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Original poster

...to want to send Trick or Treating back to America?

135 replies

onedamnthingafteranother · 30/10/2014 23:24

I want to relax in my own home of an evening, not close all the curtains and turn the lights off and pretend to be out (or actually have to go out) because this whole imported idiocy turns up all evening (we are near the centre of town and get inundated) at my doorstep once a year.

Grumble grumble, I'm a grouch - also an introvert in a people job who wants to pull up the drawbridge at night. Thinking of leaving a bucket of chocs outside with a "don't knock, just help yourselves" notice. Trouble is, door opens straight into the pavement.

OP posts:
funkybuddah · 31/10/2014 12:51

You do know that you don't have to answer your for right? You don't have to sit in the quiet and dark. Just don't answer the door what do you think will happen?

Sirzy · 31/10/2014 12:59

Even ignoring the door you have to listen to people banging away on it though - or as my grandmother found out risk getting the house covered in egg/flour etc.

The problem isnt with trick or treating, its with people who can't respect the pretty simple no decorations = no knocking idea

haggisaggis · 31/10/2014 13:09

We used to get money, not sweets ! (Scotland 1970's) But yes you had to do a party piece - and I still insist my own dc and any kids that come to us must do something for their sweets.

TillHammerZeit · 31/10/2014 13:17

I'm Scottish,and personally very grateful that trick or treating has taken over guiding. I love giving sweets to the children,and admiring their costumes,but the last thing I want to do is listen to one bad joke after another,or have to listen to them screeching songs at me.

FannyFifer · 31/10/2014 13:21

Yeah money was always preferable. Grin

RafaellaNhaKyria · 31/10/2014 13:21

I don't know why anyone is fighting the battle of blaming trick or treating on the US....haven't you been here long enough to realize that if there's something you don't like or find culturally unpleasant, the stock response here is "must be American. Send it back to America!"

But Trick or Treating must be American, as it was unheard of when I was a kid. Ah, bless. I'm really laughing at this one Grin

wobblyweebles · 31/10/2014 13:42

RafaellaNhaKyria nailed it...

indigo18 · 31/10/2014 13:49

I don't mind as long as it is contained; one night, for a few hours.
My very elderly Mother lives in a care home, and it has been Halloween there for at least four weeks. Cobwebs, spiders hanging from the ceilings, orange and black balloons, plastic bats, witches, ghouls EVERYWHERE. My mother, and I suspect the majority of the other residents, have zero interest in it and I feel it infanticises them. They are not in playgroup and don't want to paint bats.
Oh well, I suppose the Christmas decorations will go up tomorrow!

Gruntfuttock · 31/10/2014 14:00

I'm quite prone to paranoia, so if I didn't answer the door I'd be expecting a brick through the door or a firework through the letterbox. I do find it intimidating. Sad

hellokittymania · 31/10/2014 14:13

Yabu, I love halloween!

babyboomersrock · 31/10/2014 14:14

My very elderly Mother lives in a care home, and it has been Halloween there for at least four weeks. Cobwebs, spiders hanging from the ceilings, orange and black balloons, plastic bats, witches, ghouls EVERYWHERE. My mother, and I suspect the majority of the other residents, have zero interest in it and I feel it infanticises them. They are not in playgroup and don't want to paint bats

That is truly grim. How can care home staff imagine that's respectful to older people?

To get back to the OP - the words "trick or treat" were certainly not used in Scotland. Guising is not the same - children are expected to come inside, recite a poem or sing a song, and only then are they given sweets etc. "Trick or treat" sounds quite menacing to me - it may be fine if, like me, you live in a rural area with children whose families you probably know - but I feel sympathy for people who are not in that position.

tilliebob · 31/10/2014 16:33

Fanny, I've a carved tumshie here - DS2 is away to show our elderly neighbours it Wink

weebarra · 31/10/2014 16:43

DS1 has mentioned trick or treating and has been swiftly corrected. We're in Scotland so it's guising, as it was 30 years ago when I was his age. He has memorised his joke and made up a song.

LiveLife1 · 31/10/2014 17:45

RafaellaNhaKyria
Where is your evidence that going door to door saying " Trick or treat" did NOT originate in the US? It is the work of an utter ignoramous that goes around belittling others statements. Especially when their own is so absurd and devoid of any facts!

And ad for wobblyweebles comment that you "nailed it" I can only assume he/she is taking about you being a total arse. Or is that ASS???

OiGiveItBack · 31/10/2014 17:55

Oh dear, we will have to send back all things Disney, Coke, Hamburgers, the Simpsons, etc, Hmm

I'm 50 and I used to trick and treat when I was a kid living in Devon. It was just on my street and was low key but great fun nonetheless. I don't get why trick and treats perceived Americanism is so wrong.

RegTheMonkey1 · 31/10/2014 17:59

I grew up in the 50s in the west of Scotland and, as others have posted, we called it going out Guisin' which I suppose is from 'disguise' or 'disguising'. We would knock on neighbours door and you would sing, or dance, or recite a poem, and you would be given a tangerine, or a handful of monkey nuts. Houses, shops and schools would be decorated and there was even a special Hallowe'en cake which had trinkets baked inside it.

RegTheMonkey1 · 31/10/2014 18:01

And I forgot to add, there was no 'trick' about it. My mother, who was born in 1918, also went out Guisin'.

steff13 · 31/10/2014 18:11

a handful of monkey nuts

Explain, please. Because it can't possibly be what I'm imagining...

LiveLife1 · 31/10/2014 19:07

Steff13
Did you not know monkey nuts were a delicacy back in those days. Along with squirrel, cat, rabbit and even Haggis nuts Shock Of course monkey nuts were the most prized as they were so rare. Hmmm I remember fondly their delicious sweet taste!!! Takes me back Halloween Wink

FannyFifer · 31/10/2014 19:10

I love monkey nuts. I'm munching a big bag the now. Grin

tilliebob · 31/10/2014 19:11

I have a bag of monkey nuts here and the kids love shelling them and eating them. However I don't offer them to guisers as I have no idea who's nut free and not these days!

raltheraffe · 31/10/2014 19:16

Just for next year, I have a tip. Buy a padlock and padlock the front gate so they cannot get in and then relax!

WitchWay · 31/10/2014 19:24

We used to call it Mischief Night (Nottinghamshire in the 1970s) & would go around ringing doorbells & so on but not asking for anything.

The first time I came across "Trick or Treat" was in a book I read in the 70s called "Jennifer, Hecate, Macbeth & Me" about an American schoolgirl who fancied herself as a witch.

It's been rebranded I think, adding William McKinley & the name of "me", Elizabeth to the title here

I liked the original loved the cover picture

AnyoneForTardis · 31/10/2014 20:15

We've had trick or treaters all week.
Last monday one kept his finger on the doorbell until dp finally answered the door. He said "Happy xmas" to the trick or treater who looked confused and said it wasnt xmas.
Dp replied with "its not Halloween yet either..."

Grin. ^^

I don't remember T or T when I was younger, only trhe penny for the guy thing and then it was burnt on Nov 5th.

this has come over from the states, since the 90's.

LiveLife1 · 31/10/2014 20:23

FannyFifer
Aye rub it in! I envy you I really do Envy what I wouldn't give for a fist full right now. But, I suppose I will have to make do with my K9 nuts. Some might say they are the dogs bollocks! But for me you just can't beat a good old Monkey nut!