Just had our first trick or treaters…

[spitefulandbadgrammar]

…at 11.30am?! We’ve got a pumpkin out but it’s not yet lit, what with it being DAYTIME. Perhaps that was the trick. I’m irrationally furious and want my Swizzels drumstick back.

And once again I’m delighted I’ve moved to a flat 😬 <miserable got emoji>

I'm trying to think of names for reluctant sweets now.
Choco-so late you might as well not have bothered?
Licor-ish?
Lolli-didn't quite pop?
I'll get my coat.

You're actually surprised that you're getting a backlash for comparing an activity loads of people will be doing today with begging?

Are English kids expected to tell joke, sing, recite poem for their sweets?

It's probably more akin to busking than begging

I had kids turn up on the 1st October a few years ago. They wouldn't have it that it wasn't Halloween and they were a month early, they insisted it was, the parents were there too, not sure how they got it that wrong? 🤣

I don’t get why people are moaning about Trick and Treat, annoyed at children coming too early etc…

Surely, if that’s much of a hassle, you don’t put any decorations? Then don’t answer the door. Job done.

@Dinoswearunderpants my dcs never did Trick and Treat because I saw it as begging too,
There IS some history behind it but it’s not part of my own history so has little meaning tbh. And then what’s left is the begging and the sugar high.

It isn't begging if you follow the accepted social contract:

Child dresses up, only calls on decorated houses, is polite, says 'trick or treat' or 'happy halloween'.
Participating household makes some nice comment about costume, offers sweet.
Child says thank you.

We're opting out this year. When DC were younger we put a lot of effort in (eg with covered buckets of -pumpkin- entrails to put hands into). We used to get 80+ callers.
We have said to our only neighbour with children they can call on us even though we aren't decorated, but that will hopefully be it.

Makes no difference here if house is decorated or not, mine is not and is in darkness with curtains closed but still they will not quit knocking, if you do not answer the door the same ones just carry on knocking. Its a bloody nuisance

Agree OP 11:30 is mental!

Usually no one goes out around here till gone 4:30pm. But today I have just had a bunch of young ones ringing the doorbell for trick or treat about 10 misn ago! I'm WFH in the garden office on a call, so sadly couldn't open the door to them anyway but could see them all dressed up on the Ring doorcam. It sparked a lively debate with the zoom call participants (who obvs all heard Alexa announce the doorbell!) about the fact its far too bloody early in the day!

Well, if anyone rings ours I will either not answer, or will answer and say 'I'm sorry, we aren't participating, you should only be calling on houses with decorations or a lit pumpkin'.

(But then, I've been known to send teenagers away who haven't dressed up, telling them to dress up and come back.)

My neighbourhood the rule is wait for it to go dark (so usually 4:30/5). What cf’s the parents were.

Always around 6:30pm around here. People are eating dinner, getting home from work before that

There was a time when we'd get them every night from the middle of October.

That's way too early. They were lucky that people were willing to give out sweets at that time of day.

After it gets dark is when guising is supposed to happen

11:30? That’s a hard no from me! Has to be dark, only go to houses with decorations and say thank you!
Our old house was on a very family friendly street with lots of visitors. So much so we’d run out of goodies. Used to get cheesed off at families that would knock but never bothered themselves. Boy can I hold a grudge. 😂
Quite liked the buzz of it though I’d be a bit stressed on a work night getting everything ready.
My late parents who didn’t live local to me used to always put pumpkins and fairy lights out once they’d seen all the shenanigans at ours one year. Every year they’d ring and tell me how many they’d had knocking and how sweet the children were. Missing them right now.

I think that’s so sweet 🥹 x

I have 2 out of 3 preschoolers and the other is only in reception… we still went when it’s dark! That’s part of Halloween!
I wouldn’t have answered earlier 😂

Interested to read the responses.

So we had about 10 knocks last night. 8 out 10 never said 'trick or treat' when I opened the door. And the same amount didn't say thank you. Some did after being prompted by their parents but honestly it's not difficult.

Not to mention the kids who instead of taking just one lolly or packet of Haribo, proceeded to take a big handful.

I think they risked a lot of disappointment tbh, not many people are home and not busy during the day. As op said our stuff went out on the weekend. I am at home and could have answered the door, but I’d be the only one on my street to do so, because people are at work, or working from home!!

Perhaps their parents were nurses or emergency paramedics who have night shifts to start but still wanted to accommodate their kids wish to trick or treat? Not everyone who has kids works your average 9-5 and has evenings off.