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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:
Kanaloa · 31/10/2021 19:16

@icelolly12

Not sure anybody is 'demanding kids do a turn' *@holdingthedoor* but it is a shame that is has demanded into kids basically rifling through the bag of sweets without so much as a hello, joke, song or smile. Kind of takes the innocent pleasure out of the occasion with the entitlement.
I think hello/trick or treat and ‘thank you’ is a bit different than expecting kids to sing/tell jokes/perform. Not every child will be able to do that.
Ragwort · 31/10/2021 19:16

We only had four groups so now I am left with a load of unwanted cheap sweets Grin - yes, I will put them in the FB collection.

NoMoreTractors · 31/10/2021 19:16

Yes it's very annoying. We had pumpkin out until 6.30 but by then 4 year old and baby needed to get ready for bed as it's the first day back tommorow and we've had a busy half term. The constant knocking is keeping them awake.

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Inanun2 · 31/10/2021 19:17

Yes that’s always been our rule too. It mine are older now and too old for TorT, but I mentioned it at work and they did not seem to have heard the same rule ??
Don’t know where it was lost.

WildFlowerBees · 31/10/2021 19:18

We aren't doing trick or treating, no decorations and no pumpkins yet a constant stream of little darlings have knocked and then rung the bloody doorbell.

Next year I'm going to scare the shit out of them.

CrazyTimesAreOccurring · 31/10/2021 19:19

I've got a notice outside, heard the kids reading it, and THEY STILL knocked. Ruddy annoying

TractorAndHeadphones · 31/10/2021 19:19

Is this true?
I have nothing on my door, no wonder nobody has knocked... sorry it's the reverse but I didn't know!

TractorAndHeadphones · 31/10/2021 19:19

And I bought a big tub of sweets! :'(

HoldingTheDoor · 31/10/2021 19:21

Although kids usually don't do a turn around here, they're still generally polite. Personally I'm happy with just a Hello and/or Trick or Treat. I don't see any rudeness in that.

refusetobeasheep · 31/10/2021 19:22

we've had a steady stream here, lovely to see the kids out

MimiDaisy11 · 31/10/2021 19:23

I think hello/trick or treat and ‘thank you’ is a bit different than expecting kids to sing/tell jokes/perform. Not every child will be able to do that

I think this might be a cultural difference. In Scotland it’s been traditional to do songs/jokes when going around homes and not just come to someone’s door and ask for sweets. I think though England is more influenced by the USA and the whole trick or treaters.

BumBurnerBum · 31/10/2021 19:24

I took DD out round the village tonight. We only called at decorated houses and everyone was lovely. DH said he had quite a few callers while we were out (we have pumpkins). The children were all between about 4 and 11 and were dressed up, very polite and it was all delightful. No knocks now since 18.30.

speakout · 31/10/2021 19:26

Very busy here- all the kids have a joke or a song. Had around 50 kids since 5pm and still coming- rural Scotland.

JKDinomum · 31/10/2021 19:26

Absolutely the rule here (southeast) is only knock if they have a pumpkin or decorations. There were a lot fewer this year than two years ago though.

Nobody says any more than Trick or treat or happy Halloween. We have pumpkins out but nobody knocked (but we are a bit out of the way). The busy road near us which is known for doing Halloween had mostly run out of sweets by 6 pm!

Blondeshavemorefun · 31/10/2021 19:27

@TractorAndHeadphones

Is this true? I have nothing on my door, no wonder nobody has knocked... sorry it's the reverse but I didn't know!
Yes. It’s the unwritten well known rule
katseyes7 · 31/10/2021 19:29

I came in from work this afternoon and before l got my coat off, there were kids hammering at my front door. Since then there have been another two lots.
I haven't answered the door, l have no sweets, and no money. No decorations on my house. Outside light isn't on either.
I live alone and l don't answer the door when it's turned dark. I usually give the three young ones next door sweets before Halloween (haven't been able to do that this year), their parents know l don't answer the door, so it won't be them.
I feel bad, but l'd rather not open the door than have to explain.

HelloDulling · 31/10/2021 19:29

We must have had 60 kids here, in a few big groups. All the sweets gone now, so the pumpkins are back inside.

MindyStClaire · 31/10/2021 19:31

We had none, can't believe it! Had two last night we sent away as we weren't set up for it (told them to come back tonight) but can't believe we've had none. Three year old who had never heard of trick or treating yesterday is heartbroken!

I can't believe the poster saying she sends away anyone who won't do a turn. How mean-spiritedness, and as others have said, exclusionary to children with disabilities.

JenniferAllisonPhillipaSue · 31/10/2021 19:33

Just had a group of seven, so we are now at the grand total of 9 children. Nowhere near previous years. The rain has eased a little. I still have too many sweets left.

LowlandLucky · 31/10/2021 19:35

Halloween was celebrated last night here, as it is the sabbath today all the decorations were taken down last night. I am too far from the village but was at the one of the auld yin's so i could answer their door. Loads of jokes and a few songs.

SatsumaPumpkinFace · 31/10/2021 19:36

We've just come back from holiday so haven't had a chance to buy any sweets. I've turned the lights off at the front of the house but we've still had people ringing the bell Hmm

Suzysuz · 31/10/2021 19:36

We had a few groups of little ones which was nice, son was distributing the sweets with a 'one only' policy 🤣 (he's secretly hoping some are left so he can have them this week!)
We did have two, maybe 13yr old girls, no costumes at all.... where are your costumes I nicely asked, *sigh tut well I'm just being myself.... 🙄🤣 they got one celebration each....
Pumpkins in and done now 🎃😊

Ohshittt · 31/10/2021 19:37

So busy on my street I was out of sweets by 6pm 😳 must buy more next year! We had light on, pumpkin out etc. Nice to see the kids having a good time!

Catlover77 · 31/10/2021 19:39

@PurpleDaisies

I’d never heard of this pumpkin/decorations thing before reading about it on here.
Me too!
TimeForTheChristmasTree · 31/10/2021 19:39

@Chewbecca

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.

@Chewbecca Exactly the same with our neighbours - so now we look miserable on our street. I think our neighbour was rude for putting us on the spot in front of everyone. It’s annoyed me.