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Original poster

Do people not understand Halloween etiquette re trick or treating?

365 replies

Notcontent · 31/10/2021 17:44

I thought the rule was you only knock on doors where there are obvious decorations or lit pumpkins - basically an invitation to come?

We usually do it and have lots of sweets but I just didn’t feel up to it this year. Teen dd has gone out and it’s just me at home. No decorations at all. And some kids have just come knocking. Have now had to turn lights off at the font to make it look like no one is home!

OP posts:
SirChenjins · 31/10/2021 17:49

It’s an unwritten rule - but there’s always a chance and so kids will take it!

Things are really quiet round here - we used to go out when the kids were younger and the place was teeming. I’ve only had 3 lots at the door and they’ve all been very polite and only taking a sweet each - I had to tell the last lot to take more because I bought loads and will end up eating them myself. Feel quite sad that my Halloween days look like they’re coming to an end after 20 years.

riotlady · 31/10/2021 17:49

I think some people use hall/porch light on as an invitation and others use decorations. We only went to houses with decorations but could see other trick or treaters going to those that were just lit up.

Hopefully you should be left alone now the lights are off!

weebarra · 31/10/2021 17:49

Also, very few people are arriving with a joke, song or other turn. We're in Scotland and this is definitely a tradition. My 13 year old is on door answering duty and he's horrified by the lack of jokes!

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ditavonteesed · 31/10/2021 17:50

Also you take 1 sweet, I've just had some take a massive handful each so now Ive only got enough left for a couple more.

Fundays12 · 31/10/2021 17:50

My just turned 5 year old knocked on s door in darkness last night (we do it on sat here if Halloween falls on a Sunday) before I could stop him. I told him to come away and explained the no pumpkin or decorations meant they were not wanting to take part. It could be something like that.

MissyB1 · 31/10/2021 17:50

It’s absolutely the rule on our estate. We have a fb group and the reminder went out today. Kids are pretty good at obeying it here.

earsup · 31/10/2021 17:51

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AbandonedCharacter · 31/10/2021 17:53

@weebarra

Also, very few people are arriving with a joke, song or other turn. We're in Scotland and this is definitely a tradition. My 13 year old is on door answering duty and he's horrified by the lack of jokes!
What!?! That's shocking - you always have to have a party piece!
frazzledali · 31/10/2021 17:54

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TakeYourFinalPosition · 31/10/2021 17:55

Our local Facebook group has been full of arguments on this - all week it’s been people asking if it was okay to go last night (consensus was no; from a large majority!) and today people moaning that not many houses have decorated so they’re knocking anyway.

To be fair; there’s usually a few big streets nearby that go all our, and very few houses have this year… but I’m not sure anyone is really feeling it as much.

ReginaaPhalange · 31/10/2021 17:55

Not participating this year. We're all full of the cold. Kids everywhere though and worried kids will see the Chinese arriving soon and think I'm opening the door for trick or treaters lol!

ReginaaPhalange · 31/10/2021 17:57

One thing which annoys me is we live on a good sized estate which I'd say has about 30 kids, but we get loads and loads of groups coming from much further afield which I'd rather open my door to the kids on our estate.... obviously not possible though.

DumbestBlonde · 31/10/2021 17:58

I thought so too... Usually, I have glass candle pumpkin, a welcome sign, giant green spider and baby ones (fake ones, not tame real ones!) around the door. This year, no decor, no lights on, and an actual (Police) sign that says, Sorry, not this year. I have also had a gate added so no direct access... (not specially for Halloween of course).... And they are STILL knocking 🙄

I am quite sad, as in previous years I have had upwards of 70 calling. But I am just not in the right frame of mind, and fed up of the neighbourhood really.

SirChenjins · 31/10/2021 18:00

@weebarra

Also, very few people are arriving with a joke, song or other turn. We're in Scotland and this is definitely a tradition. My 13 year old is on door answering duty and he's horrified by the lack of jokes!
Everyone arriving here has had a (bad) joke - and 2 boys from the last group treated me to an obviously well rehearsed light sabre battle Grin
SirChenjins · 31/10/2021 18:00

Scotland here too

SpookyS · 31/10/2021 18:01

I've turned off the downstairs lights and gone up to bed to watch a film.

We're still getting persistent knocks, despite no decorations and downstairs in darkness.

Wtf.

girlmom21 · 31/10/2021 18:01

I thought you only went to houses with decorations too but our local council have been telling people they shouldn't go to houses with a 'no trick or treaters' sign.

I think it should be the opposite. Don't assume someone wants trick or treaters unless they make it obvious, surely.

girlmom21 · 31/10/2021 18:03

To be fair though, we've lived here for 5 years and never had a trick or treater.

There are some kids on the estate getting a bit older now so I'm hoping they have parties to go to.

HoldingTheDoor · 31/10/2021 18:03

Also, very few people are arriving with a joke, song or other turn. We're in Scotland and this is definitely a tradition. My 13 year old is on door answering duty and he's horrified by the lack of jokes!*
What!?! That's shocking - you always have to have a party piece!*

Most kids don't do that here in my area(also in Scotland). I'm very grateful for that. It's one tradition that I really hate.

DentalWorries · 31/10/2021 18:04

I’ve got two pumpkins and not had a single trick or treaters so far! I went to two supermarkets looking for Halloween sweets this morning as well Hmm

VitalsStable · 31/10/2021 18:04

Just had a group of boys turn up, not dressed up, didn't even bloody say trick or treat when we opened the door just took a handful of sweets each and scarpered! I'm keeping watch now. Anyone not making an effort will be told to sling their hook!

senorafridgidaire · 31/10/2021 18:05

Sat here in the semi dark praying noone knocks the door as Ddog will go ballistic, all the voices outside are already putting her on edge. Normally I put a sign up asking people not to knock or ring the bell, and leave a big bowl of treats out on the path but it's so windy and rainy it wouldn't work as the sign would be flapping everywhere and the treats would be soaked. I'm going to be having mini Mars bars for dinner for the next week.

There are still a lot of people out and about though despite the weather. I did hear some kids start up our path earlier and their mum called them back and explained we weren't decorated so hoping that means we might not get any!

HoldingTheDoor · 31/10/2021 18:06

Here if the outdoor light is on then it's ok to trick or treat. You don't necessarily have to decorate.

woodhill · 31/10/2021 18:06

It's a funny night to have it as everyone is preparing to go back to school here after half term plus being a Sunday doesn't sit right with me.

We were out last night but if we had been in we would have opened our door

AbandonedCharacter · 31/10/2021 18:07

@HoldingTheDoor What do the guisers say or do when you open the door? I'm just curious as in my area (Lanarkshire), we have always done a turn.

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