Trick or treating...

[bumblebee39]

AIBU or is it a bit odd/weird/rude?
Didn't want to take DC but it's become the expectation now as I don't know how I feel about knocking on strangers doors and asking for things (obviously we never do any tricks...)

Did you not trick or treat as a child? I’m mid 30s and did. When was it not the norm?

Other people expect it on Halloween so prepare for it or not answer the door so no its not rude or a form of begging. It’s just a bit of harmless fun (assuming no tricks)

yawn

Lemme guess. Too...American?

Think its awful. If they want to do something get together with some of your DC's friends mums and organise a joint party. Don't go wandering around annoying the neighbours.

I did it as a child in the nineties but we did mostly go around peoples houses we knew rather than strangers.

I haven’t taken my DC, they go with my mum or their dad instead. We do other Halloween inspired activities and decorate the house but I’m not fond of trick or treating. I guess because I’m not the biggest fan of the door incessantly going that night myself so don’t want to bug other people by doing the same.

I'm in my 50s. It wasn't the norm when I was a kid. We saw it in Snoopy cartoons.

Does your neighbourhood not have the protocol of of they don't put a lantern out then don't knock?

It's easy then to know who is happy to get a knock,

Do you find it weird because no one will be at home to reciprocate? You could leave a bucket of candy on your doorstep, while you’re out taking your kids trick-or-treating, with a sign inviting neighbourhood kids to snag a treat. x

I was never allowed to as my parents deemed it "begging"

When I was a kid we were only allowed to go to certain people in the street where we lived (this is 40 odd years ago) and they were expecting us. I think people put pumpkins outside or decorate their house if they are ok with you knocking, don't they? I used to live on a large estate and was constantly answering the door to total strangers - the kids were all polite though, so it wasn't a problem (until I ran out of sweets!) If you're worried I'd say stick to the decorated houses, or those of people you know.

There is a kind of unwritten rule about knocking on doors...
If there are hallowe'en decorations up, knock. If not, don't.
Equally... if you want kids to come, put up decorations. If you don't want to be hassled, no decorations!
(Usually works well apart from the time that one grumpy sod had many hallowe'en decorations up but moaned at all the callers...)

I've never been and don't particularly like it to be honest!
I realise that is my mum's view though, and am open to compromise with my DP if/when we have a DC

Never did it myself and don't allow DD to either. Bloody horrible idea and we don't answer the door.

And no - not too American. It's Scottish. You are supposed to either do a trick for the kids or give them a treat. However, Americans have turned the trick into being something nasty.

Why would it be in anyway odd or weird? It’s a way of celebrating that has be done for many many years. Just stick to houses with lights on or follow behind a group of trick or treaters so you know which houses will answer.

It's Scottish. Guising is really cool and fun. Trick or Treat is a bit silly by comparison but as long as you only mither like minded neighbours, it's fine.

I did go a couple of times as a kid, I don't think it's "too American" I just am not overly comfortable with the whole thing would much rather stay in but know older DC wants to go.

Yes would only ever go if a lanterns out and there will be no one in to reciprocate.

I think it would help if I wasn't in any area where I know few people (recently moved) so therefore would be just a woman and 2 small kids alone

Just only knock on doors with decorations thats what we do with our daughter.Only knock at peoples doors whos joining in

Where we live some houses decorate themselves a lot, and if they have a pumpkin outside/ on display then it's seen as a green light to knock on the door for a treat. Other Undecorated houses should be left alone.
Personally I won't take my children trick or treating nor will we be handing out sweets etc.

we do it but only to houses that are lit up and decorated so obvious that they welcome trick or treaters.

We go to a lot of effort, decorations, lights, spooky music and a smoke machine plus a butt load of sweets to give out. I’d be really disappointed if people didn’t show up. It’s not odd, weird or rude, it’s a bit of fun for the local children. In my area generally lasts a couple of hours at most and everyone follows the rule about only knocking on doors where people have decorations out.

is the decorated/pumpkin thing actually a thing in real life?? only ever seen it said online. when i took my kids out last year we around my area (about 5 different roads) and not one house was decorated in anyway. ended up just knocking on doors i seen others getting seats from as didnt want to disappoint the kids, I dont know anyone in the area to preplan a visit. the pumpkin thing wasnt known when i was growing up thats for sure and im late 20s

seats!! sweets*

Just leave a candy bucket outside then. Two or three homes in our neighbourhood normally do this with a sign saying help yourself but don’t ring the doorbell because baby/dog/person is sleeping. That way you’re still reciprocating even though you aren’t at home. It will be a nice opportunity to meet/see some of your neighbours as the younger kids will be accompanied by parents and you can say hello to the ones asking the doors. x

Look if you don't want to do it don't. But there's nothing odd or weird about it at all. And nothing odd or weird either about people that enjoy it.