Trick or treat with no decorations

[DanceMonkeyDanceMonkey]

Hallowe'en wasn't such a thing when my dc were young, compared to now. I have never taken them trick or treating. My road has 9 houses, and no one puts out pumpkins or decorations.

AIBU to be annoyed by someone ringing the bell? DH was embarrassed and gave them money, but I feel that we should not have to partake if we choose not to.

What's the Halloween equivalent of Bah Humbug?

@Mammylamb when you went “Guising” did you have to say a wee poem or sing a song? My husband is Scottish and he said people invited you into their living room to do your wee turn! Sweets weren’t just handed out for nothing!

ah @Roundtoedshoes I’ve not got a heart of stone, but it’s begging at the end of the day it's just not begging, it's a goodwill day mainly for kids. It's not even celebrating, Samhain is a Celtic pagan festival, just like Christmas is a Christian festival, but I have yet to see a non-christian kid left out or not participating in school celebrations. Kids are just kids and it's a hard world out there, let them have some childhood fun.

@ Avenilson I agree re kids having fun, and dressing up is sweet (my DC and a few others had little pumpkin outfits on at baby group this week).

As I said, growing up this wasn’t a thing for me or any kids I knew and I don’t personally like the trick or treat aspect.

It sounds like a lot of parents on here are conscientious and only take the DC to local decorated houses. That’s fine. My dad has never decorated and yet every year they knock and it upsets him. Has he not got the right to enjoy peace in his own home? I know, it’s one night,
but it’s intrusive. In years gone by I’ve been at his house and some of the kids are clearly too old and some don’t even bother dressing up - one even asked for money as we said we had no treats. Not on.

It’s a proper community event where I live. Families are all out together and people really go to town on decorations - it’s really impressive. I was thinking last night how nice it is to feel that sense of community and welcome. Kids of all ages were out having so much innocent, happy fun. Any houses without decorations were left alone but so many people really got into the spirit. To me, it felt like a very positive, friendly and good-natured event. It doesn’t teach children to ask strangers for sweets on a regular basis. It’s very much a once a year in specific circumstances thing!

We're in a cul-de-sac with a single other house opposite.

We were fully decorated last night but our neighbours weren't. They'd even taken in the pumpkin they'd had out all week! I had the time of my life though as hoards of kids came to ours - repeatedly setting off next door's security porch light and ensuring that all the kids ran straight over there after ours!

The neighbours were very bemused and couldn't work out why their plan to be ignored didn't work...

My DC’s headteacher warmed everyone to only knock on decorated houses doors which I thought was fab. Everyone really goes to town where I live so plenty of houses have masses of decorations, it’s fantastic. We only knock on those houses, wouldn’t dream of knocking on others and they also only knock once not repeatedly.

Don't make the mistake of ordering a takeaway on Halloween