To think trick or treating is a complete no no!

[marmite79]

Hi all, I love Halloween. I love taking dc trick or treating in our village. People are great here and it's always a big thing.

But.. I've already told dc it won't be happening this year due to obvious reasons. Can't see how it's safe and I assumed everyone would feel the same. So many children around here in a small place. People even travel here from surrounding areas. Too many to promise full social distancing. And giving our sweets with close contact isn't ideal. People have mentioned leaving in bowls outside but multiple hands in a bowl sounds hideous.

So yeah I've already told dc that it won't be happening assuming everything will think the same. Of course everyone can make their own decisions what they want to do.

The local village Facebook group has a new post about how so many kids still want to do and how to make it safe.

Maybe there is a way 🤷‍♀️

But aibu to think that it's probably not the best idea at all? And people should make fun in other ways.

We are planning decorations, sweets and chocolate at home, costumes and sweets at home plus Halloween movies. Maybe a take away in the evening.

I really don't want multiple children knocking on the door because I don't really want to answer over and over again! I usually love it but this year sounds like a nightmare!

Hopefully this will be the year it finally stops.
Don't be daft it's not going to stop a centuries old tradition round my way.

My goodness, the misery on here! We'll find a way to make it safe- I like the mad scientist with tongs idea - 14 yr old son will love being the scientist.

As a by, what's with all the Americanisms: candy, trick or treating? It's sweets and guising! Actually, traditionally it's an apple/ tangerine/ small coin but sweets took over some years back. I'm Scottish and the Celts started the entire thing (with the festival of Samhain) and it's guising here where we don't have the tradition of trick or treat, you knock a door and perform in some way for a treat- more often a joke but you do still get the odd song or dance which is lovely especially from the really wee ones (2 teenage boys did some raving though last year and it was hilarious).

Hopefully this will be the year it finally stops.

Don't be daft it's not going to stop a centuries old tradition round my way.

Why is it daft to want it to stop? Just because something is an old tradition, it doesn't mean it has a place in the world today.

Kids endlessly knocking on my door, despite me making it clear I dont want it is pretty fucking distressing for me actually.

Unless you're going to see people you know it's just bloody selfish. There are usually plenty of organised events, people can start going to them in future, or their parents can organise stuff in the house, as they do for easter and xmas.

When my dc were young they loved going out and as they've got older they now help to decorate our house for other dc to enjoy.
I'm planning to make a one way system around the drive, maybe setting it up with something like a hook a duck except with sweets, or maybe a pulley system from the window. I'm still trying to work out the details but hopefully it will be some scary fun.
It would be such a shame for the dc to lose something else this year.

@HoboSexualOnslow

What a bad idea..i won't be opening my door to superspreaders. Your idea of Halloween at home sounds really fun

I assume you were actively opposed to primary schools reopening then. And haven't sent yours back.

I imagine all those thinking it's completely daft to let children enjoy their Halloween are also planning to stay at home for Christmas and not have any extended family round.

Some people got a jump start on Samhain and are already wearing a Miserable Cunt costume quite well.

@Puffalicious

My goodness, the misery on here! We'll find a way to make it safe- I like the mad scientist with tongs idea - 14 yr old son will love being the scientist.

As a by, what's with all the Americanisms: candy, trick or treating? It's sweets and guising! Actually, traditionally it's an apple/ tangerine/ small coin but sweets took over some years back. I'm Scottish and the Celts started the entire thing (with the festival of Samhain) and it's guising here where we don't have the tradition of trick or treat, you knock a door and perform in some way for a treat- more often a joke but you do still get the odd song or dance which is lovely especially from the really wee ones (2 teenage boys did some raving though last year and it was hilarious).

Same here. Love the corny jokes and the little kids singing. Brightens up the dark nights.😄

As a by, what's with all the Americanisms: candy, trick or treating? It's sweets and guising! Actually, traditionally it's an apple/ tangerine/ small coin but sweets took over some years back. I'm Scottish and the Celts started the entire thing (with the festival of Samhain) and it's guising here where we don't have the tradition of trick or treat, you knock a door and perform in some way for a treat- more often a joke but you do still get the odd song or dance which is lovely especially from the really wee ones (2 teenage boys did some raving though last year and it was hilarious).

I'm Scottish and I've always known it as trick or treating, as do my friends. My Mother knew it was guising but for me it's definitely trick or treating, and personally I much prefer it. I enjoy spoiling the kids with sweets and seeing their costumes but I draw the line at standing in the cold while some tuneless tot screeches at me. Thankfully it's only one or two kids who sing or tell jokes, and only when prompted by their parent.

I am not answering the door this year and I am not taking the kids out. Hopefully no one knocks.

I’ll open my door. Have already planned to make up separate party bag type things for visiting dc.

willow it does indeed brighten up the dark nights. My youngest DC, 8, has a silly dance all ready so he can do it at the end of the driveways in the street.

Allplayedout bah humbug, a wee one having a wee song does no-one any harm. Guising all the way from me.

I have never agreed with trick or treating. Never taken part in any aspect.To even think about doing this at the moment is beyond stupid

Allplayedout bah humbug, a wee one having a wee song does no-one any harm. Guising all the way from me.

My ears beg to differ. I worked in childcare for a few years. I've done my time listening to caterwauling kids. No more thank you. Just smile and say thank you and you can have your sweets. And even if you don't say thank you you can have them as I know some are too shy to talk or may have special needs.

I’ve never done trick or treating and my resolve to not open the door was strengthened when some bloke came round with two tiny kids (about three/six) and when I didn’t answer the door shouted “you’re just a miserable cunt” through the letterbox. I’d imagine he’ll be the first to complain when one of his children calls him a cunt...

I think the pumpkin trail is actually quite a good idea and is one which will hopefully take off more in future.

I strongly suspect we’ll be back in some kind of lockdown by then or at the very least household mixing will be banned so IMO parties won’t be happening.

I agree with.the sweets no matter what but the jokes and dances and little songs are a bonus.

I am at the idea of people leaving out sweets for kids to help themselves. They’ll be taken by the local teenagers long before the little kids appear.

@AlternativePerspective

I am at the idea of people leaving out sweets for kids to help themselves. They’ll be taken by the local teenagers long before the little kids appear.

I think it really depends on the area, we've done this twice (left whole baskets) and to our amazement there were sweets left over at end of night

We did wonder if the whole basket would just get taken but it wasn't

We won’t be doing it this year, dc’s are gutted, but where we live there are hoards of children in groups from several different schools, some get dropped from out the area. It’s mad but fun most years, but just too risky this year and not fair on those who may be vulnerable or at risk.

Not in Scotland myself AllPlayedOut, but when you put it that way “guising” really does sound purgatorial - standing on your doorstep on a Scottish night in late October listening to an endless stream of timeless five year olds singing Donald Where’s Your Troosies or whatever (as I said, I’m not Scottish, not an expert in what your “bairns” sing ).

I do love Halloween trick or treating though - seeing the adorable tiny witches and monsters.

Timeless = Tuneless
I used up all my patience for spellchecking trying to convince my phone that Guise and Bairn were real words.

FFS LearnedResponse pull out all your stereotypes why don't you? We all wear kilts and eat shortbread and haggis daily. Where I'm from they're weans not bairns. Yes, it's a light-hearted thread but check your middle-England privilege.

Love the tongs idea. I will still get the house decorated as its DS2's birthday as well. We project a moving image onto our front window and stick speakers outside. Will still do this.

Ooh I've got a freddy knife hand. I'll stick little bags on the end of the plastic knife fingers!

You could do individually bagged sweets and lay them out on a table so they take a bag but that's a lot of prep work!