Page 2 | To go trick or treating to strangers' houses?

TickOrTeat · 2024-10-29T23:21:54+00:00

Just read on another thread that a lot of posters only knock on houses of people they know presumably for safety reasons. Do most people do this? Apart from our neighbours (only a couple of whom are participating) we pretty much only go to stranger's houses. Not on purpose but just because I don't know anyone in walking distance who has young kids or is happy to participate in tnt. We usually get a few trick or treaters too. Always unknown. I'm slightly worried now. Is it rude to go to people you don't know? Is it unsafe? I think it's very low risk considering we don't enter any houses and most sweets are wrapped (and most people are nice and peaceful) but am I missing something? Normally we go with friends in their area in a fairly large group but this year it will probably be just me and my two young kids.

Auburngal · 30/10/2024 15:09

I much preferred the old days of Halloween. Making your own costumes, tell scary stories, doing the traditional games - apple bobbing etc.

The shops have more Halloween crap each year.

wiesowarum · 30/10/2024 15:09

dragonfliesandbees · 30/10/2024 14:18

Well begging usually involves asking for things. Trick or treaters demand sweets or there will be consequences. So more like extortion… (meant lightheartedly before anyone takes offence. I don’t have a problem with trick or treating though I much prefer guising).

Show quote history

Thanks for furthering my argument.

Dinoswearunderpants · 30/10/2024 15:08

Ok perhaps not fear but how about no need for unrequired interaction with them. Knocking on peoples doors includes this.

Funkyslippers · 30/10/2024 14:56

Dinoswearunderpants · 30/10/2024 14:16

I will never take my DS aged 3 trick or treating. IMO it's begging. We teach our children to fear strangers etc yet come to Halloween and it's acceptable to knock on strangers doors asking for food or money. No thanks!

You might teach your children to fear strangers but I don't. Stranger Danger is a very outdated notion. Far more likely to be abducted or assaulted by someone familiar to them!

ToffeePennie · 30/10/2024 14:53

thicklysettled · 30/10/2024 14:19

That sounds absolutely delightful!

Show quote history

It is! I know most of the kids who will knock either as they’re from one of the two local primary schools or my job which takes me all over to see clients.
I absolutely adore Halloween, growing up it was a really fun night and the one occasion my brother hated and wouldn’t get over involved, so I still love it now!

thicklysettled · 30/10/2024 14:22

I'm in America (so US-haters can just stop reading now 😄) and it's a big deal in our neighborhood. But everyone understands that you only go to the houses with decorations.

It's a lot of fun and a good opportunity to develop some independence (my kids go out in a group with friends from around the age of nine). We live in a pretty wealthy neighborhood and I even welcome the kids from other areas who come to us because we're rich pickings! How very un-Mumsnetty of me 😂

thicklysettled · 30/10/2024 14:19

ToffeePennie · 30/10/2024 09:12

I live somewhere with a Halloween Committee. In fact I’m on the Halloween Committee. Each year we produce free maps of houses to make trick or treat trails, always ending up at the church carpark where they (it’s an American type church) host a trunk or treat, hog roast and cider.
I always hand out hot chocolate (to the grown ups because of the small alcohol content), sweets and chocolates. Usually we have dog biscuits, chocolate lollies, toys for allergen friendly and balloons for babies in prams. Basically we go all out for Halloween where I live.
last year we had over 2K visitors, this year I’m expecting 2.5/3k to knock/ring the doorbell and wait. I’ve even asked my tech hubby to make me an app for next year so I can prepare the hot chocolate ready! Give everyone a time slot to visit and two slow cookers!
PLEASE come to our house on Halloween, I prepare all year for this one day!!

That sounds absolutely delightful!

Procrastinates · 30/10/2024 14:19

Dinoswearunderpants · 30/10/2024 14:16

I will never take my DS aged 3 trick or treating. IMO it's begging. We teach our children to fear strangers etc yet come to Halloween and it's acceptable to knock on strangers doors asking for food or money. No thanks!

Why do you teach your children to fear strangers? Your child will likely at some point need help from or to interact with a so called stranger. Painting them all as monsters to be feared is illogical.

dragonfliesandbees · 30/10/2024 14:18

wiesowarum · 30/10/2024 09:54

How isn't trick or treating begging?
Guising was different - those knocking generally performed a little song, told a joke or some other 'cute' or 'clever' act, and were rewarded with an orange or some chocolate.

Show quote history

Well begging usually involves asking for things. Trick or treaters demand sweets or there will be consequences. So more like extortion… (meant lightheartedly before anyone takes offence. I don’t have a problem with trick or treating though I much prefer guising).

Figgygal · 30/10/2024 14:18

Dinoswearunderpants · 30/10/2024 14:16

I will never take my DS aged 3 trick or treating. IMO it's begging. We teach our children to fear strangers etc yet come to Halloween and it's acceptable to knock on strangers doors asking for food or money. No thanks!

Yeah well you do you
It's just a bit of fun

Figgygal · 30/10/2024 14:17

I used to just do people I know that would mean about 4 houses where we live.
Luckily we are in a village that loves Halloween anyone is welcomed by those with pumpkins or decorations - as long as you knock on those you'll be good

Dinoswearunderpants · 30/10/2024 14:16

I will never take my DS aged 3 trick or treating. IMO it's begging. We teach our children to fear strangers etc yet come to Halloween and it's acceptable to knock on strangers doors asking for food or money. No thanks!

thicklysettled · 30/10/2024 14:15

BarbaraHoward · 29/10/2024 23:48

Perfectly fine if they're decorated with lights on etc. That's them signifying that you're welcome!

Remember, this is MN. Adjust your interpretations of the posts accordingly. Some need any excuse to show they're above anything they see as tacky. Others need to prove that they know Halloween is American and thus automatically awful (even though they're wrong). Others would faint at the thoughts of answering their door to a stranger on any day of the year. And others would never dream of doing something nice like giving a child a few sweets if they weren't going to be somehow repaid.

Nailed it! 😂

dragonfliesandbees · 30/10/2024 14:10

Chipsahoy · 30/10/2024 09:10

Far more likely to be the paedophile in the family that is the issue than a stranger. How is my kid in danger at the door of a stranger if I and my, built like a brick, husband plus strapping teens are there too? What’s this paedo going to do? Grab my kid at the door? I think not. Take a photo? Well he’s dressed head to toe as Spider-Man. The stranger is very rarely the danger.

Edited

Show quote history

What does spiderman have to do with Halloween?

Funkyslippers · 30/10/2024 14:06

Brefugee · 30/10/2024 13:46

it is not "glorified begging" it is a fun tradition that actually gets people talking to each other. Of course if some random kid knocked on my door in the middle of april and said "trick or treat" I'd ask them if they knew what a calendar was.

if you don't want to join in - don't (as you don't) but don't yuk other people's yum, as the phrase goes.

Show quote history

I agree. It's a bit of fun & I don't see it as begging in any way. My dd is out tomorrow night so I'm putting out her pumpkin & hoping to get lots of t&ts otherwise I'll just have to eat all the goodies myself 🤣

Brefugee · 30/10/2024 13:46

Auburngal · 30/10/2024 12:50

Trick n treating is glorified begging imo. If you knock on strangers’ doors any other day of the year asking for sweets (money for chavs teens here) - get lost.

General rule of thumb is if homes don’t have anything Halloween related on or around front door, you don’t go to these homes. Though the chavs as mentioned above ignore them.

Will be switching off my doorbell tomorrow evening as can’t see who is at my door plus can’t have a Ring or equivalent doorbell. Kids and chavs can press my doorbell all they want and won’t hear it.

it is not "glorified begging" it is a fun tradition that actually gets people talking to each other. Of course if some random kid knocked on my door in the middle of april and said "trick or treat" I'd ask them if they knew what a calendar was.

if you don't want to join in - don't (as you don't) but don't yuk other people's yum, as the phrase goes.

Auburngal · 30/10/2024 12:59

I would ask everyone not to answer the door to group of teens not dressed up. As they are troublemakers and demand money

Funkyslippers · 30/10/2024 12:57

Go to any house you fancy that is decorated. Don't see any risk whatsoever unless kids go on their own & they're invited in (in which case strangers are no more danger than people you know!)

Auburngal · 30/10/2024 12:54

Not missing refusing to sell eggs and flour to teens this time of the year.

”oh we are going to make omelettes ” they say
”yes on people’s doors and cars” I said on removing the eggs from them.

Auburngal · 30/10/2024 12:50

Trick n treating is glorified begging imo. If you knock on strangers’ doors any other day of the year asking for sweets (money for chavs teens here) - get lost.

General rule of thumb is if homes don’t have anything Halloween related on or around front door, you don’t go to these homes. Though the chavs as mentioned above ignore them.

Will be switching off my doorbell tomorrow evening as can’t see who is at my door plus can’t have a Ring or equivalent doorbell. Kids and chavs can press my doorbell all they want and won’t hear it.

flyinghen · 30/10/2024 12:48

We go to any house that is decorated, that is normal round here and we get plenty of random children come to ours as we have decorations up.

peacejoypancakes · 30/10/2024 12:46

I don’t know any of the kids in my area (still TTC but live in a densely populated area, between two primary schools) but I love getting trick or treaters! It makes me feel part of the community. We put out a pumpkin of course; when I was a kid we only knocked at houses with a pumpkin and I assume most parents look out for one.

x2boys · 30/10/2024 12:37

Biffbaff · 30/10/2024 12:04

Where do all these Brady bunch types live where they know all the people around them anyway? Neighbours are mostly strangers for a lot of people in cities, suburban areas etc. And you're more likely to get fiddled by someone you know anyway.

I live in a council estate, I know most of my neighbours to say hello to ,I'm not best friends with them or anything like that ,but I will have a,quick chat at least to my nearest neighbours

VapeVamp12 · 30/10/2024 12:09

Decorated houses only. Local police actually put out a social media post for people to print out flyers one saying "Trick or Treaters welcome" and "NO Trick or Treaters, please" - not sure if many will put them up.

Biffbaff · 30/10/2024 12:04

Where do all these Brady bunch types live where they know all the people around them anyway? Neighbours are mostly strangers for a lot of people in cities, suburban areas etc. And you're more likely to get fiddled by someone you know anyway.