To hate Halloween

[Lucydogz]

I went into town today, and there was so much crap merchandise on the Halloween theme, all of which will be in the bin tomorrow. Plus loads of shop assistants wearing related costumes and makeup. I'm so old that my children were brought up pre-trick or treat - I remember watching ET and not knowing what they were doing . I probably come across as a grumpy old woman, but it just seems such a waste.

I wouldn't feel like we had to hide if treat or treaters, in past years, had been more respectful of the fact not everyone wants to join in.

All the people who say that halloween is not a new thing - it is a new thing in some parts of the country, much of the south east has finally stopped bashing catholicism by over-doing the 5th of november and made halloween the excuse for fun this time of year - this is a good thing. Yes, the rest of us in the other parts of the country did halloween 30 and 50 years ago, but that's fine, it's still new to others...

Still YANBU to hate something, YABU for caring that other people enjoy it.

I hate it too. Am going to VERY bed early with a good book and refuse to have anything to do with it at all. I go a little OTT for Christmas, Easter and birthdays, but I hate everything about Halloween with a passion. Children have always accepted that, though of course they can dress up for any school related activities, but no trick or treating is done here.

I agree with most of what you are saying here OP, but TBH when you're desperate for something new to do with a 3yo carving a pumpkin and putting face paint spiders on your cheeks doesn't half kill an hour or two.

''when you're desperate for something new to do with a 3yo carving a pumpkin and putting face paint spiders on your cheeks doesn't half kill an hour or two.''

I agree. And this is it. This is what it should be. Something to do with the kids.

Once people are spending god knows what and trying to out do them at no.8, or fretting about the teen trick or treeters who will still be ringing the bell at gone 8 it's gone too far.

I find it a bit weird when people get all sniffy about how commercialised Halloween is, but embrace the 3 month long consumer-fest that is Christmas tbh. The vast amount spent on Christmas, the tackiness of many decorations , pesky carol singers coming to your door, children making long lists of their gift demands, endless advertising from about the beginning of October etc etc.

If you have a bunch of feral teens rampaging around, that's a different matter. It's not Halloween that makes them feral though.

I'm indifferent to it. When I was a kid the only thing we did was bobbing apples at Guides. It's just so massive now. I'm not a fan of knocking on doors though with the expectation of sweets (I'm awaiting the FB pictures later of piles of sweets etc collected by various families I know).

My old mum hated it, never answered the door. She used to say "they (the neighbours) only knock at Halloween but never when I can't clear the snow from my path in the middle of winter etc".

I'm prepared to be told I'm unreasonable.

MN wouldn't be MN without the moaning about Halloween and marauding feral teenagers scaring little old ladies.

We get people from other areas driving to our estate, to scavenge for sweets off strangers Trick or Treat

Ach usual give us this little corner of mumsnet for a moan

I'm just bemused by the all pervasiveness of it nowadays. It's quite clearly been appropriated by retailers and made into something we should be spending tons of money on. Remember the days where you might at the most have a Halloween party at Brownies? Long gone. My FB page is awash with photos of grown adults in elaborate costumes. I wouldn't have a clue what to wear myself and stressing about the costume would spoil any enforced fun anyway.

I find it a PITA. The doorbell going every couple of minutes is very intrusive and I will not be bothering to answer it if it does.

If my DDs want to give out the sweets that DH bought then that is up to them. I didn't buy any, didn't carve out a pumpkin and won't be answering the door at all.

By the way, my DDs are 18 and 14. They don't seem as interested as they once were.

We love Halloween, being Irish it was always a good, fun night with the kids and visiting neighbours but FFS, trick or treating is for small children! I had a couple of girls come to my door one year dressed as slutty school girls (classy!) with rucksacks they expected me to fill with sweets. I told them to piss off. My own kids have been told that once you are the same size or taller than the adults answering the door to you, you are too old for trick or treating! Time for parties with your mates instead. Sorry, rant over!

Agree. Kids outside now. Screaming. Hate it.

Just called elderly mother - who is terrified. Fine - have a party. But don't terrorise people. What is my 82 year old demented mother supposed to do when a bunch of teens in fancy dress bang on her door?

We used to have parties - it was great. In our house. Bothering no-one.

YANBU, I agree with you and I also find it a waste of money. What I found even more annoying was when my daughters school (SEN) requested we send them in with a costume for the Halloween party, now I think it's great that the children were able to have a lovely party at school but with Christmas coming up, money is tight and buying a costume regardless of it being £6 (in the sale) could have been money spent somewhere else. I know some will say I didn't have to send DD in a costume but which parent wants there child to feel left out?

YANBU, I hate it. I don't answer the door and the hall light will be off, the living room door closed and the batteries removed from the bell.

I'm also sick of fireworks and it's not even Guy Fawkes until Saturday!

Bollocks. Booked my tesco delivery for this evening. This complicates the hiding from the doorbell...

I'm going off it a tad now after just shutting the door on a lot of jostling kids grabbing at my sweets, knocking my pumpkin over, and one child saying they didn't like my sweets, have I got anything else? .

I couldn't tell them off because the parents were hovering by my hedge with an industrial strength torch in my face .

We have had loads to our door and not one has had a trick prepared. I'm sure my parents made us prepare a trick or a song before we went out as children. This has just become a new way for parents to teach their children it is ok to be demanding and entitled just because they are "cute".

YANBU and am so glad you started this thread or I would have :)

It's totally OTT.

My DCs are adults now so I'm a grumpy old woman. But looking back over 30 years ( one DC is that age) it's just spiralled; the tat in the shops, the expectation you will answer your front door and give out sweets.

As a child all I did (and not every year) was roam the cul de sac where I lived with 1 friend and a turnip lantern. That was it.

it's just another money-making opportunity for shops selling costumes and tat.

I have retreated to my bedroom. I have bad anxiety issues and I actually feel sick at the idea of people hammering on my door or egging my house. No DP to hand hold either. YANBU OP.

I find it a bit weird when people get all sniffy about how commercialised Halloween is, but embrace the 3 month long consumer-fest that is Christmas tbh. The vast amount spent on Christmas, the tackiness of many decorations , pesky carol singers coming to your door, children making long lists of their gift demands, endless advertising from about the beginning of October etc etc.

Not everyone spends loads of makes such a fuss over Christmas and it does have a religious significance for some.

No YANBU! It's a load of capitalist claptrap designed to trick folk to part with their cash in the guise of a treat....Not eco-friendly either.
Fine with those who want to do it but hate the circus it's become. Love Guy Fawkes though!!!

Yanbu if that's how you feel but I feel the same way about Christmas!