Anyone here not answering door today

Oh no I think it is just fun and sweet. It's one night of the year!! I've got 3 older teens who don't do it anymore but have always loved it. My 9 and 6 year old are definitely trick or treating today and looking forward to it. I feel like they'd just be sad if their mum banned them just because it's apparently seen as "begging."

And we have decorated outside to let kids know it's okay to come. While DH is out with my 9 and 6 year old, I will be at home giving out all the sweets. 😁

I like giving sweets to the local children if they call, but have had to stop in the last couple of years as it was getting so expensive. Plus I felt absolutely terrible for the ones who knocked when I'd run out. The dog and I will be hiding out at my DM's this evening - she lives in a quiet cul-de-sac and never answers her door.

I suppose I could always try this...

Even the pumpkins?

Are these kids not going with parents?

Halloween traditions are rooted in necromancy (making contact with the dead, seances etc) and divination (fortune-telling).

Neither practice is something I wish to have any connection to, nor would I wish to unwittingly encourage others to engage, even as “just a bit of fun”.

I used to do it all when my kids were children but not now. There is a sort of rule that if a house is not decorated then it is not participating so non one knocks.

Halloween traditions are rooted in necromancy (making contact with the dead, seances etc) and divination (fortune-telling).

That’s what my husband did and they all got taken by the teenage shitbags !

You seem a bit obsessed with chavs, I didn't even know people still used that word 😂 silly

I'm referring to name calling in general, but it is a tad ironic that you're pointing out how people can have different opinions.

It must be sad to be so miserable.

People spend all year telling their children not to take sweets from strangers, but it's OK on 31 October.

I tie my front gate shut and so they can't come in to knock but there will be lots of kids and adults running up and down the road screaming until around 10.30- 11pm. Even the shitey wet and windy weather doesn't put them off and kids get bussed in from other villages too, we see them dropping off and picking up at the end of the street.

I won't be answereing the door as its just too much, as soon as I get settled on the sofa there are more and the dog barks etc.
BUT I have decorated and put out a bowl of sweets (that I will top up) along with a note asking that they don't knock. I have also told my immediate neighbours with kids/Grandkids that it doesn't apply to them and feel free to knock.
There is no trouble here and its been nice to see all the kids dressed up but with DS at his mates and DD off at Uni and me and DH recovering from Covid I don't want to be up and down all evening.

No of course not. I wasn't suggesting that it was Halloween or isolation. But it's an opportunity to get involved, that's all.

In our semi-rural area we just turn off our outside light if we are not handing out candy. That way people know not to make the walk up to the house. I’ve never had anyone break the “rule”

What do you mean, chavs?

You've mentioned that on almost all your posts.

Why are they chavs?

Where we live children only knock at decorated houses and we never did trick or treating so I don’t feel obliged to now that mine are adults . A couple of years ago we had an influx of teens from a different area who caused trouble and required an appearance from the police but the last couple of years have been quiet . Our local Tesco has had a sign up all week about not selling eggs to under 18s at the moment .

I don't have to do Halloween to involve myself in my community.

We won't as we have two dogs who will be unsettled by people constantly knocking, however round here you don't get bothered unless you decorate your house so I'm sure it'll be fine. I have no issue with trick or treating though, just don't have young kids anymore so don't get involved!

I brought up my children to believe that we'd only knock on doors that were decorated. My house isn't decorated and I'm hoping that other parents know about this "rule".

When I lived in a much busier part of London on a very much busier street, I had small children back then and I did decorate my house and I did receive kids at the door which I had no problem with. It was fun, my kids enjoyed it, I enjoyed it. I loved buying sweets in ,putting them in special tubs etc.

Forward to today (miserable as it sounds 🤣) I CBA with it. I haven't bought any sweets in, I literally have nothing to give, if they knock (a biscuit?!). Tbh I haven't had anyone knock since I moved to a quieter, more elderly residents, street a few years ago so no not bothering /not answering. I have bought sweets the last couple of years incase but they weren't needed.

No it’s ridiculous.Loads of plastic tat and that dreadful fake cobwebby stuff up on my street.

I will be going to the gym as usual.House will be in complete darkness.

In our village,children only knock at decorated houses anyway.

Can't happen soon enough for me.

I sent my kids to Asda yesterday to pick up sweets and they spent £20 - we've never had more than 2 trick or treaters in any year so I suspect we'll be eating kitkats for a while!

Have never experienced any egging or anything (touch wood).

I did also buy three pumpkins for us to do, no child has bothered yet

I don't believe in telling children not to talk to strangers- you teach children to be sensible, to not get into a strange car, to not go somewhere with someone they don't know, to not give strangers their details etc. but speaking to people is normal, even if you don't know them. There's all sorts of reasons to knock on doors and speak to people you don't know- it's not dangerous. Some people do it for a living!