To think that trick or treating is basically begging?

[AndyWarholsOrange]

I actually don't think that at all but am surprised that no one has started the obligatory thread about it yet so thought I may as well start one. Also, Haloween is American and allowing children to have anything to so with it will lead to them worshipping Satan. Have I missed anything?

Only an 'l' from Halloween

Hell yes you've missed something!

Sugar is worse than crack and no kids should eat it like ever!

I've bought my dog a spider costume

Look how cute he is.

I like the way it brings people together - our neighbours open their doors and everyone gets to meet each other. It's also nice opportunity for the older generation to meet the younger kids in the neighbourhood. It's very family-orientated, so not like a begging experience I have witnessed. (Unless those involve dinner at home with friends after?)

Yes of course it is begging - children in cute costumes knocking on the door and asking for sweets? - it's beyond disgusting.

Dress up as a vampire with blood dripping down your face, shriek as you open the door, and pop a chocolate covered brussels sprout into their buckets.

That's a brilliant spider costume, I need those for my little beasts

You missed out egging/flouring the mean people who don't do hallowe'en

It is discusting.

Terrorising the elderly and one step closer to becoming an American state.

You missed the 'stranger danger' of little kids knocking on people's doors - you never know who might answer!

Aww... Viva he's gorgeous.

If I dressed Deja dog up like that she'd give me a look.

When DS and DD were little I used to decorate the front room and invite a few of the neighbours kids in and provide some food and leave them to play games in there...keeping an eye on them to make sure they didn't get up to too much mischief of course

Always kept a couple of tubs of sweets of course for the Trick or treaters. Not had many knocking for a few years though, in fact last year I don't think we got anyone knocking.

Woohooo Halloween bingo!

Can everyone please stop being so reasonable. Please somebody start going on about begging and the evils of lollipops.

Satan needs worshippers too.

And begging is ok as long as they give you a cut.

Fine imo if it's small children accompanied by adults knocking early in the evening on the doors of people they know. Anything else has potential for intimidation.
I shall as usual ensure I'm not at home.

I don't really dislike Halloween but I hate how big it's become. I detest Trick or Treat, however. The curtains stay shut and the door stays unanswered.

Apparently this makes me a misery.

Ok, whatever!

Actually it isn't always fun. A group of teens turned up on my Gran's doorstep demanding money in the name of trick or treating. When she wouldn't give them any, they smashed milk bottles against her front door.

Nothing wrong with cute kids dressed up in costumes and wanting a few sweets though.

Ah this type of thread marks the. Halloween on the calendar.

As soon as I see the money begging threads, ill know Christmas is on the way!

Another seasonal thread, this comes up every year on MN

I suppose you could call it begging but if you don't want your child to take part then don't let them and don't answer your door to any trick or treaters. Sorted.

I've taught my kids to grab fist fulls of sweets if the home owner opens the door holding a bowl.

Have I done the right thing?

Or should I be teaching them to grab the bowl and run?

to be honest, I have never been intimidated by a 3 year old dressed up like. A bumble bee!

I'm a sad old Goth and I always think of Halloween as our Christmas.

The Americans love Halloween and make a massive deal over it but it did not originate from there.

Neither did Christmas, but we love that too.

I have no idea what this "low key" halloween you speak of is.

My biggest concern is that there's kids on our block that come to our house trick or treating by themselves (as in just them all alone), sometimes with no flashlights with no flash lights. At least go with a buddy or parent.

Mrs I don't think it makes you a misery. You're just as entitled to not like it as other's are entitled to like it.

Personally I think there should be some agreed on sign, eg. if you want to take part then display a pumpkin in the window or something.

Unfortunately some people do abuse it but if it wasn't Halloween giving them an excuse to be idiots it'd be something else. I did get teenagers round one year and offered them the bowl of sweets like everyone else. They took some but never came back the next year