Do people not understand Halloween etiquette re trick or treating?

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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!

Some kids like my ds are just too shy to tell a joke. He won't even go trick or treating now because of the number of pushy adults that embarrassed him about it the couple of times he did go. Can't be bothered with pushy adults that try to force it on kids and try to embarrass them even further.

I usually get random kids ringing my close bell. This year, the note on the door said "crabby crone is saving her money. Find someone else to guise at and don't ever come back". Nobody rang my bell. Result!

Poor kids were probably just grateful that they didn't end up in your cauldron.

My 2 year old understood that we only knock at houses with pumpkins/decorations so I'm not sure I agree that kids won't understand (I do agree that lots will get over excited and knock without thinking though but the majority can and do understand). I'm in SE England and its fairly common knowledge here however we did have one woman with no decorations and no lights open her door when we knocked next door and give our children some sweets. It does seem like a lot less people participate than I remember as a child which is a shame, and alot of the decorated houses weren't answering either (people very clearly inside) which was a bit dissapointing for them but they still enjoyed it.

Thank goodness we don't have the tradition of having to do a turn. Halloween is enough of a pain already.
We do pumpkin carving only because the teenagers like it. Loads of trick or treaters tonight. We ran out of sweets and had to break in to the Christmas stash 😕

Seemed to work for us. Took my 3 year old out early doors, left hubby and the baby home to answer the door. We had decorated and had lights on.

Then about 7.30pm, once kids where in bed I took down the bits in the window abs turned off the porch light and no-one else knocked.

All very polite kids too - bar one who took about 4 sweets and was immediately told off by her mate as my toddler loudly commented that you should only take 1 🤣

My older son didn’t do a joke & went round with his friends (Scotland)
My younger one did a weird joke about cheese I didn’t get it but everyone else seemed to. He had a fab time, he’s also being assessed for asd so was really proud he managed to go round and tell his little joke as it can be a struggle to get out of the house sometimes but he seems to like Halloween and had a hat thing on which maybe helped his confidence. The area we visit is lovely, everyone so friendly and all enjoy seeing kids, we only go to those with Pumpkin or decorations though.

When I was a kid we only went to friends of my parents and family or friends parents (who we were out guising with) no trick or treating then - mine don’t say it either. We had neepy lanterns too - def was the smell of Halloween. I really enjoyed it. I’m usually out with my kids so don’t receive guisers but once my youngest 2 are too old I’ll pop a pumpkin out 😊

Omg that’s disgusting behaviour I know some kids are spoilt and expect or only appreciate money but still that’s terrible I’d say sweets or nothing! As far as the parents asking for money what the hell why are they asking for money is it so they can spend it on alcohol and drugs?? Threats of violence or just threats in general is awful where are you??? I live in the north east of England and have lived down south of England and have never experienced any sort of behaviour damn

I read that on the estate where I used to live some people had put out tubs of sweets, which had been stolen - tubs, sweets, the lot. Others said they saw kids with their parents stuffing their pockets until they couldn't fit in any more.
Trick or treat is a questionable concept in the first place, I think. I've had children pull up my plants because I didn't give enough sweets. They said that was the trick.

@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!

We had a song to sing in Northern Ireland too, never ever just trick or treat. We went everywhere though and were disappointed with the houses that gave fruit or sweets instead of pennies

I think only pumpkin houses is a relatively new thing, it’s been a few years in spreading all over and there are some parents/grandparents/children who haven’t heard of it yet. Ive. Even met with surprise when I’ve raised it with acquaintances (not trick or treaters) as I think it’s a fab way to avoid lots of callers if you don’t actually want them.

In our area the houses participating have dwindled down and kids walk great distances to find a house. Personally I try give back because my kids enjoyed it when young - they're in their twenties now. I don't have any expectations, except to admire their awesome costume efforts 🕸🕷🎃

In my town, it has always been a "rule" that a lit pumpkin means you accept trick or treaters. I ran out of chocolate (including raiding kitkats and apples) so took the pumpkin in. The Trick or Treaters left us alone after that. It's a shame if this doesn't happen elsewhere.

@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!

Sadly proper Guising has been replaced with Trick or Treat.

Sadly proper Guising has been replaced with Trick or Treat.

Not in my area.

I don't participate in decorating my house but still had children hammering on the door repeatedly but at least it's better than two years ago when the front door got egged after I refused to open it.

I have a disabled child who loves carved pumpkins and likes to have one in their bedroom window. They are though afraid of people dressed up in scary Halloween costumes so we don’t partake in trick or treat etc.

So please don’t assume all houses that have a pumpkin in the window are inviting people to come trick or treating. Best to just go to people you know

@Shabsy86

Omg that’s disgusting behaviour I know some kids are spoilt and expect or only appreciate money but still that’s terrible I’d say sweets or nothing! As far as the parents asking for money what the hell why are they asking for money is it so they can spend it on alcohol and drugs?? Threats of violence or just threats in general is awful where are you??? I live in the north east of England and have lived down south of England and have never experienced any sort of behaviour damn

Bit of a leap with the alcohol and drugs comment!

I had the opposite problem, assuming decorations meant you were welcoming. I took my DD out for Halloween for the first time when she was about 7, mostly OAPs round here so only called on neighbours we knew. Saw one house covered in decorations, family with kids similar age had moved recently, mum was sitting in the front room with curtains open and all the lights on. Couldn’t believe she just ignored the knock, thought she had headphones in but no, got up and left the room. Was so annoyed on behalf of DD (she was fine about it, just excited to be out at night) and embarrassed, never tried it again. DD went out with friends from school in their housing estates for a couple of years after that.

I didn’t know this was an unwritten rule. I’ve lived here 3 years now and last night was the first time we’ve had anyone knock our door. We had pumpkins lit up outside, a strobe light in the hallway, the Halloween theme playing and my partner dressed as a werewolf 😂 Not a single joke and quite a few not even saying anything when he opened the door. But we did have a few say we were the scariest house on the street so that’s a result 👏🏻

Here in the States, if your porch lights are on, you are giving out treats.

If your porch lights are off, kids, keep walking.
We had 91 trick-or-treaters last night between 4 and 7 pm. Most were very polite and said thank you or Happy Halloween.
Expensive but fun... and we have NO leftover candy to tempt me!

@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!

Ha! I'm Scottish but living down south. This was first year I've invited trick or treaters. I admonished the first lot for not having any sort of joke or performance. My partner was laughing at me and didn't know what I was on about. We googled and discovered this is just a Scottish thing!

Trick or treaters stole my pumpkin. I didn't open the door after that.

I only realise it this year after I heard kids say you can’t knock as there’s no decorations. I always believed a well lit house was enough of an invitation. When did it become so commercial/Americanised?

I’ve never even heard of telling jokes when trick and treating!! Is this a new thing? Didn’t hear any other kids saying jokes last night either.. strange concept to me!

We spent 2 years in Scotland in the 90s. My girls had never done Halloween before, they went out with their new mates. I don't remember them having to do a turn but you handed out monkey nuts, not sweets.