To find Halloween utterly tedious?

[TheGigglingGazelle]

Just that, really. I get why it's fun for kids, but grown adults getting excited about it, and the way everything that happens any time around Hallowe'en has to have a 'spooky' theme? casts a sidelong glance at Strictly while typing Each to their own, but... I just don't get it.

Is it just me?

I hate it but that’s because I’m a loner and have no one outside the family to do anything with and we live in a quiet little street full of older people who don’t participate.

I can envisage lots of people on this thread living in big new build estates where there are lots of families so it being something completely different.

Hope you all enjoy

It's a rubbish US import!

Actually didn't think Strictly was too bad about it this year.

It's a rubbish US import!

Please educate yourself.

@SellingHouse make it yours! Lower the lights, put on some good horror, have a hot choc with dash of rum and relax.
This year my DH is working. I will have a wine, movies and some tasty snacks. I am off next day.
I will have few trick or treaters though

It's a rubbish US import!

Are people not ashamed of being so clueless?

Not as simple as that when it’s DC not old enough to buy/organise stuff for themselves under advertisers’ and other social pressure to participate.

No one is holding a gun to your head to let them though.

@ellmau it's quite offensive to say it's a rubbish US import, and also totally incorrect! It is an ancient Celtic festival.

@SafetyAdvice0FeedWhenAgitated sounds perfect!! We did have Halloween coloured lighting on Saturday night with our Phillips Hue bulbs so will do that again and try and get into the spirit!

I'm a bit of an in the closet halloween fan. I'm a Christian so have no interest in the speaking to the dead/spiritual spooky thrill sides. And a lot of people in my social circle won't want anything to do with Halloween because of its "evil" associations.

But I do really like a good Halloween movie - horror or hocus pocus, nightmare before Christmas type thing.

I love ghost stories and have a strong affection for black cats and gothic style. I just enjoy a bit of spooky silliness but I keep it fairly quiet.

Trick or treating is just too awkward though. Hate talking to strangers at the best of times. Always have chocolates in just in case people call round but we only get a couple of kids.

So yeah, mixed feelings for me, but completely understand why others love it.

I put a sign up on my front door that says 'fuck off, no sweets!'
;)

DC has SEN, we have to spend Halloween with the lights off pretending to not be home!

@SellingHouse remember: ANY holidays are what you make from them. Screw what others think.

@WeArnottamused could BIG sign help? It sucks when people don't keep with the "no decoration-no trick or treating" rule

Actually trick or treating does have ancient pagan origins, it's not just Halloween that has ancient roots.

People would leave food and drink out for the spirits who would visit the house on Samhain (Halloween). Now the spirits who visit are trick or treaters dressed as spirits.

It's the exact same ancient reason you leave mince pies and sherry out for Santa.

I also wonder what people who say trick or treating is begging think of wassailing. Another very ancient tradition with very similar roots.

I like it sometimes, just depends on how I'm feeling, some years I never bothered with it. Others my ex and I would watch scary movies and carve a pumpkin etc.

To those saying they prefer winter solstice to Christmas - these two things are linked, the solstice is when the sun (usually) stops moving for 3 days, starts moving again on the 25th (aka the SUN/son is 'born') All about SUN worship.

OOH, I never forget that Halloween is the day River Phoenix died, mind you.

"I put a sign up on my front door that says 'fuck off, no sweets!'"

Do ye aye?

Jesus Christ - those saying it’s a US import - do you just sprout rubbish off without checking facts? 🤦🏻‍♀️

Actually didn't think Strictly was too bad about it this year.

You're joking surely? It was fecking awful. DD insisted on watching it right through.

I don't know how it's happened because it's not something we've actively encouraged, but our children absolutely love Halloween. So we have decorations that we put outside the house, including a little light projector. We even play spooky music.

xJodiex The sun doesn't "stop moving for 3 days" the sun is born because the days start getting longer again.
Winter solstice is the day with the least daylight in the year and then it starts getting longer again.

The sun stops moving 😂😂😂

It's fun for one evening but the whole of October half term seems to be taken over by Halloween themed events. I'm cutting back on decorations to just a couple of pumpkins to try to keep it low key.

I’m not overly bothered myself but DC love it so I play along. Where I live, if a house has decorations outside then they welcome trick or treaters and if not you steer clear and everybody respects this so no problem for those who don’t want to join in. The one thing I do love is the you tube videos of make up artists doing amazing Halloween make up. I’m addicted to them 😆