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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To dislike Halloween?

59 replies

LittlebearH · 26/10/2010 16:34

I don't remeber as a child ever celebrating Halloween. My mother thinks trick or treating is begging, I am inclined to agree.
It seems to get bigger and bigger each year.

I think that it must scare some younger children, when I see the costumes, some are horrible.

I just don't get it. Nothing about it seems particularly nice at all.

Is it just me?

OP posts:
PigeonPie · 26/10/2010 19:38

OP YANBU

I dislike it too and agree with Galena!

I put a note on our door, turn out the porch light and turn off the doorbell. It's worked for the last few years.

I am not a killjoy, but I dislike being disturbed when I'm trying to get my two into bed and I don't find it very amusing.

However, I don't mind carol singers in December if they're tuneful and can sing more than one verse of Away in a Manger!

piscesmoon · 26/10/2010 19:51

We are disturbed the entire evening! Putting out a notice is likely to get eggs thrown.We go out!

HowsTheSerenity · 26/10/2010 19:54

I agree too that it is begging. Having been away for years I cannot comment on the situation in Australia but when I was a kid no one ever did it.

traditionally are you not meant to do a trick or tell a joke etc to get a treat? Does anyone actually demand this if their visitors? I am sorely tempted to.

PirateScaredyCat · 26/10/2010 19:56

not a fan here either, it's all a bit gory and not spooky isn't it.

5Foot5 · 26/10/2010 19:57

PigeonPie "However, I don't mind carol singers in December if they're tuneful and can sing more than one verse of Away in a Manger!"

You're locky! Most of the ones we get cut straight to "We wish you a Merry Christmas" They don't even do the verses.

Booboodebat · 26/10/2010 20:00

I love it.

I'm thirty-five, English, Southern, and we always celebrated it including trick-or-treat.

We have the leave-out-yer-pumpkin system round here too, so you're only giving out sweets if you've chosen to participate.

When it's DS's bedtime, I turn off the lights at the front, bring in the pumpkin and unplug the doorbell.

I had to snurk a bit at the poster who referred to the parties as 'a waste of time'. Since when were parties about anything other than having fun?

Mischief Night is an ancient tradition in this country (although in some parts of the country it was celebrated in May) and Halloween is mainly a continuation of that, I think.

SuePurblybilt · 26/10/2010 20:03

I don't like it. But I imagine the vast pumpkin in my kitchen will be making its way outdoors as DD will be excited. I'll give to trick or treaters but I do get pissed off at hulking great teenagers doing it in poundshop masks and asking for money.

I save my energy for Christmas Grin

GhastlyandUgly · 26/10/2010 20:08

I love it - it's lots of fun and the kids love it. DS has been hunting Pendle witches today and has had a fab time.

GoreRenewed · 26/10/2010 20:13

Oh I don't know. My DC have all enjoyed it. Up till this year we have made a pumpkin lantern (well 3 actually), get a big bowl of chocolates for TorTers and they dress up to TorT themselves. My eldest doesn't bother anymore (although he looks wistful Grin) but the younger 2 do. However we've moved house and I don't know if it's the done thing here.

Will still make a lantern or 3, still make a cake, still buy chocs but don't know what else as yet.

No we didn't do this as a child but so what. Life changes.

celticlassie · 26/10/2010 20:28

We had 'guising' in Scotland - which is going door to door, similar to trick and treat, but we were expected to sing a song or similar for our 'treat'. So not purely an American tradition

NoNoNoNo · 26/10/2010 21:01

It's an Irish/Scottish thing originally, being new year's eve in the old calendar. Got exported to the US, transmogrified, and sent back shinier and more commercial, same as they did with Paddy's Day

Harmless fun, I reckon

sweetkitty · 26/10/2010 21:07

Love it here, we are in a new estate so all the little ones get dressed up and we go to each others houses guiding ad it's called up here. You have to tell a joke or sing a song for your sweets. We only go to houses that are decorated a kind if unwritten rule, we are only pug an hour and that's it done, we buy sweets for the neighbours kids that buy for ours kind of a sweet exchange. The DC love running up and down the street dressed up with their friends.

TheFallenMadonna · 26/10/2010 21:12

We definitely had Hallowe'en parties when I was a child. We used to bob for apples and dress up as devils and witches. We didn't do trick or treating though.

'Begging' is associated with Guy Fawkes Night in my memory - penny for the Guy!

wayoftheworld · 26/10/2010 21:13

I dislike the mess left behind. I find the wrappers of the sweets that they take from my house on my front lawn in the morning.

Dont mind others celebreating, some of the costumes are nice, but the mess is another story. Will put a bin by the gate and see how it goes...Grin

YaddahYaddahYaddah · 26/10/2010 21:14

I've gotten to like to more over the years, no farking choice living in Ireland, the horrible little blighters keep knocking regardless.

I prefer it more now that lidl has opened down the road and i can lop cheap sweets at them as the make their way down the path, much better that way as it
involves with little contact/conversation as possible, and I don't have to pretend to think their outfits are any good.

Have been know to scream say 'piss orf' through the door to carol singers who started the tonelessness on the 6th December.

fruitstick · 26/10/2010 21:14

Can't be bothered with it myself and am Hmm at the every increasing fancy dress, table decorations, accessories and tat that seem to be involved.

A few sweets by the door and maybe a spot of apple bobbing but nothing more.

Bonfire night on the other hand Grin

Ripeberry · 26/10/2010 21:16

I don't mind the younger kids, but hate it when teenagers come to the door Angry. Anyone over 14yrs old should not be doing it.

boiledegg1 · 26/10/2010 21:17

YANBU, bonfire night is much more interesting.

wayoftheworld · 26/10/2010 21:39

Teenagers!!! I had three 16 years old girls that knocked on the door three years ago, one of them was wearing a bunny outfit like Bridget Jonnes Shock!! Is it playboy night? There are husbands around...

Well, I was mean and did not give them any sweets!!Blush

Bue · 26/10/2010 21:44

In North America Halloween is sheer awesomeness. It's one of the biggest nights of the year for kids (and some adults). The jack o lanterns, the trick or treating, the costumes - it's just good old festive family fun.

I appreciate that it doesn't really translate over here though, because rarely does the whole community buy into it. It's also a lot gorier over here! I used to dress up as sweet things like Anne of Green Gables or a lobster fisherman.

LovestheChaos · 26/10/2010 22:19

Totally agree with Bue. It is awesome over there but sucks here. It is certainly not as gory over there. The whole community is involved. One night is designated as trick or treat night and the people who don't want to participate get a notice to put in their window. Our parents went with us and would have killed us if we went to the houses with notices.

We used to dress up as nice things as well. I don't think I ever had a gory costume growing up over there. We dressed up as angels and princesses, things like that.

The halloween parade was fun as well.

celticlassie · 26/10/2010 22:21

Gory's fine - it's the pseudo porn star costumes that upset me. Slutty sexy sailor, minnie mouse, cowgirl, nun (!), Little red riding hood and on and on and on. There is nothing available that covers the knees never mind anything else.

(Old lady rant over)

celticlassie · 26/10/2010 22:21

for adults obv... Blush

Ninks · 26/10/2010 22:32

I am this year going to get my own back on the Asda-masked teens who have the cheek to ask for money.

I will buy the most-realistic hairy claw hand I can find and sit by the door in the darkness waiting until they knock.

Can't wait!

[hshock]

tearinghairout · 26/10/2010 22:34

OP YANBU.

I dislike it too. It makes me feel uneasy. A church near me is having an AllSaintsDay party the next night!

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