or am i the only person who hates halloween?

[mummyonvalium]

I think DH thinks I am a bit of a stooge about this time of year but I really have a thing about it I have always disliked it, even as a child I found it frightening. I dislike all of it - the dressing up, the trick or treating and the assumption that you have to give children a treat.

The concept of "trick or treat" - is actually an unpleasant one and reminds me vaguely of being a bully, ie, give me something or I will do something horrid to you. I know in most cases it is innocent but there is a subliminal message there (surely) that says this is okay behaviour.

To top this off last year I had a negative experience. I was struggling to put my children them to bed when I heard the doorbell. I could not get to the door but instead of going away they kept on banging at the door and the next thing I heard was someone trying to turn the handle to get into the house. DS1 heard them and became quite scared. It was really hard to settle him afterwards.

Am I being miserable for not wanting my children to celebrate it? I really don't like what it seems to represent and the fact that it gives an excuse for badly behaved teenagers to behave even worse.

[BeauNeidel]

I just hate it because as my kids get older it'll be another pointless day where I have to 'spoil' them. There are about 6 other kids within walking distance of our house though so we're not often bothered by trick or treaters!

I absolutely love bonfire night though!

[Sparklingbroomstick]

I don't see it as 'celebrating' just 'going with it'. It makes my DSs happy and I'm all for that. People are overthinking it.

[MajesticWhine]

YANBU - I hate it too. I have sadly had to adapt to celebrating it because my DC love it, and because in the area we live it is a big thing.

[BoneyBackJefferson]

mummyonvalium

"The concept of "trick or treat" - is actually an unpleasant one and reminds me vaguely of being a bully, ie, give me something or I will do something horrid to you."

The concept was that you gave the children a trick i.e magic etc. or a treat.

[MamaMary]

I just ignore it.

[80sMum]

I don't like it either. I can't bear all the rampant commercialism and aisles full of tat. The over-the-top commercial aspect is an American import. Somehow it works over there, but I don't think it has travelled well. Halloween was much nicer how it used to be, a much more low-key and together more British affair. It seems a shame that we are turning into a mini copy of the US. School proms are another import that seems to be taking root over here, more's the pity.

[MamaBear17]

Im not a fan of halloween. When my dd is a little older I might let her have a party or go to a party if she wanted, but I dont like trick or treating. My parents never allowed it so I think that is why I feel the way I do.

[cantspel]

I have never celebrated halloween and i have no intention ever to do so.

It just seems to get bigger and tackier every years with more and more orange tat in every supermarket.

[mummyonvalium]

I would agree with the pagan thing if I were a pagan but I am not a pagan, so on top of everything else have no desire to celebrate something I don't believe in.

[adeucalione]

sallyingforth - the term 'trick or treat' is American, but the concept of asking people for treats at Hallowe'en is not; guising and souling predate 'trick or treating' (not to mention 'penny for the guy' and carol singing door-to-door at Christmas, both of which I did as a child but which I personally don't see much of nowadays).

I don't know...done right it can be a lovely celebration, but like anything there is a minority of idiots that give it a bad name, mainly teenagers and their daft parents.

I like the fact that we're still celebrating by dressing up goulishly etc despite the church's best efforts.

[squoosh]

Yes you're right, we should be making ourseves a charming repast of offal, dust and human hair and scowling at each other in the dark.

Just who do these recession partiers think they are?

Down with this sort of thing.

[IDismyname]

Its an overblown excuse for a party in my book. Would MUCH rather dance around a bonfire with the odd sparkler.

Anyway, isn't this country in such dire financial straits that we shouldn't be forking out on all that 'tat' ?!

[Sallyingforth]

You're certainly not BU and you're not the only one by any means.

Halloween is a very old tradition but it's only recently that the American habits associated with it have spread over here. It's gone far too far IMO/

[RedGreenRouge]

I hate it too. Trick or treaters always seem to assume that they deserve a reward for knocking on your door. We hold a Halloween party every year and we play party games which have a vaguely pagan feel. I much prefer it to tramping about in the cold behind my dds and knocking on strangers' doors.

I do like bonfire night, though.

[stillsmarting]

Ragwort I enjoyed fireworks more as an adult than I ever did as a child.We used to go to the one run by the Scouts so you got a really good display for comparatively little money. However DS2 hated them, so we got out of the habit of going, and discovered that we can go up the hill at the back of our house and sit in the car and watch them for nothing!

[Jusfloatingby]

I like the innocent 'kids dressing up and having a bit of fun' side of it. It also marks the end of Autumn and the start of Winter.
However I hate the way some teenage brats take advantage of it to simply indulge in annoying and anti social behaviour. Harassing people in their houses, letting off fireworks and bangers for weeks beforehand or roaming around the streets shouting their heads off and doing damage to people's property.

[adeucalione]

I only like bonfire parties when they are at my house - I stand inside with hot chocolate or mulled wine while DH stands outside grimly lighting fireworks for our entertainment.

[squoosh]

I think that's why I'm so fond of it too adeucalione, I love the link to our pagan past.

[Ragwort]

I agree that Bonfire parties are totally boring too, why does anyone want to stand around in the cold ? I have never understood it. DH & DS used to go to big firework parties near our house, I loved staying at home, in front of my own fire with a good book and a glass of wine - so much more comfortable .

Do adults really enjoy bonfire parties, or they just go for the childrens' sakes?

[adeucalione]

I think it very much depends where you live - having teens banging on the door demanding free stuff with menaces is no fun for anyone. Around here everyone observes the 'pumpkin rule' already mentioned, and the only trick or treaters are primary aged children accompanied by adults, it's a very sociable and friendly event that most of my neighbours look forward to.

I like to celebrate it, as one of the few pagan festivals still available to us - it dates back thousands of years, celebrates the harvest and the changing seasons I think, and is certainly not an American import.

[Poosnu]

I hate it too. We get quite a few teenagers knocking, and they are fairly intimidating. If we don't answer the door but they see us in they keep banging. It's just an excuse to collect some cash for them. In the past we have tended to hide upstairs with the lights off... I would have no problem with younger children we know coming round, or children with their parents.

[Ragwort]

I don't like it at all, I think the 'decorations' are rather hideous and I am uncomfortable with the witches/occult side of it - although I can't articulate that very well. One Church I was involved with always did an 'alternative Light Party' for children which was great fun.

Fortunately my DS has only once wanted to go trick or treating and even then came back after 20 mins saying it was boring. .

However I don't want to be a killjoy if other children are enjoying it and am happy to answer the door and give out sweets and hope some are left over for me.

[georgee]

YANBU OP. I hate it too.

[Tuttutitlookslikerain]

a lit firework, bloody auto correct!

[Itsjustafleshwound]

Not a fan of the night and don't like the idea of my kids dressing up and begging neighbours for sweets ...