We live in the ground floor of an apartment building. Our upstairs neighbours moved in two years ago, an older couple. We don’t really know them, but have spoken in passing.
Most if the time, it’s fine - they don’t make much noise, just the two of them. But frequently - on festival / holidays associated with their religion - they invite their entire family to stay for several days. This means up to 6 adults and 4 young children in a 2 bedroom flat. They don’t go out often, not even with the children, except for the adults going to worship. The kids make a hell of a racket - jumping and running on wooden floorboards. In the evenings they eat very late, very long meals which involve singing, chanting, clapping and moving around scraping chairs up till midnight or later - and still the kids running around / crying / shouting. And we hear / feel it all, every time. DH joked last night that he was starting to hum along ;-) it keeps our own children awake and makes it difficult to relax in our own home. It seems to be every other weekend atm.
They also keep leaving the back door to the building unlocked every weekend as their religion does not allow them to use any electrical devices at this time (front door has an electronic lock). We’ve had a spate of break-ins to the building and been warned by both the police and the management company that we must all ensure that both doors are secure.
I think we should say something - ask them to stop being so noisy late at night basically. DH thinks there isn’t any point - it’s part of the way they celebrate their religion and they aren’t going to change that.
Who IBU? Other than the neighbours!
So as not to drip feed, I’ve not mentioned the religion by name (though I know it’s dead obvious to many which one it is) because its nothing to do with the specifics - it could be any religion with its particular (noisy) rituals and beliefs. So do religious beliefs trump being a considerate neighbour?