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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To hate Halloween

86 replies

Lucydogz · 31/10/2016 13:56

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.

OP posts:

Happymumof3tob · 31/10/2016 17:56

I hate it. We teach our kids all year long not to speak to strangers and dont take sweets on strangers. But one night a year if you put on a costume and possibly hiding your identity it is ok to knock on a friend or strangers house with a pumpkin outside and take sweets.... my kids are too young for it and i wont be advertising for them to do it. But maybe in a few years when they are older and understand the dangers more they can if it is agreed houses of friends first. Like a system of friends who have agreed and will do the same. But ideally i dont want them doing it. I was brought up taught that it is begging. And shouldnt do it. And the poor old dears who might get upset or scared easily. Maybe im just a grumpy witch....

Stilllivinginazoo · 31/10/2016 17:56

I don't like the lack of etiquette. If your house not decorated I thought it would be bypassed.
Stupid zoo!!!!!
25knocjers in past 20mins. I joined in last year and had over 150in less3 hours. My anxiety can't take that level of disturbance at end of day when I'm tired and overwrought(elderly gimmer)
Having funs fine people,but be mindful of those that aren't into it

Stilllivinginazoo · 31/10/2016 17:57

And agree with all happymumof3tobe said

Happymumof3tob · 31/10/2016 17:59

My idea would be if you want your kids to eat loads of sweets. Buy them yourself and if thats not fun enough hide them around the house like easter. Saying that one lady does an amazing oumpkin display every year in our village and we do go and look at it. But we dont do christmas either..religious reasons. But we do partake in some activities with friends etc. Maybe we are just too grumpy....

ilovesooty · 31/10/2016 18:00

I loathe Halloween, Bonfire night and Christmas.
Each to his / her own I suppose. As long as no one tries to disturb me they can do what they like.

Wookiecookies · 31/10/2016 18:16

YANBU... sometimes I partake with decs up and sweets, sometimes I dont, I have always taught my kids that they must only knock on doors with a pumpkin/decorations outside and never disturb those who have nothing. I remember how awful it was for my old neighbours who were nursing a dear family member with leukeamia in his final hours and they had no decorations out, yet there were knock after knock from kids who just would not go away until somebody answered and annoyingly the parents were with them allowing it! It was horribly distressing for the family. Please, however you feel about halloween, be sure to teach your kids to be respectful of those who dont enjoy it or are not indulging, whatever the reason! No one should have to feel they need to hide in their own home!

Wookiecookies · 31/10/2016 18:17

In other words, no decorations? Dont knock. Simples.

Notso · 31/10/2016 18:19

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.
We save ours and bring them out year after year.

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.
How old are your children? My parents are both sixty and went Trick or Treating.

PNGirl · 31/10/2016 18:24

Those saying you don't have to hide - we had a bunch of teenagers on Saturday night who banged on the door repeatedly for a couple of minutes, leaned on the doorbell then had the cheek to come back 5 minutes later and started rattling the bloody letterbox! If we turn the lights off in our kitchen I'm hoping they'll piss off.

Wookiecookies · 31/10/2016 18:30

PNG thats so out of order, I dont mind halloween, but I get the rage when kids/teens knock repeatedly when its obvious you are not partaking. Its not hard to only knock on doors with pumpkins/decs is it?

AGruffaloCrumble · 31/10/2016 18:36

When I took part last year and put mine and DC''s pumpkins out, after we ran out of sweets someone smashed up our pumpkins and I don't live in a rough area.

MrsJayy · 31/10/2016 18:36

Where we used to live houses regularly got egged by kids i used to stand at my window like a crazy lady glaring at them daring them i had an i know where you live look

a7mints · 31/10/2016 18:43

we had a bunch of teenagers on Saturday night who banged on the door repeatedly for a couple of minutes, leaned on the doorbell then had the cheek to come back 5 minutes later and started rattling the bloody letterbox
but Saturday wasn't halloween, so what makes you think they were trick or treating?
Maybe they were trying to tell you someone was trying to break into your car or set fire to your shed?

a7mints · 31/10/2016 18:45

It may be Halloween tonight, but after the stroke of midnight it will be all Christmas carols and tinsel!

Chikara · 31/10/2016 18:50

PNGirl - I had this a few years ago. Then they threw flour at the house. I went out and told them to go away but they jeered at me. One was six feet tall and wearing a Freddie Kruger mask. I was scared.

Stilllivinginazoo ! so many! At least we live somewhere a bit tucked away. We might get ten or twelve.
Wookiecookies - that is awful, really terrible.

Summerwood1 · 31/10/2016 18:51

I don't like it. I hate it when they come to the door and grab as many sweets as they can🎃

FrancisCrawford · 31/10/2016 18:54

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster

Lucydogz · 31/10/2016 19:09

I'm 59. We used to do apple bobbing and stuff like that at home for Halloween, but, no, I'd never heard of Trick or Treating. I know a version went on in Scotland, but definately not in Birmingham - and I don't regard that as a pocket of England. IMO Trick or Treating is an american import.

OP posts:

Mishaps · 31/10/2016 19:12

All the bobbing for apples and making pumpkin lanterns fun is fine - but some of the costumes now are so gross and not suitable for children.

SukeyTakeItOffAgain · 31/10/2016 19:19

Well I just had the nicest politest teenagers knocking on my door. Granted one of them seemed to be dressed as a stripper, but they were very appreciative of the lollies I had ready for much younger trick or treaters :o

CruCru · 31/10/2016 19:47

I am quite shocked that anyone knocks on a house that isn't decorated. The etiquette round here seems to be that you only knock on houses with a lit pumpkin outside.

When my children were newborns, I would put a note outside asking people not to knock.

FuzzyCustard · 31/10/2016 20:35

I dislike it too. We live at the end of a very quiet and dark cul de sac and have no decoration at all. And yet we still had several doorbell-ringers tonight.

And I'm not answering the door, not least because my DH is severely immuno-suppressed and I don't want any germ-ridden little blighters coughing or sneezing here!

BarInSpace · 31/10/2016 21:11

after the stroke of midnight it will be all Christmas carols and tinsel!

Thank goodness for that.

RiverTam · 31/10/2016 21:16

The stuff I buy in the shops is used year after year, exactly the same as Christmas decorations. Can't imagine why you think it would be any different.

We've just had a lovely Halloween, round here these days kids only knock at houses with pumpkins, lots of lovely polite kids, amazing costumes and make up, loads of effort made decorating the houses. A really fun evening.

It didn't use to be like this, that's for sure, and like it or no I'm pretty certain that's been an upside to the gentrification of this area. Before it was aggressive teenagers in hoodies and scream masks banging at 10pm and egging houses. Horrible.

knaffedoff · 31/10/2016 21:24

I love the fact that the trick or treating allowed me to introduce myself to the new neighbours who moved in down the road in the last couple of weeks.

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