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Original poster

Please help me to like halloween!

34 replies

jupitermonket · 30/10/2023 22:54

I have an unshakeable dislike (and, frankly, snobbishness) towards any non-Christmas event like Valentine’s Day and especially Halloween.

The trouble is, my very young child already loves Halloween and is fascinated by it. If this is something that is likely to continue throughout their life, I’d like to be able to get on board with it and help make it special for them in years to come.

Halloween just wasn’t a thing in my house growing up. My parents had no interest in it either.

I think I really dislike all the naff colours, the horrid cartoony “scary” characters, the mountains of ugly plastic tat at all the supermarkets. And the soullessness of it.

How can I make it more traditional, cosy, special, aesthetically pleasing, family-oriented like Christmas? (but still low key and also OPTIONAL, so that if we can’t be arsed some years it doesn’t seem like a big disappointing loss for the child)

ideas welcome!

OP posts:
DappledThings · 30/10/2023 23:05

Meh. I have no interest either. Was never a thing when I was growing up. Have refused so far to get involved. I don't feel it's compulsory.

This year DS(7) has been invited out trick or treating with a friend and DD(5) is going to a party followed by trick or treating so I have to go for the first time and I'm fairly pissed off about it but sucking it up.

Not prepared to change my entire outlook though. Not decorating or any of that shite.

alloelloholasenor · 30/10/2023 23:13

Stick to a colour scheme that works with your home. Eg black and gold or dark green and silver. Home made decorations, things like twigs and pine cones/conkers plus cut out "spooky" designs (cat eyes etc) made by the kids.

Have local friends with their kids round for nibbles and mulled wine after trick or treating.

Pumpkin carving and apple bobbing as activities.

Stringagal · 30/10/2023 23:14

We found a road nearby which goes all out for Halloween, most of the houses join in, they do a pumpkin competition for residents, and a fair few houses hand out mulled cider to the parents. All I have to do is plonk a mask or horns on their heads and walk 5 minutes round the corner. Zero effort, great memories.

Interested in this thread?

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Events & celebrations
EerilyDecorated · 30/10/2023 23:18

You can buy tasteful decorations (pumpkins etc), keep them year by year and then its more special when you get them out, like Christmas, do some crafts, carve a pumpkin, battery tealights for atmosphere. Embrace the trick or treating. I used to hate it all too but as my DCs got old enough to go out I realised what a fun, sociable thing it is. Some say "oh, you are encouraging your DCs to take sweets from strangers" which I think is nonsense, there is a big difference between taking part in a social event under supervision of parents and strangers stealthily approaching children, the DCs can understand the difference. It is not begging either, the people giving out sweets are waiting to give them away. I miss it now mine are too old but will be decorating and giving out sweets tomorrow.

BlueSlate · 30/10/2023 23:19

Why do you need to do anything?

When my children were younger, we sometimes dressed up at home, sometimes they went trick or treating with friends ro neighbours they knew were OK with it, sometimes watched spooky films, sometimes did nothing. Never decorated the house, most years carved pumpkins and I made sure children knew the true pagan original of it and how the Christians chose to interpret it for their own ends.

Job done.

But it's not something you need to make a big deal of if you don't want to. Certainly not all the Americanisation of it anyway...

DueyCheatemAndHow · 30/10/2023 23:26

Im not really sure it has to be aesthetically anything?!
Go pumpkin picking, go on a Halloween trail, do trick or treating. Jobs a good un surely?

ACGTHelixA · 30/10/2023 23:32

lots of skeletons and skeleton creatures, usally from asda or ebay

Testina · 30/10/2023 23:37

“How can I make it more traditional, cosy, special, aesthetically pleasing, family-oriented like Christmas?”

I don’t think your child is becoming fascinated because they think it could be aesthetically pleasing. If you really want them to find it special, then don’t take away all the crazy OTT stuff that a lot of kids love.
If they want to dress as a monster, don’t suck out the joy being a snob about it.

But one of the parts we love, is pumpkin carving. It’s a craft activity and not wasteful if you dry the seeds and use the pulp (not always the best as it’s not grown for taste, but you can still use it) so definitely all wholesome and cosy 😀🎃

But if they want a gruesome face, or pumpkin vomit - let them enjoy it!

MeinKraft · 30/10/2023 23:59

How can you call Halloween soulless? It's an incredibly fascinating time of year, all about the veil between life and death. When your child is older you can tell them about the history, about the solstice and the belief that people believed this day was when the spirits roamed the earth. They can learn about why people wear costumes, and why we place pumpkins/turnips at our doors, to keep the spirits away. You can teach them about the history of witches and witchcraft, and lead it into discussion about how women have been treated historically and modern feminism. Tell her about the origin of mummies, the Egyptians, the pyramids and the other wonders of the world. Take her to a museum to show her what those kinds of things really looked like. Halloween is a great way of bringing history to life.

ACGTHelixA · 31/10/2023 00:04

After some thoughts what about the following:

Focus on Autumn Vibes:
Embrace the autumn season rather than the commercialized aspects of Halloween. Decorate with warm, natural colors like deep oranges, browns, and reds. Incorporate pumpkins, gourds, and autumn foliage for a cozy atmosphere.

Baking and Cooking:
Make Halloween-themed treats together. Instead of store-bought candies, consider baking cookies or cakes in fun shapes or with autumn flavors.

Halloween Dinner:
Have a special Halloween-themed family dinner. This could involve making festive yet wholesome meals together. Pumpkin soup, mummy hot dogs, or spiderweb pizzas can be both fun and delicious.

TheChosenTwo · 31/10/2023 00:05

You really don’t have to get on board with it.
We had parties when the dc were younger with some games and carved pumpkins, this year they youngest is at secondary and too old to be knocking on doors asking for sweets so the occasion is just passing us by.
It wasn’t a big deal when I grew up.
I certainly don’t see it as an occasion to decorate the house for, the same with ‘autumn’ - my house looks the same all year round with the exception of Christmas!!

Cryingbutstilltrying · 31/10/2023 00:11

Dresses up, go out trick or treating, come home and scoff sweets.
Its worked for me for 10 years plus now!
Have never decorated or done anything special.
Im delighted that mine have now grown out of it all. You don’t have to love everything, and there are lots of people who love Halloween, so just use them to get you through!

CurlsnSunshinetime4tea · 31/10/2023 00:22

i keep it simple and focus on autumn. so a fall wreath with a large purple bow, four large spiders. some fake floral for the planters near the door and finally an inexpensive blow up set of pumpkins. it all stores away into one box. this set up has lasted me 20 years!! i also have a ghost wind sock that sometimes get set up.

Ladyj84 · 31/10/2023 00:23

We as a family hate Halloween and I ain't Gona start liking it because Im supposed to lol

LaurieStrode · 31/10/2023 00:40

MeinKraft · 30/10/2023 23:59

How can you call Halloween soulless? It's an incredibly fascinating time of year, all about the veil between life and death. When your child is older you can tell them about the history, about the solstice and the belief that people believed this day was when the spirits roamed the earth. They can learn about why people wear costumes, and why we place pumpkins/turnips at our doors, to keep the spirits away. You can teach them about the history of witches and witchcraft, and lead it into discussion about how women have been treated historically and modern feminism. Tell her about the origin of mummies, the Egyptians, the pyramids and the other wonders of the world. Take her to a museum to show her what those kinds of things really looked like. Halloween is a great way of bringing history to life.

This x100.

It's a fascinating tradition.

Darklane · 31/10/2023 01:11

All the trick or treating is an American import. Traditionally it’s All Hallows' Eve,, the evening before All Saint’s Day, a Christian celebration to remember all the dead before the day of remembering the saints.

mathanxiety · 31/10/2023 01:32

jupitermonket · 30/10/2023 22:54

I have an unshakeable dislike (and, frankly, snobbishness) towards any non-Christmas event like Valentine’s Day and especially Halloween.

The trouble is, my very young child already loves Halloween and is fascinated by it. If this is something that is likely to continue throughout their life, I’d like to be able to get on board with it and help make it special for them in years to come.

Halloween just wasn’t a thing in my house growing up. My parents had no interest in it either.

I think I really dislike all the naff colours, the horrid cartoony “scary” characters, the mountains of ugly plastic tat at all the supermarkets. And the soullessness of it.

How can I make it more traditional, cosy, special, aesthetically pleasing, family-oriented like Christmas? (but still low key and also OPTIONAL, so that if we can’t be arsed some years it doesn’t seem like a big disappointing loss for the child)

ideas welcome!

Pinterest is your friend for aesthetics, baking, and turning any holiday into a poncetastic * fest.

  • See a long-running annual MN thread on the Christmas board...

pin.it/GflmX0C

pin.it/XuFjDOa

pin.it/6dhCd75

Maybe stuff like this?

mathanxiety · 31/10/2023 01:43

Sorry to burst your bubble, @Darklane, but Hallowe'en has long co-existed with the Christian feasts that were moved from late spring to coincide with the ancient celtic feast of Samhain. The ancient and Christian observances were quite similar in theme.

Samhain has been continuously celebrated in Ireland and possibly in Scotland, too, with its form evolving over time, for thousands of years. Its current incarnation is Hallowe'en. The festival was brought to the New World by millions of Irish and Scottish emigrants, and it further evolved there.

CatOnAHotShedRoof · 31/10/2023 06:01

I'm not really that into the decorating and dressing up for Halloween and only put up a few decorations a day or so beforehand around the front door so local kids know we're doing Trick or Treat. My DC are teens now and aren't really that bothered any more.

That said, I am fascinated by the old traditions of All Hallow's Eve, and love anything about that. Just not the plasticky tat that's taking over from tradition.

Trick or Treat wasn't really a thing when I was child. No-one did that (1970s) and we had activities at parties like apple bobbing. I can remember my mum being very confused by the first ever Trick or Treat visit. She just didn't get it.

Original poster
jupitermonket · 31/10/2023 07:56

Testina · 30/10/2023 23:37

“How can I make it more traditional, cosy, special, aesthetically pleasing, family-oriented like Christmas?”

I don’t think your child is becoming fascinated because they think it could be aesthetically pleasing. If you really want them to find it special, then don’t take away all the crazy OTT stuff that a lot of kids love.
If they want to dress as a monster, don’t suck out the joy being a snob about it.

But one of the parts we love, is pumpkin carving. It’s a craft activity and not wasteful if you dry the seeds and use the pulp (not always the best as it’s not grown for taste, but you can still use it) so definitely all wholesome and cosy 😀🎃

But if they want a gruesome face, or pumpkin vomit - let them enjoy it!

Erm. I’m not planning on taking anything away from them. The opposite in fact - that’s kinda the whole point of this thread!

But I’d rather avoid all the hideous ugly plastic tat. So that bit only would be “for me”.

OP posts:
DustyLee123 · 31/10/2023 07:57

We used to carve a pumpkin and go trick or treating. That’s it.

Draconis · 31/10/2023 08:03

We just tend to get sweets in, watch a spooky film and read a spooky story.
Sometimes we baked halloween themed cookies.
We decorate the doorway a bit and answer the door to trick or treaters til 7.30.
Now they're teenagers and it's snacks and a horror film.

EverySporkIsSacred · 31/10/2023 08:17

I used to use it as another excuse to do crafts with the kids. Over the years we've made 3D bats (which have been reused for the last 5 years), clay eyeballs, monster boxes, light up eyeballs (ping pong balls and battery tealights), made our own masks, witch silhouettes, etc etc and it was always the prep that the kids were more excited by.

I only have one DC still into Halloween now though and she's too busy being a teenager to make silly Halloween crafts any more.

For myself I have seasonal ornaments now which I trot out in September and put away end of November; ceramic pumpkins, mushrooms, woodland animals etc. This is a recent tradition for me and I absolutely love it. Any Halloween decorating we do (lasts 5 days tops) has to incorporate most of the seasonal stuff or I'm not doing it!

CatamaranViper · 31/10/2023 09:12

Our 'decorations' are homemade crafts I've done with DS. Spiders out of pompoms and pipe cleaners, skeletons out of lolly pop sticks, streamers out of paper etc. We even cut out some giant pumpkins and skulls which we coloured in and stuck glitter on. Tac-tastic.
We reuse it until it falls apart and make it again.

Orange fairy lights around the front door and 4 carved pumpkins on actual Halloween along with a spooky themed dinner (mummified sausages this year), trick or treating then a 'horror' film (probably hocus pocus or something kid friendly).

I adore horror films so I'll be watching something much gorier once he's in bed and DH is in the bath.

DeceitfulMummy · 31/10/2023 10:39

Same here. I let the DC dress up if they want to. I go as far as ensuring they have a "Halloween" T-shirt that fits them i.e. something with a pumpkin or a bat etc. I do not take mine trick or treating, I don't agree with it for several reasons and am not going to get into a discussion about it. I cook a Halloween themed meal i.e. stuffed peppers with cut out faces or pumpkin soup. I have a cauldron of sweets in case people ring and else which are handed around whilst we watch a film.