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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To not be arsed with Halloween this year

41 replies

Dislocatedeyeballs · 27/10/2019 15:47

I usually make a big effort decorate outside of house get pumpkins loads sweets and enjoy little monsters knocking on the door constantly however I have been a bit unwell stressed and cannot be arsed with it I am guilty of thinking that non participating people are boring mean and horrible in the past but thinking of becoming one myself shall I withdraw or carry on the tradition?

OP posts:
Manicpixiedreambitch · 27/10/2019 15:50

Don't do if you can't be doing with it-it's meant to be fun.

PhannyPharts · 27/10/2019 15:51

Or compromise and make a half arsed effort?

Confusedbeetle · 27/10/2019 15:55

I have never done it and never will. A materialistic custom aquired from the US. Teaches children to beg and eat sweets. Frightens old ladies and annoys an awful lot of people. put a sign on your door. It isnt a tradition.
Its a reason to spend money on trash and plastic rich highly inflammable costumes, naked flames in pumpkins heading for a massive landfill. What possible good is there in the whole stupid idea?
Give me some teeth rotting sweets or I will throw eggs at your door?
What's to like? Think of the environmental issues, your childrens teeth and their life messages

hungryhippie · 27/10/2019 16:08

Confusedbeetle you certainly are confused if you think it's American or 'not a tradition'.
It's a tradition that goes back 100s of years.
Maybe read some history.

Sunflower234 · 27/10/2019 16:10

Put some sweets in a bowl outside with a note saying help yourself. Smile

Likethebattle · 27/10/2019 16:19

@Confusedbeetle it’s not American it comes from the Celtic traditions of centuries. Learn a bit about all themes I have behind it rather than just spouting ignorant nonsense.

ConFusion360 · 27/10/2019 16:21

A materialistic custom aquired from the US

I'd agree that the materialism (and pumpkins) associated with it has been fairly recently acquired from the US, but Halloween has been celebrated in the British isles for hundreds of years.

Beautiful3 · 27/10/2019 16:48

I know what you mean. Years ago there would only be a few trick or treaters, the last few years there have been so many!! I'm constantly at the door and run out of sweets half way through the night!! And they knock late in the night! We have a new (nervous) puppy so think we'll stay in (ignore the door and switch off the door bell) and not put a pumpkin out. Bit miserable of me this year.

SafetyAdvice0FeedWhenAgitated · 27/10/2019 17:07

I'd agree that the materialism (and pumpkins) associated with it has been fairly recently acquired from the US

I have to admit I much prefer pumpkins to the original British turnip lanterns😂 That's what nightmares are made of

To not be arsed with Halloween this year
hungryhippie · 27/10/2019 17:22

That's what made those type of lanterns great! Grin
I must admit, we use a drill to carve them these days though. My parents just used cutlery... took an age!

DappledThings · 27/10/2019 17:25

I have never done anything for Halloween and in my 40 years living in various bits of England I've never had anyone knock at my door or known anyone actually go trick or treating. It's fine to not to do anything!

CAG12 · 27/10/2019 17:25

Ive never bothered with it and im not boring, mean or horrible

hungryhippie · 27/10/2019 17:29

It's definitely fine to not do anything at all. It's not compulsory.

insanecandycorn · 27/10/2019 17:32

I love Halloween, I think it's good fun, I have great memories from celebrating when I was growing up.

But if you're feeling unwell or don't feel like it then don't bother doing anything for it this year. You don't have to celebrate, close the curtains and turn lights low then you shouldn't get people at your door and have a quiet night in instead.

SafetyAdvice0FeedWhenAgitated · 27/10/2019 17:32

@hungryhippie I am considering it now😂

Aquamarine1029 · 27/10/2019 17:33

I haven't bothered with Halloween for years and years. It was fun when my children were little, but they're adults now and out of the house so I couldn't care less.

Iwantacookie · 27/10/2019 17:36

None of my dcs are bothered this year so I'm not doing anything.
I cany really afford it either.

BlessedBeTheFruitCake · 27/10/2019 18:16

Don't feel bad for not decorating.
This is the first year we won't be decorating. We have 4dc, the eldest two are teens and not interested, dc3 isn't fussed either way and dc4 has severe ASD, oblivious about Halloween/Birthdays and Christmas, but gets very upset at change so it's not really worth the hassle just for Halloween tbh.

I've still bought some sweets for Trick or Treaters though as we live in a popular family estate, I'm just hoping not too many will knock because dc4 will get anxious.

mamandematribu · 27/10/2019 18:20

I don't do halloween. It's too American for me. Too commercial.

User7369 · 27/10/2019 18:33

The turnip lanterns are of Irish origin, not British. FWIW.

SafetyAdvice0FeedWhenAgitated · 27/10/2019 18:36

@User7369 apologies! Every day I learn

hungryhippie · 27/10/2019 18:39

mamand it's not American, it's Celtic!

Evenstar · 27/10/2019 18:41

We’re not doing it this year, last child is boarding for sixth form so won’t be home and we have 3 dogs including a new rescue so don’t want the door bell ringing all evening. We will be shutting the curtains early, lights low and not answering the door.

Redspider1 · 27/10/2019 18:42

Never bothered majorly. A carved pumpkin outside, a bowl of sweets inside.

WhenISnappedAndFarted · 27/10/2019 18:42

I've never done anything for Halloween either. My parents didn't either. If you can't be bothered then don't.