AIBU to dislike halloween????

[DontKnowWhatToDo123]

I hate answering the door at the best of times, even more so at night....so spend a few weeks prior to Halloween getting a bit stressed. The local police have just put a poster on their website to print and stick on your door saying you dont want trick or treaters, and most of the comments are about how its just an invitation to have a brick or egg thrown at your window. Now i feel so much better (NOT!!!)

not to mention we now have a 10 month old dog who barks really loud when anyone knocks, and will take a good while to calm down after so that is pretty annoying for the neighbours. (he stops with a treat bribe but he can only have so many of those)

I know I'm probably being a grumpy mare, but would you really throw bricks at someones house because we dont want to answer? dh works nights so I'll be on my own.

at a push, wibu to say no trick or treaters after dark or a certain time?

[MrsJayy]

Just don't answer your door honestly it is fine not to "join in" I havn't for years and I have never been egged or anything, it is easier not to answer the door.

[MrsTerryPratchett]

Bark collar?

[demirose87]

Of course you're not being unreasonable. It's your choice if you don't want to open your door and Halloween is not to everyone's liking. When I'm taking my kids out on Halloween we only knock on the decorated houses/pumpkins on show or people we know and we avoid the others. I don't mind opening the door myself to trick or treaters but after a certain time I'll ignore as it's usually teenagers being cheeky round where we live.

[MrsJayy]

Yes decorated houses or lanterns in windows seem to be a sigh

[MrsJayy]

Sign*

[confused123456]

I hate trick or treating myself, I find it a tad desperate and think it's no better than begging really. So I don't open the door. Though no one knocked here last year anyway.

[ownedbySWD]

I don't like Halloween for several reasons. We have a gate across our drive that we normally keep open, but will have it shut on the night with front lights OFF.

[MrsTerryPratchett]

I find it a tad desperate and think it's no better than begging really.

Or... it's one of the very few ways to meet your neighbours, for a community to actually be a community, for children to learn to talk to strangers while looking after their safety (if it's done right), a relatively cheap 'holiday' that's fun... All for the price of a few sweets.

I don't actually think it's a coincidence that the places that celebrate it (and first footing actually) are more likely to know their neighbours.

[Tarriance]

What about a very big 'Beware of the dog' sign?

[1900LB]

YANBU to hate Hallowe'en ... I do as well. I swear when I was a child it was ONE DAY where you dressed up and went trick or treating or to a Hallowe'en party, but now the shops are laden with decorations, you see houses all decked out for weeks, it's shoved down our throats on the TV and in magazines.... it's becoming like Christmas!

[StrangerThanThis]

Halloween is just creepy and tacky, and not in a good way. As an excuse for a party, I guess, but apart from that its awful.

Its origins are the Christian All Souls Day, where we remember our forefathers and mothers and all those departed. Something too deep for us these days it appears.

[Topseyt]

I can't stick Halloween either. I am so glad now that my children have largely outgrown it, or can at least look out for themselves.

I no longer participate and the door is not answered.

I did once consider coating brussels sprouts in chocolate to see if it would deter people from ever returning to my house, but I decided that it would be a waste of good chocolate.

[GrapesAreMyJam]

StrangerThanThis

I was always taught that the origins of Halloween was that it’s an ancient Celtic festival, mainly to signify the end of the summer and the harvest season and because 2000 years ago the Celts celebrated their New Year on the 1st of November.**

[Tinkerbec]

I hate it too. I don’t like taking dd out. I hate the ugly costumes. I hate the door going days early.
I hate anything spooky.

[OhtoblazeswithElvira]

I was always taught that the origins of Halloween was that it’s an ancient Celtic festival, mainly to signify the end of the summer and the harvest season and because 2000 years ago the Celts celebrated their New Year on the 1st of November.

^^ This For the ancient Celts Halloween was the night when the doors to the other world were open - so ghosts etc could be seen wondering around, or you could find yourself crossing over if you were not careful.

Halloween as we know it now has come back to the UK from America - it's a very deep-rooted tradition in Scotland and Ireland. In a lot of European countries the 1st of November is the day to remember the dead - a very natural thing to do and not far from the idea of Halloween. But it seems that if you are English it's just another day!

now the shops are laden with decorations, you see houses all decked out for weeks, it's shoved down our throats on the TV and in magazines

I haven't seen anything like this level of Halloweenism in the UK, this year or ever really. You must live in a vey enthusiastic area - sounds like fun!

[DavetheCat2001]

I thinks it's brilliant fun. My kids can dress up and decorate a pumpkin, hand out some sweets to the local kids and stop off at decorated houses only to receive some sweets in return.

No biggie, no threat. The years I didn't participate, thus not decorating the house, no one bothered us, and I have never had any trouble from any kids..and I live in a very urban area of South London.

I don't understand why some people get so worked up about it. If you don't want to get involved, don't decorate your house/buy any of the Halloween stuff etc. Simples surely?

[KimmySchmidt1]

I love halloween - we decorate our front garden every year and always have lots of trick or treaters - but I don't live somewhere that has a lot of crime or thuggery, so have never had a bad experience.

If you actually have thug-like teenagers and criminals coming round your house then you are not being unreasonable.

If its all in your head and all you actually get is a couple of parents with some 4 year olds then your fears sound a bit loopy and unsupported.

So its hard to tell in the abstract without knowing what sort of area you live in.

[KimmySchmidt1]

Re origin I think you are both right - the Celts and Druids celebration came first and then when Christianity moved in, it basically adopted and copied lots of the festivals that already existed (and made them at the same time) so people would feel a sense of continuity, and not be too bothered. Hence all souls eve is also a christian celebration.

You would not believe the "debates" I have about this with my personal trainer who is one of those non-CofE born again Christians and has decided that Halloween is about devil worship. God love him, the man is just plain wrong.

[Wolfiefan]

I hate it too. Kids banging on the door. What other time of the year is it ok to demand sweets off strangers. We don't "meet the neighbours". Kids bang on door. Demand sweets then fuck off.
Tempted to stand in the open doorway this year holding giant hound. Doubt many would be brave enough to approach the wusshound!

[DavetheCat2001]

I just wouldn't even think to let my kids knock on a door that wasn't blatantly 'playing' on Halloween.

[speakout]

I love Halloween.

But you are entitled not to like it OP.

Why not arrange to go out tat night with a friend, or have a friend come to visit you?

[Bluelonerose]

I put a note on the door about 8pm saying "sorry no more trick or treaters children in bed"
Works for me

[5foot5]

How about a compromise?

Could you put some sweeties in a big bowl outside the front door and then put a sign on the door saying "Trick or treaters. Please don't knock (it disturbs the dog) but do help yourself to treats" and maybe a big arrow pointing to the bowl.

Surely even the most churlish trick-or-treater wouldn't object to that?

[NeepNeepNeep]

My waistline mysteriously expands at Hallowe'en

[DavetheCat2001]

One thing that does irritate me however is when offering the bucket of sweets some kids will grab as many as they can, thus the sweets disappearing in record time!

think I'll get the DC's to hand them out this year or they'll all be snaffled by about 6.30!