AIBU to think that the whole HALLOWEEN thing is Americanised Shite.

[ModreB]

I never did trick or treat. And neither did DH. I am not old - mid 40's.

AIBU to think that its a money making excuse by the Supermarkets to extract more money from us?

[Spirulina]

I'm 45 and I did trick or treat

It doesn't have to cost anything..... Up to the individual

And it's not American

[OldLadyKnowsNothing]

It originated in Celtic parts of the UK, specifically Ireland and Scotland. As a child in the 60's, I went guising, not t&t-ing.

[PestoSpookissimos]

It might be

But

It's fun!

[ColderThanAWitchsTitty]

Funny, DH did it in Essex. He is 40.

It;s not American, and you are boring and UR.

Also unless you stop watching most movies, tv, eating many brands of food etc... you're already indulging in "Americanised shit" so stop being a hypocrite and get your mini snickers out for the kids you miserable git.

[WorraLiberty]

It's shite if you think it is

It's not shite if other people think it's not

If the kids enjoy it that's a good thing

Blah blah blah

[LalyRawr]

YABU purely because I love Halloween more than Christmas.

And every 'day' has become a way to get more money out of people. Christmas, Easter, Valentines, Guy Fawkes etc.

[MacaYoniandCheese]

It's a money-making excuse everywhere.

[LifeInBlue]

Op, YANBU. I absolutely detest Halloween. Commercial, horrible " event". And yes, American in that Halloween was a huge deal in the US long before it was here.

Also a really horrible way of normalising the occult to children.

I was never allowed to trick or treat on the basis that its a bit rude and horrible to demand treats or threaten a trick.

Also hate the impact it has on elderly people/people on their own who are confronted with older teenagers on their doorstep demanding "treats."

[Maryann1975]

We don't do trick or treating and I agree it's just another way for the supermarkets to extract money out of us. But then if people have enough cash to afford it, it's up to them. As long as no one expects me to buy costumes/party items that's fine.

[MikeLitorisBites]

I grew up trick or treating un the 80's.

Im too lazy to take my dc out so I take them to a party somewhere. Usually costs a fiver. Make the costumes from stuff we have already.

We made some Halloween cupcakes yesterday, that cost nothing.

Can be as cheap or expensive as you make it.

[TSSDNCOP]

Whether its American or not it's intended to be fun. It doesn't need to be expensive to be fun.

And if you think it's getting out of hand here, you want to be in America at Halloween, they go fucking insane.

I shall be there this year on 31st and cannot wait.

[Whatevertheweather]

Every Halloween when I see this inevitable thread it makes me realise I've been on mn for another whole year.

Am still waiting for:

It's from Scotland and was called guising

Teaching children to beg

Encouraging greed in children

And then the thread will be complete

[WorraLiberty]

Supermarkets don't 'extract' cash from anyone by the way.

You're free to either spend your cash or not.

Anyway, if you don't celebrate Halloween, why would you spend money on it?

[ColderThanAWitchsTitty]

Also a really horrible way of normalising the occult to children
Hmm my kids will be dressed batman and a bear. Please tell me when should I expect them to start slaughtering goats?

I'll lay some plastic down just in case... we're renting you see.

[MurderOfBanshees]

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaagh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Whatevertheweather]

Ah forgot:

It's scary elderly/vulnerable people to have strangers knocking their door

Teens shouldn't be allowed

Someone will helpfully mention the Halloween 'code' of a lit pumpkin outside the door

Anything else?

[froggers1]

YANBU - I hate it! Nuff said..

[ditavonteesed]

we did mischief night as well when i was a kid, halloween rocks and it is fun and every kid I know loves it. However they will probably grow up to be devil worshipping vampire zombies so I might regret it.

[ManifestoMT]

I did trick or treating when I was a child. I had a swede lantern.

When my kids were small I thought I would hollow out a swede for them and put a candle like i used to and a string handle.

Bloody hell I needed power tools. My dad used to use a knife and a spoon!!!

We use to kick on doors and run away , post leaves through post boxes, tie milk bottles to the door knickers with thread, swap gates great fun

And not American

[BurlyShassey]

YY life in blue and OP. agree totally.

andmy DCs autistic and freaksa t th door knocks, the hooror costumes, and doorbell (take the batteries out that night and shut front gate and turn all lights off)

[TSSDNCOP]

Whatever you forgot the rest of your bingo card:

Wrong to use pumpkins purely for lanterns
Wrong to send children begging and afearing oldies
Wrong to dress up
Wrong of the supermarkets to sell us things with which to do the above
Wrong to promote evil/the occult/paganism/
Wrong o let the kids get petrified by scary movies
Wrong to filch a fun idea of the Americans when its well known it can only be the other way round

[InsultingBadger]

As with everything now there is a commercial element but I like it and have always enjoyed the opportunity to make myself look horrendous!

Just been to pound land and spent £30 on decorations for a house party which all the family children are going to love!

I also like the idea of leaving food out for the spirits and do that too

[ditavonteesed]

I would love to go to america for halloween.

[MotherOfSoupDragon]

I'm late forties and we didn't do trick or treating in Yorkshire when I was a child. We did carve faces in swedes and put candles in though.

I'm not a great fan. I really dislike the slightly older greedy children who come round and GRAB as much as they can.

It's easy to say you don't have to take part, but in the past we have had eggs and flour thrown over our car when we weren't even home to open the door!! It made an awful mess. I also know people who had paint thrown over their car.

[neunundneunzigluftballons]

Halloween is Irish not American we have always done it. The pumpkin carving came from turnip carving so I say well done to America pumpkins make much better lanterns.