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?

It's become commercialised. 40 years ago we didn't have Trick or Treating. The Americans might not have started it originally but they brought it over with them to Greenham Common etc and it took off from there. Manufacturers jumped on the bandwagon and as for publicity about egg and flour throwing ........

What happened to what we used to do? Parties with apple bobbing? Does anyone go to proper Harvest Festivals without tinned and packaged food - just fresh fruit and vegetables and that plait of bread? Dopubt it.

I've come on to say the bit about lanterns should be carved out of TURNIPS.

Pumpkins are for softies.

Norty AndyWarholsOrange

Pumpkins for an American Halloween.
Swedes for Scottish lanterns.
Turnip lanterns for those who like bonsai.

Turnips in Scotland are what English people call Swedes.

I don't care what you say, they are turnip lanterns.

We used to have the turnip lantern (in the 1970s/80s) they're a days work in themselves

My dad used a sharp gouge tool ( like a chisel but a razor sharp scoop on it) then you had the aroma of burned turnip.
And the candle never stays lit unless you put it in a jar.

Pumpkins , though easier to carve and bigger , the feel of the seeds and stringey bits makes me heave .

God, it CAN'T be a whole year since this exact same thread last year, can it?

We had turnip lanterns too, but then my dad's a Scot.
he also used to make bonfire toffee that was a real tooth-puller.

i always close the curtains and put the lights out no begging round here please

We love Halloween in our village. General rule is that if there's a pumpkin on the doorstep you can knock, if not, stay away - is broadly respected. Some people decorate their houses and do the whole dry ice and haunted 'spook the children' thing, others give out mulled wine. Never knew begging could be such fun - seems any excuse for a party piss up around here!

Treacle toffee is worse for your children than heroin.

We don't do trick or treating, we do Halloween.

I was researching the origins of Hallowe'en traditions for an article I have just written. The origins of the festival are Celtic and 'souling' was basically going door to door offering to pray for the souls of the dead in return for food. A soul treat. People dressed up to scare the spirits away as All Hallows Eve was the end of summer time and start of winter. This was when they believed the walls between worlds were transparent.

Past tense?
Many Wiccans celebrate Samhain.

Am now really confused by the turnip thing. We call them turnips but to the best of my knowledge we don't have any connections in out family with Scotland. Maybe it's just another odd Hull thing...

I will never allow my children (for as lng as I have that power) to go out trick or treating at least to strangers' doors. Yes it is begging and I hate it. I'd also worry for their safety. I may allow it among a small group of friends whose kids are doing it too I suppose -reciprocation arrangement.

When I was a kid it used to get nasty too - fireworks through the door, threats (just kid-to-kid) before and after. Fairly bad area.

I've nothing against the festival as a whole. It's not just American, it's roots may go back to pagan times and still seems to be quite strong in Europe. I have a rule of thumb, there's very little in America that Europe didn't put there (sorry native americans but you know you're abused already).

Where we live there is an area where most houses join in . You know which ones are playing along and which ones aren't . We never knock on the dark ones but some families take great pride in dressing up and making games for the kids . For us it's more about that than the sweets . Let's face it you can buy sweets if you want them . I don't think it's begging , I can think of other instances where begging is involved but don't want to start a mumsnet fight !

We celebrate Samhain. A lot of Halloween traditions now are from ancient traditions. I never allowed my kids to go trick or treating, friends normally came (and still do come) to us to celebrate it. To us it's the start of the Celtic New Year, the end of the harvest and to remember those that have passed on.

Ah Maryz no carving for me, I'm healing some scars (gallbladder not trying to look like the bloke from "Arsenic and Old Lace" )

Ahhh, Halloween is great fun, first excuse to decorate the house before Christmas.

Wilcos have brilliant 3ft furry spiders for £5, and great big hanging spider cocoons.

My DC love it, I love it. We decorate our house. DP takes them out trick or treating, I stay home to answer the door to the 100+ children that knock on the door. It is all over by 8 pm, so all good.

It's one of my kids favourite days - they love it (was also one of mine when I was young - we got so excited). The estate where we live just comes alive. The houses that take part all decorate to show they welcome the kids and last year when the weather was nice there were families everywhere - the atmosphere was lovely and friendly and it seemed the whole community was taking part.