How old is TOO old to go trick-or-treating?

[stubbornhubby]

that's it really, how old is too old?

I don't like treat and treating full stop, not when it involves going round doors of people you don't know, etc.

Sometimes DD and her friends have been to local neighbours who we know like it. But it is very limited to where she can go and how she asks.

We do do pumpkins though and don't mind people TTing at our house up to a certain time at night - no latter than 8pm though.

I hate to see teenagers out TTing and don't lile seeing little children out on their own withut an adult.

It depends on the attitude and effort more than the age. My BF's daughter's secondary school has threatened any pupils caught trick or treating with suspension. [hshock]

I will happily answer the door before 8.30ish and provide chocolate/sweets to anyone who has made an effort, regardless of age.

Its 'guising' with us & child 'guiser' is usually expected to tell a joke/sing a song/recite a poem then get some sweets/goodies, we loved it when we were kids. Now I take my DS to a few of his friends houses cos don't live in home town, so don't know that many people. You would only normally go to houses of people you know & if their lights are on.

I don't think the age matters as long as you've made an effort to dress up and you're only calling on neighbours you know. In our neighbourhood we have a 'code' where if there's a lit pumpkin in the window/doorway, they're expecting trick n treaters, and if not, you pass by their house.

Guising, yes, I know we have been Americanised, but I still want to say to children, what can you DO?! sing? tin whistle? a dance, a joke!?

Think it's an Irish/Scottish thing. OR was an Irish/Scottish thing. Now the whole world does it the same way America does it!

I think it's a pointless American tradition and I don't know why anyone in the UK does it tbh, I agree it's totally at odds with the usual 'don't talk to strangers' - oh apart from that one day a year you go knocking on their doors asking for stuff

Guising is still the same in Scotland as it was when I was a lass in the 60s.

I do make the kids that come to the door "do their turn" - or their "trick" - a song, or joke or wee dance, before giving them their "treat".

You can't say it is just an American import. As far as I am concerned, ds is continuing a long Scottish tradition [hsmile]

Did English children not go out collecting nuts and apples on 31st Oct in the 70s then?

well I didn't at I only heard of it when ds was small.
imo it should be banned,

banned?! why?

banned?! how?

When I was little, I think we were told English children didn't do Halloween, they did Bonfire Night/Guy Fawkes and celebrated the burning of a Catholic. The nuns did fail to mention that the Catholic in question had tried to blow up the Houses of Parliament. But that's nuns for you.

I still went trick or treating until after uni...

Well, it is one way for an impoverished student to get food!

ha ha chip, those nuns were fierce alright. I thought that it was all about a bonfire to celebrate the fact that the houses of parliament weren't blown up. Didn't even know that there was a catholic/protestant angle.

You didn't have Mother John Bosco then!

Why should it be banned? It's generally harmless fun,so long as a few simple rules are followed.

Personally I prefer trick or treating to guising. Just look cute and/or scary and say thankyou.That's all I ask.
I don't want to hear you singing or telling bad jokes.

Think I'm with you on that one, LetThere.

Halloween would be like an endless stream of tone deaf carol singers. Dreadful [hgrin]

[hgrin] LetThereBeRock: I make them work for their monkey nuts/stasumas/mini mars bars.

When I was wee, people occasionally used to give money as well - but I don't think we got as much chocolate (mini mars bars didn't exist back then [hblush]

Year 6 of Primary school is the absolute upper limit IMO. If they are secondary school age they should stop.

do any of you have or know any teens

this thread is making me shudder in the total disregard for anyone you'd describe as a "youth"

How did society get to this stage

When they're old enough to turn their noses up at my fun-size Milky Ways and Chuppa-Chupps [hgrin].