To not understand the fuss about Hallowe'en

[user1475609541]

Can't wait for Tuesday to be over, so not going to be sucked into this rubbish

I'm not keen either but the kids love it and to be honest it's better than Christmas which starts in August.

I refuse to buy expensive costumes, the kids either use what we have already (younger DS has been a vampire three years running) or we get something from the Oxfam shop. We don't decorate the house with tat. We may or may not carve a pumpkin tonight if I can be arsed. I will buy a few extra sweets in case friends come to the door with their kids.

Meh. I decorate the house with 6yo and make a spooky cake.

It's more about All Saints Day and visiting graves on the 1st around here. And they roast chestnuts on the streets- teenagers sell them to raise money for their end of course jollies.

Wednesday is a holiday too

I grew up in Scotland, never did trick or treat, parents never answered the door. It all seemed like everyone else was having fun but me and my sister.

I hope all the people who ask 'what harm is it?' have learned here why for some there IS harm in it. Acknowledge that people have different experiences of something and it's not always fun.

Hiding away in your own house upstairs in the dark is no fun. I used to have to do it one the estate i used to live on. At least one other person on this thread has had to do it. I've had my property trashed. It was not harmless.

There is no bank holiday in NI for Halloween. There is a holy day of obligation for All Saint's Day but it is not a bank holiday.

It's shit if people use it as an excuse to trash the place.

But there is no point in complaining about how disconnected and lacking in community we are if you don't participate in community events like this. This is what community is about. Don't like it, that's fine, but don't then complain.

We don't do Halloween but others can do what they like - what has got to me this year though is that it has been going on for so long!!!!

Why is it suddenly OK to go knocking on doors on Oct 31st? Is that magically a safer date?)

It's OK because parents tell the kids to stick to their friends houses and decorated houses.
We don't encourage 'tricks' and have never seen any done.

And it's not begging - my kids go to friends houses, their kids come to mine, it's an exchange.

I've loved since reading Peanuts as a child. It is the time I wished I lived in the States. It's a real community event there, with families going out to select their pumpkins. Where I lived it was also the start of the season where there seemed to be loads of charity events: coat drives, pies sold for charity.

If you don't like it, fair enough not to participate. Parents need to be drumming it into teens not to hassle people with no decorations. Tbf though those kids always existed in my distant childhood when they hauled the Guy round on a go cart.

I used to tolerate it when DCs were young but now I can go back to being not interested. It wasn’t part of my childhood and I feel it’s all a way to make money with the mega fuss around it now!! I’m not against trick or treating per se and the kids & I did it in the community and it was quite fun to see and bump into friends but as an adult (without the excitement of kids) I have zero interest. Dd was invited to a party this year but isn’t going & ds has 2 tests the next day so has to revise.

We’ve never done it as there isn’t actually anything to celebrate apart from American consumerism and a glut of pumpkins. It’s another false celebration - like non Christians celebrating Easter and then complaining it feels a bit hollow.

LeCroissant - It's shit if people use it as an excuse to trash the place.

But there is no point in complaining about how disconnected and lacking in community we are if you don't participate in community events like this. This is what community is about. Don't like it, that's fine, but don't then complain.

What? Don't complain about getting your house trashed it's probably your own fault for not joining in?

Rules here are that no children approach a house without ‘clear decorations’ - pumpkins, lights, flags etc.

So all those complaining that they don’t like it shouldn’t, ideally, be bothered by any children or anyone.

Its just a bit of fun for people who want to join in, it doesnt need to celebrate anything. Its not compulsory. What I dislike is people thinking who look down on it thinking they are better than people who do like it.

For me, any ‘celebration’ that puts a smile on the face of my child is an absolute winner. He loves the whole pumpkin carving spooky stories, the getting dressed up thing and it creates excitement. Children are small for such a tiny amount of time so I embrace all these times and dread the day that it all stops. I genuinely can’t understand folk who get wound up about Halloween/Christmas/Easter stuff being in the shops for an extended amount of time. Just walk on by that particular area of a shop.

YANBU.

Dd is almost 6 and has been going on and on about it for weeks. It makes me feel bad, cos it's between dc birthdays and a busy period in work and I just can't be arsed with costumes etc. I've barely managed to get dd's bday sorted. Dd is als trying to make me feel guilty cos Tuesday is my gym night, so dh will be taking them pestering neighbours.

Can't stand it but I'll be out with my youngest and faking it for her and I'll be giving out sweets too.

I hate Christmas more.

I dont care about trick or treating to be honest. The bit i object to is shops being stuffed full of gruesome plastic crap that's going to be in landfill shortly. You can't get away from that.

It's rubbish. Donate to charity instead.

It's rubbish. Donate to charity instead

Or do both. Or neither. Just accept that not all folk enjoy the same pursuits without an obligatory donation

Donate to charity instead

What a daft thing to say. Why should our kids miss out on a fun night cos you say so?

Do you say the same to everyone at xmas?

Its a cultural celebration for many of us and we can donate to charity anytime. This is only one night and we love it.

If you dont understand it fine. Dont dictate what other people can do.

I love it, where we live people get really into it and the kids have fun. There's a code though that you only knock on doors that have pumpkins or decorations out. We also always offer to take other people's kids out if they're working or can't make it (younger ones at home etc.) so it's pretty easy to opt in or out.

Donate to charity instead

The thing is you could say this about literally everything we spend money on (trip to the swimming pool, cinema, birthday party, lunch out).

I don't much like it either, but ds does and for that reason I'm not going to be a killjoy. I enjoy seeing him happy, whatever the occasion. We respect the rules though and only go to decorated houses. No tricks allowed.