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...)

[bellinisurge]

There's an estate near us that goes all out. Our road not so much. We leave a bowl of sweets at the door and go to the estate.

[FlyingMonkeys]

I old enough to rember going out wearing a bin bag, and carrying a carved turnip (because pumpkins were too expensive 😂). It's just a bit of fun, people won't answer the door or switch the front lights off it they don't want trick or treaters. Saying that we couldn't hand out all the sweets last year as not many knocked. Spending £2 on a bag of mini haribos or mars bars isn't extortionate to let a few kids have fun.

[BasicUsername]

I did it as a child, it was great fun.

I loved it when children used to come trick or treating at our house, it's lovely to see their costumes and they tend to be all excited and adorable.

I didn't know that the general rule is only to knock on doors where the houses are decorated though. I don't decorate for Halloween.

[Kool4katz]

I never did it as a child and still feel it's a horrible American import BUT they've been doing here for years. We take DC to a local townland near us where they have an organised walk with about 30 kids. An adult leads the procession to the houses taking part and the kids come away with bags full of sweets. Everyone goes to the local pub that's fully decorated afterwards where they give out blackcurrent juice drinks (blood) and more sweets for the kids. It's a real family event and feels so safe.

[PanGalaticGargleBlaster]

I have no issues with under 10s accompanied with an adult knocking on doors of houses that are quite clearly ‘playing the game’ I.e pumpkin or decorations outside. Twats knocking on the doors of oaps asking for money is quite another thing.

[PanamaPattie]

It’s an awful import. No. Just no.

[Mrsglitterfairy]

I love it! I used to always go as a kid and take my DSs every year. They make a real effort of dressing up, I also dress up a little too. We do however only go to houses that have some sort of decoration to show that they are taking part and my DH stays home to hand out sweets to the kids knocking on ours.
It’s a bit of fun and most people our way take part.

[anniehm]

Every area seems to have certain roads that are expecting trick or treaters - we have none but around the corner you see hundreds. Go with other parents!

[5foot5]

AIBU or is it a bit odd/weird/rude?

This debate comes around every year.

People over a certain age say "We had never heard of it when I was a kid. It is an American import"

Then people from Scotland (and maybe some other parts of the UK) say "You're wrong! This has always been a tradition up here"

I guess even if you live in one of the parts of the UK where historically this was never done then you are experiencing an American import - but it has been accepted here for so long now that I think you have to accept it is here to stay!

It was not part of the calendar when I was a child and Halloween generally was a bit low key. However, I have no real objection to trick or treating for small children and always make sure I have a stock of sweets (I can eat them myself if any are left ) I take a dim view of older teenagers turning up - well unless they have made a real effort with a costume.

I guess the thing I like least is the ever-growing array of tat that the supermarkets sell as they try to cash in.

[ofshoes]

Mumsnet has this discussion every year and every year it has to be pointed out that it's not an American import, it's a Scottish and Irish tradition that goes back to the 16th century

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trick-or-treating#Guising

[Jezzifishie]

People rarely come to my house when trick or treating, it makes me sad! We had one kid once, they were the politest child ever - very carefully selected one sweet from the massive Quality Street tin and said thank you. I'd love to take part in it with my DD, but won't because people around us don't do it. Oh well!

[QuitMoaning]

I hate it. My partner is usually at work and I am on my own. I live on the edge of a rough estate and we get young teens who just knock on the door demanding sweets. And sneering at any offerings.
No costume, no manners, just aggression.
And I am too nervous about retribution from them.
I don’t put any decorations up and I dread it every year.

[Clevs]

The trouble is kids never know what to do if you say "trick". They just expect to be given sweets and just look at you blankly if you don't say "treat".

[Poloshot]

Never did it myself and not many people do it round here but if someone knocked on I wouldn't answer. Pain in the arse

[Alieeeeeens]

My parents just used to take me to houses of people they knew and had pre-arranged that we’d be coming over in fancy dress!

[Sparklingbrook]

[Willow2017]

nd 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.

Er no. Trick or treating as it is today isnt Scottish. The origins are - Guising when the kids do a turn for thier sweets.
In other areas of uk mischief night was when kids went around doing tricks on people but it wasn't malicious.

[AamdC]

Mumsnet sucking the joy out of trick or treating after this it wull be competative who can spend rhe least at xmas every bloody year

[ThereWillBeAdequateFood]

It’s fun. If there are decorations up you can assume it’s safe to knock. No decorations, you leave them.

[Liverbird77]

I hate it. We've just moved to a new area and one if the neighbours told me if we don't have sweets then our house might get egged or car damaged by teenagers. We don't want the hassle of it but are worried now. Fwiw, I am pregnant. I get that it's fun for tiny ones and I would happily take part with other families by prior arrangement. Going to strangers' houses is wrong to me

[AamdC]

I live in a rougj area in a council house we always have decorations and a bowl of sweets not once have i had a child take more than a couple of sweets or rude teenagesrz (o have had teenagers but they are polite ) .

[DavetheCat2001]

I love Halloween

My kids love getting dressed up and where we live people seem to all really get involved so there are loads of houses with fab decorations for the kids to knock at.

We always leave alone any house which doesn't have a pumpkin/decs outside.

Maybe we just live in a particularly nice community, but I've never had snarling teenagers on my doorstep demanding sweets.

[MinisterforCheekyFuckery]

Round here everyone is very polite and respects the rule that you don't knock the door unless there's a lantern/decorations outside. All the kids ar all well behaved and accompanied by adults and the atmosphere is really pleasant. My elderly neighbors really go to town with the decorations and look forward to seeing all the kids in their costumes.

When we lived in a decidedly more dodgy area, pre-DC, I used to dread Halloween every year as we'd get 18/19 year olds in hoodies and masks banging on the door asking for money and groups of feral kids running around throwing eggs at people's doors. It was horrible.

[londonrach]

I grow up in the 80s and never did it neither did any of my friends. Dd hasnt as yet. I work with the elderly and know so many that sit in the dark frightened so i wont. If i did it with dd andi mean if id pre arrange it.

[bumblebee39]

I would never imagine knocking on an undecorated house anyway, certainly wouldn't want to contribute to anyone's stress or anxiety. I think I will take DCs but just to a few decorated houses on a well lit road and then come home for nachos, spooky green and purple dips (aka guacamole and beetroot dip) and a spooky film or ET plus maybe some orange jelly with plastic spiders in it. 😂 box ticked, older DC happy, and everyone in be early in time for school the next day! Xx