or am i the only person who hates halloween?

[mummyonvalium]

I think DH thinks I am a bit of a stooge about this time of year but I really have a thing about it I have always disliked it, even as a child I found it frightening. I dislike all of it - the dressing up, the trick or treating and the assumption that you have to give children a treat.

The concept of "trick or treat" - is actually an unpleasant one and reminds me vaguely of being a bully, ie, give me something or I will do something horrid to you. I know in most cases it is innocent but there is a subliminal message there (surely) that says this is okay behaviour.

To top this off last year I had a negative experience. I was struggling to put my children them to bed when I heard the doorbell. I could not get to the door but instead of going away they kept on banging at the door and the next thing I heard was someone trying to turn the handle to get into the house. DS1 heard them and became quite scared. It was really hard to settle him afterwards.

Am I being miserable for not wanting my children to celebrate it? I really don't like what it seems to represent and the fact that it gives an excuse for badly behaved teenagers to behave even worse.

[schnauzerfan]

No you're not being miserable. A LOT of people hate it. I hate it too. We had the same problem a few years ago when my youngest child was very small, people banging on the door again and again. Just don't answer the door. They'll get the message. Personally I think unless there is a pumpkin or something outside a house then people should stay away.

[FolkGhoul]

We don't go trick or treating, but we decorate the house and get dressed up for all the children who come round here!

I love it. It's a great excuse to wear black eyeliner as lipliner and crimp my hair once more!

Where do all you people who have such hateful teenage neighbours live? Ours are lovely! And all observe the pumpkin rule. When we've run out of treats we just bring the pumpkin in and there endeth the knocking.

Some people are just grumpy old grumps!

[CrapBag]

I don't hate it for any reason but I see it as a non event and I have absolutely no interest in it or doing anything with my DCs for it. Its not like Christmas or anything.

Everyone I know seems to be 'celebrating' it. I'm not and I don't care. I'm just not interested.

[janelikesjam]

I hate it too. The horrible masks. Trick and treating. The sheer pointlessness of it. I close my eyes at the Checkouts with all the witches hats and day-glo.

I believe it does have religious origins (All Souls Day) in the Christian Church essentially about our dead ancestors which seems like a much more dignified and special occasion.

But of course it has changed into a horrible, commerial, scary and vacuous exercise.

The Americans love it - its a massive celebration over there for adults and children alike apparently, why I'm not sure? Anyone care to elaborate on that?

[Saltire]

I hate it too, but feckin DS2 has come home from a half term activity with a carved pumpkin which is now sitting on the doorstep

[Mrsrobertduvallsaysboo]

Agree with CrapBag.
I couldn't care less.
Never did it when dcs were small.
I just ignore it.

[MelodyPondering]

What Crapbag said.

How anyone can get excited about it beyond me.

[Sparklingbroomstick]

I only like it because I like to see the DC having fun. They dress up in silly outfits we decorate the porch and they eat sweets and chocolate. It's one night not a fortnight of festivities. It's soon over.

The top age of Trick or Treaters round here is about 11 I would say. certainly no teenagers. It's a bit uncool.

But people don't have to like it. I hate Bonfire Night and like to avoid standing about watching fireworks and looking at a fire.

[Saltire]

mummyonvalium
a few years ago I had a couple of young mindees till after 5pm on halloween and I put a note on the door asking people not to knock until after 6pm - the time they were due to leave - and it worked

[squoosh]

I like it, it's fun and have many happy childhood Halloween memories myself.

Its origins are pagan not Christian but as was usually the wayback in the mists of time Christian feasts days superseded the original pagan ones.

Personally I would love to be in NY for Halloween one year and see them really go or it. I like a bit of ott ostentation one in a while!

[nokidshere]

I have no real feelings about it either way but my children have never been interested. When they were small they wouldn't even let me open the door!

Now they are older we have the children that I childmind knocking and one or two other parents from school who know us - apart from that we have never had anyone - everyone here seems to observe the "no pumpkin, not taking part" rule.

[CrapBag]

Bonfire night makes no sense to me.

Why do we celebrate someone trying to blow up the houses of parliment?

I will take the DCs to see fireworks when they are older if they want to, other than that, not bothered about that either. I also don't see New Years Eve as a big deal, or Easter. Unless its birthdays or Christmas then I am not really bothered about all these 'occasions'.

[WorraLiberty]

Do you not get on MN much at this time of year OP?

Lots of people hate Halloween.

[Tuttutitlookslikerain]

I hate it too.

Two years running I had my house egged and one year I had a lot firework chucked at my open bedroom window and front door!.

[Itsjustafleshwound]

Not a fan of the night and don't like the idea of my kids dressing up and begging neighbours for sweets ...

[Tuttutitlookslikerain]

a lit firework, bloody auto correct!

[georgee]

YANBU OP. I hate it too.

[Ragwort]

I don't like it at all, I think the 'decorations' are rather hideous and I am uncomfortable with the witches/occult side of it - although I can't articulate that very well. One Church I was involved with always did an 'alternative Light Party' for children which was great fun.

Fortunately my DS has only once wanted to go trick or treating and even then came back after 20 mins saying it was boring. .

However I don't want to be a killjoy if other children are enjoying it and am happy to answer the door and give out sweets and hope some are left over for me.

[Poosnu]

I hate it too. We get quite a few teenagers knocking, and they are fairly intimidating. If we don't answer the door but they see us in they keep banging. It's just an excuse to collect some cash for them. In the past we have tended to hide upstairs with the lights off... I would have no problem with younger children we know coming round, or children with their parents.

[adeucalione]

I think it very much depends where you live - having teens banging on the door demanding free stuff with menaces is no fun for anyone. Around here everyone observes the 'pumpkin rule' already mentioned, and the only trick or treaters are primary aged children accompanied by adults, it's a very sociable and friendly event that most of my neighbours look forward to.

I like to celebrate it, as one of the few pagan festivals still available to us - it dates back thousands of years, celebrates the harvest and the changing seasons I think, and is certainly not an American import.

[Ragwort]

I agree that Bonfire parties are totally boring too, why does anyone want to stand around in the cold ? I have never understood it. DH & DS used to go to big firework parties near our house, I loved staying at home, in front of my own fire with a good book and a glass of wine - so much more comfortable .

Do adults really enjoy bonfire parties, or they just go for the childrens' sakes?

[squoosh]

I think that's why I'm so fond of it too adeucalione, I love the link to our pagan past.

[adeucalione]

I only like bonfire parties when they are at my house - I stand inside with hot chocolate or mulled wine while DH stands outside grimly lighting fireworks for our entertainment.

[Jusfloatingby]

I like the innocent 'kids dressing up and having a bit of fun' side of it. It also marks the end of Autumn and the start of Winter.
However I hate the way some teenage brats take advantage of it to simply indulge in annoying and anti social behaviour. Harassing people in their houses, letting off fireworks and bangers for weeks beforehand or roaming around the streets shouting their heads off and doing damage to people's property.

[stillsmarting]

Ragwort I enjoyed fireworks more as an adult than I ever did as a child.We used to go to the one run by the Scouts so you got a really good display for comparatively little money. However DS2 hated them, so we got out of the habit of going, and discovered that we can go up the hill at the back of our house and sit in the car and watch them for nothing!