to not understand why parents allow their children to go trick or treating?

[teaandtoast49]

Even disregarding the current coronavirus situation, I have always found myself disagreeing with the concept of allowing children to go trick or treating, as well as Halloween in general. My dp is slightly more relaxed about this, so am I just being ridiculous? I was never allowed to go trick or treating as a child, go to sleepovers, etc. and while I understand now that my parents probably were in the right, I would love to gauge the opinions on MN about it.

I’ve also just remembered that one if the early Chalet School books has a Halloween party in it. The girls bob for apples, do fortune telling with molten lead and jump over candles. The author was English and it was written in the ‘20s.

I usually bake douzens of Halloween cup cakes with bright orange icing and a spider web on top in black icing. This I am not taking part with D's which is sad but as DH is immunosuppressed just too risky for us. There are only 4 other children in our cul-de-sac. Only one house has Halloween decorations in window/garden this year. Usually 9 or 10 houses decorate.

@YouKidsIsCrazy

I was never allowed to have sleepovers either. It was to protect myself and my siblings from abuse. Have you any idea how many children are abused while staying at other peoples homes? Abuse usually happens by someone trusted by the family. Obviously not every child is, but why take the risk.

The vast majority of abuse happens to children in their own home. If you want to do everything possible to keep them safe, you should keep their family away from them, and get your husband to move out.

Absolutely spot on!

I’ve also just remembered that one if the early Chalet School books has a Halloween party in it.

Omg yes, well remembered.

Even by the standards of the chalet school the jumping over candles thing was a notable health and safety fail. Didn’t Thekla set herself on fire?

@TheKeatingFive

I’ve also just remembered that one if the early Chalet School books has a Halloween party in it.

Omg yes, well remembered.

Even by the standards of the chalet school the jumping over candles thing was a notable health and safety fail. Didn’t Thekla set herself on fire?

Yes, she had a clandestine petticoat on and it got set on fire while she was jumping over the candles, and Joey drenched her with a tub of water.

When I was younger it wasnt really a thing and I agree eith my mum (now) thatbjt wasnt appropriate to go begging for sweets. But this is because noone was really doing halloween.

With my kids, now, we folloe the unwritten rules of only visiting houses with pumpkins or decorations, and this feels fine.

I've never been trick or treating - neither have my children.
The children do dress up, have party food and decorate the house, we do pumpkins etc.
I leave a cauldron of sweets on the four step for children to help themselves to as I don't want my doorbell being rung half the evening- wheel chair user and it's a pita if I'm upstairs or cooking/ washing up etc.

I was never allowed to have sleep overs because of my mum's anxiety and trick or treat was off limits in case we got kidnapped.Plus we grew up hearing that trick or treat was begging

Didn’t Thekla set herself on fire?

Yes, cos the silly twit had insisted on wearing her frilly knickers. . .

You sound like you had a very boring childhood

Yes, cos the silly twit had insisted on wearing her frilly knickers

But never the fault of the educators advocating jumping over naked flames.

I fricking love EBD

Went guising 40 years ago and you had to do a 'turn' to get a treat (sometimes it was money) and the neighbours invited you IN. I would even go to my friend's for a sleepover and count our sweeties. My kids went out when they were younger as it is still a thing here in Scotland!! Kids all do a 'turn', that's the rules. Last night we left sweeties out for the kids in the street as did my neighbours. Some happy kids here.