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!

It’s the 31st Oct - what other night would you have it?

The Oct break was a while ago now in other parts of the UK so it’s not that kids are preparing for school here, it’s obviously just the kids in the neighbourhood are growing up

I always thought the signal was turn your porch light off if you don't want callers

I have only had two so far and I am so disappointed as I love Halloween and where we used to live was so busy it was an amazing atmosphere almost like a carnival feel with adults dressed up to take the kids round etc. We aren't that far from it now but its like a different world, we are the only house with decorations and I think the kids are just used to not coming down here.

DH has kids trick or teating in the estate round the corner and says its heaving, wish we had moved there!

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.

Trick or treat then say thank you when they're given sweets. That's all I need. I don't want to stand in the cold listening to bad jokes or some tuneless tot screeching at me.

The bad jokes are all part of the fun!

It's pouring with rain here. We'd normally get 20-30 in total, and they are welcome to knock for as long as we have the green light in the window. So far we have had just 2, and I have a huge bowl of sweets going spare ... If it's dry tomorrow, I think I'll put the green light on again just in case there are any next-day stragglers.

We've had quite a few kids coming round. Our house is decorated though. I'm on one of those streets that goes all out. The little ones are very cute and have all been very polite.

Definitely around my way you go to houses with decorations. We've had a few round but the weather is probably putting people off.

Same as PP, some have taken handfuls which is just plain rude. I also had one coughing really badly, which I was pissed off about the say the least.

@SirChenjins

It’s the 31st Oct - what other night would you have it?

The Oct break was a while ago now in other parts of the UK so it’s not that kids are preparing for school here, it’s obviously just the kids in the neighbourhood are growing up

I don't think it's been on a Sunday night for a while and it feels inappropriate to me somehow

The bad jokes are all part of the fun!

Not for me thanks. They're just pointless and I feel bad for the kids who are clearly uncomfortable doing it too. Just a thank you will suffice.

We have sweets but no one has come, it's too wet I think.

Plenty of Witches and Harry potters at my door tonight.

@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!

Any not doing a turn at ours left empty handed.

Agree.

Someone posted on my street WhatsApp saying there were going to bring their DC round, please let them know if you didn’t want them to call. NO! Why do I need to tell my whole street I don’t want you to knock?! We have no decorations up. Follow the rules! I wouldn’t hVe minded if they’d said it the other way - let me know if you’re happy for us to knock but to ask for an opt out is rude IMO.

I'm a Grinch at Halloween. Kids haven't been and I don't decorate the house. We do have some sweets in case some kids to knock.

I don't think it's been on a Sunday night for a while and it feels inappropriate to me somehow

It was a Sunday (and a Monday and a Tuesday etc) 6 or 7 years ago

Never put up any decorations and Never had anyone knock. Happy with that.

My dm is always complaining that nobody comes and she is left with loads of sweet but she doesn't have so much as a pumpkin out the front and just leaves the porch light on. There's no persuading her about the unwritten rules.

We've had the usual assortment of bad jokes and one child offering to show me how far she can lift her leg over her head until her dad suggested she save that for home

It's definitely the rule I've drilled into mine, we also still go out with ours as they are too young to go alone and make sure they only go to ones with decorations or pumpkins. I think the ones that don't always stick to it are where the kids are on their own. Before kids, I used to just ignore them and sit with the lights off!

I had this couple of years ago. I don't have any signs, pumpkins or decorations and there was a knock at the door. Like an idiot I answered it only to see four small kids in fancy dress and several parents at the end of my drive.

I had to say I had nothing to give them, kids faces dropped and I was pretty peeved by the parents letting them knock when it was obvious I wasn't Halloweening!

Already had people knocking here I’m fed up of it. All driveway lights off and downstairs lights off and people are still knocking. We have a reactive dog who goes nuts at the door. And she’s already worked up because of fireworks this week.

I understand we can’t just ban these things but come on. Why go to a house that has obviously deliberately been left dark. Plenty of other houses have decorations up on this road.

Oxfordshire.
Pumpkins out.
No one's knocked yet.

Never heard of telling jokes though. Is hah a regional thing. They just shout trick or treat here!