ninja costume this year, he will be armed with a plastic sword. He will also carry something else St. Louis, Mo., children must have with them on Halloween: corny jokes.

 

In certain haunts, such as this city and Des Moines, Iowa, the end of October isn’t just an occasion for children to dress up like a ninja, a ghost or the latest Disney cartoon. It is also a challenge: Make an adult giggle. These Midwesterners don’t parcel out candy free. Trick-or-treaters have to earn it.

Jimmy has been testing a couple of groaners at home, according to his mother, Kim Striler, an administrator at Washington University School of Medicine.

“What did the boy magnet say to the girl magnet?”

“You’re attractive.”

“What do you call a cow with no legs?”

“Ground beef.”

Jimmy’s younger brother, Daniel, is also honing his performance. Last year, the 5-year-old had trouble remembering his lines, so he had to parrot his older brother.

 

Daniel Luzer is GOVERNING's news editor.
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