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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To not like Halloween?

49 replies

Sunshine51 · 01/10/2016 19:46

I really dislike Halloween especially trick or treating.
In my old house before we had kids I used to pop a sign up asking people to request our wishes.
This year we have moved to a family village and I have a suspicion we will be bombarded. I don't want people to think I'm a Grinch but I do feel quite strongly.
Is there away to get out of it or is it just a case of turn off the lights and hide!

OP posts:

RiverTam · 01/10/2016 20:34

Why would your DH not want to leave a bowl of sweets out?

I have to say I think teenagers doing it is a bit off. If you're old enough to be out after dark without your parents then you're too old for trick or treating!

In the past we've had some very aggressive teenagers (who think that sticking in a Scream mask is dressing up) who've got nasty if we haven't opened up, which put us off for a while. And one year, when we weren't decorated (DD was very young) we got some kids who knocked, then knocked again, then banged, then shouted through the letterbox. So I ripped open the door to give them an earful, fully expecting it to be a gang of teens. No, 6-8 year olds, with their parents at the bottom of the path. What the fuck??? I still gave them an earful.

So I can understand people not liking it, and there's no rule to say your have to. But it's got much better around here.

WyldFyre · 01/10/2016 20:39

It's not "trick or treating", it guising.
You don't get free sweets, you have to to a turn for them.

Harummmph

Somerville · 01/10/2016 20:46

I loathe Halloween with a passion because it involves two things I hate - anything scary and people I don't know knocking on my front door.

I don't let my kids go trick or treating because it seems at best grabby and at worst can feel threatening for elderly neighbours - or so they tell me.

Here it's curtains firmly shut and no decorations out and then we're not bothered by trick or treaters. It probably depends where you are in the country though - Halloween isn't traditionally a big deal around here.

Humidseptember · 01/10/2016 21:13

yanbu op.

Its horrid if you are not doing it to get knocks on the door all night.
However - its usually the etiquette that you do not knock on peoples doors without the house obviously participating!

Sadly some people fail to understand this. However for those houses that are dressed up they want you to knock! They have brought sweets especially and they love the neighborhood feel of it!

If a few houses do it altogether it really does make for a wonderful night out.

mickeysminnie · 01/10/2016 22:13

I love halloween, we visited Kenmare in Ireland last year! Brilliant!!

www.youtube.com/watch?v=-JSPQiLns-c

Teddy1970 · 01/10/2016 22:32

I like Halloween, and I don't mind SMALL children trick or treating, I love seeing all the little ones dressed up, but teenagers doing it? No they're far too old and it really annoys me for some reason, I usually put a sign on the door at about 7.30pm saying "Please do not knock on the door, baby sleeping" and then remove any outside pumpkins and decorations, that way it ensures you only get the little ones knocking, because they won't be out later than 7.30/8.00 as it's way past their bedtime, It seems to work!

DotForShort · 01/10/2016 22:36

I love Halloween but of course YANBU to dislike it and opt out. AFAIK, there is no law requiring participation.

Amethyst81 · 02/10/2016 00:00

I love Halloween, the whole autumn cosiness of it and I like the spooky stuff. We only get kids come knocking who actually know us in our street and we've not had any in a few years. One year I had absolutely nothing in the house treatwise so made sure all the hallway lights were out and sort of hid! Sad isn't it?

Crazycatlady123 · 02/10/2016 04:25

YANBU. I can't bare Halloween. For several reasons.

Main reason is I don't get why you'd knock on strangers doors to get sweets. We spend the rest of the year teaching children not to talk to strangers, or take sweets from strangers. Confusing much?

I just don't get celebrating something creepy, I just don't!
Scary for elderly and the vulnerable, and hate how over the top it's become with all the tat you now see in the shops.

In RL I'm in the minorory with my anti-Halloween views, but I'm fine with that.

MidniteScribbler · 02/10/2016 04:32

I don't really care one way or the other, but I figure a few bags of fun sized mar bars is worth the neighbourly goodwill.

sashh · 02/10/2016 04:52

Fwiw I'm a Christian which effects my view but the concept of celebrating all things creepy is weird to me and I think treat or treating is off.

But do you find all saints and all souls days weird?

MoominKitten · 02/10/2016 04:57

Boo! 🎃

SoupSpork · 02/10/2016 05:03

I find Halloween really stressful so I turn the lights and doorbell off then cuddle up with the dog and watch something on the iPad!

ChickenSalad · 02/10/2016 05:04

I have never been keen (even as a kid) but go along with it in a minimal sort of way. I dislike it more now all the dressing up tat appears to have been hijacked by horror movies, which I also dislike. Hallowe'en makes me think of the sickly smell of a plastic mask and makes me slightly queasy. I find the end if October quite a negative time and am always glad when it is over again for another year.

MitzyLeFrouf · 02/10/2016 05:10

Is there away to get out of it or is it just a case of turn off the lights and hide!

Participate or don't. Up to you. Easier to just not answer the door I'd have thought. But I'm sure you'd already realised this yourself? Unless you wanted to write a letter to the local gazette stating your objections.

MitzyLeFrouf · 02/10/2016 05:12

I asked them to explain exactly what Halloween was, how it came about and why we "celebrate" it. They didn't have a clue.

Oh how triumphant you must have felt..........

Poptart27 · 02/10/2016 05:30

YABU. And distinctly British.

Sparklingbrook · 02/10/2016 09:19

Well my MN Halloween Bingo card is nearly full.

WaitrosePigeon · 02/10/2016 09:20

Haha mine too Sparkling. Try the Range Rover bashing thread too, that's a good'un

BarbarianMum · 02/10/2016 09:22

Round here it's very simple. If you want to "play" you put up some decorations and kids will trick or treat you. If you don't decorate, you get left alone.
Simple

herewego1987 · 02/10/2016 09:25

Oh I love it. Its just a bit of fun! Xx

ShelaghTurner · 02/10/2016 09:25

I love Halloween. My mother always has a little party and so we're never in to trick or treaters but I leave a bowl of sweets on the doorstep for them. Lots of small kids round here though.

Bambambini · 02/10/2016 09:49

The folk that don't like It, did you grow up with it as a child? I did and it was one of the best, most exciting, most looked forward to days of the year - and that was before it got as gimmicky as it is now. Was really just straight forward but kids loved it. If you didn't grow up with it as part of your culture - you probably don't really get it.

SpookyPotato · 02/10/2016 10:23

We have the opposite problem! We always buy sweets and decorate the window and never have a peep. It's weird as there are lots of kids around here..

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