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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think that trick or treating should be made illegal?

183 replies

Boogalooblue · 29/10/2007 19:37

I am fed up with children coming round banging on front door, shouting 'trick or treat' and expecting vast quantities of sweets in return.

I really do not understand why parents think this is acceptable.

I would not send my dcs out begging either accompanied or on their own and cannot comprehend why other parents do.

Yes I have given up answering door after dark on Halloween.

If you feel you must take your little devils darlings out, could you please just go to houses where you are obviously welcome ie a pumpkin in window/on front doorstep.

Not where the curtains are all drawn and light out.

Thank you

OP posts:
southutsire · 31/10/2007 19:47

funnypeculiar - can you come here and announce that cos we've had our doorbell rung for the 12th time this evening despite being pumpkinless. I don't really mind, except we've got a big sign up asking people to knock rather than ring the very loud bell as the baby's asleep. CAN NONE OF THEM READ????!!!

MargeSimpsonMyAlterEgo · 31/10/2007 19:47

Don't mind T or T kids who have made an effort and say thanks. Our house was egged about 3 weeks ago (made me wash the windows tho'!) but I think the local shops have been pressured to stop selling the eggs this week to obvious pranksters.

Next it will be the firework terrorists...

But Xmas shopping has already started in earnest here and I had to queueue for the local shopping centre carpark today (mutter mutter).

morningpaper · 31/10/2007 19:57

I've just opened the door to two six-foot people dressed with pillowcases over their heads and white sheets smeared with blood

SIX FOOT

I said "How old are you?!?" and they said, really politely in posh voices, "I'm 15!" and "I'm 14!"

I fell about laughing but I did give them a handful of sweets

FIFTEEN! I expect I will be employing them to feed my Mrs. Robinson complex next summer

ADragonIs4LifeNotJustHalloween · 31/10/2007 20:00

I'm now left with a pumpkin basket full of sweets I don't like. [Bah] Usually I buy chocolate...

PeachyFleshCrawlingWithBugs · 31/10/2007 20:00

Pumpkin rule stands- if you amke it illegal then kids cant go to friends (mine loved seeing their little mates) or granparents can they? Punish the lo's for the sake of a few prattish older ones eh?

LazyLinePainterJane · 31/10/2007 20:02

We've had a few round, they have all knocked instead on noisy doorbell ringing, accepted a couple of Roses each gracefully and all said thank you as they left.

It was lovely!

chankins · 31/10/2007 20:08

I would only take my kids to pre-arranged houses as they are quiet little, but since having kids I don't mind trick or treaters as long as they are polite about it. Have had four lots tonight, all with their parents present, and all very well mannered. Shame the kids were already in bed, cos they would have been pleased to see them !
No we shouldn't ban them, because then we would have to ban fireworks, and xmas decorations going up early, and all the other small things people get their knickers in a twist about. Saying that, I do feel sorry for elderly people, it could be quite scary. They should have a sign to put up saying no trick or treaters !

Pinions · 31/10/2007 20:30

FGS I couldn't really give a crap whether they gave us sweets or not.

I have SHIT LOADS of sweets/lollies/other crap at home as it is.

It is the theme of halloween that we are participating in and nothing else. DS1, age 3, absolutely LOVES the whole dressing up/games/pumpkin thing and when he is older he will not be going.

For gods sake get a grip.

southutsire · 31/10/2007 20:32

Having gone back and read the rest of the thread including Squiffy's advice I shoved my remaining pot of sweets outside the front door and amended the note to ask people to not disturb us but help themselves. Have now had a succession of gleeful and munching noises outside followed by another ring on the doorbell to be greeted by a teenager (not dressed up) saying "They've all gone."

ELF1981 · 31/10/2007 20:32

I dont mind Halloween, we have given out little toys etc this evening rather than sweets (mostly stuff DH has picked up at the market and is cluttering my house) but I am rather pissed off that it is now 8:30 and people are still banging on my front door, and when I dont answer (I made a deal with DH we wouldn't answer after 8:00) and people bang and WAIT and then bang LOUDER!!

madamez · 31/10/2007 20:40

Yes it's anoying that some people behave badly. But that doesn't justify spoiling the fun of a whole lot of other well-behaved people, from the kids having a whale of a time, saying polite thanks and enjoying the thrill of being out after dark to the adults who are enjoying the excuse of acting a bit childishly, dressing up and putting up decorations.
I have had about 15-20 round tonight, all kids, dressed up, all with a parent in the background, all said Thank you for a sweetie from my big tray. Mind you, took a short break to bath DS and put a paper plate full of sweets out by the pumpkin only to have someone ring the doorbell - they got greeted by starkers cackling DS and I gave them a quick handful of chews out of the packet as someone (in the space of about 5 mins) had emptied the plateful.
They seem to have stopped now, I might put the last few toffees and chews out by the pumpkin - but I get to eat the chocolate pumpkings myself

Chipstick · 31/10/2007 20:44

Why is it begging? I don't understand?

I loved halloween as a child and still do - my house is decorated, and the kids went to nursery today where all the children and staff have been dressed up all day.

Its one evening of the year, we had loads knocking between 5-8 but nothing since and hubby and I are left with masses of chocolate...mmmm

Nightynight · 31/10/2007 20:52

well 2 of my children went out with a group of friends, and they knocked on the doors of relatives/friends, and recited poems. They had a fantastic time, but our town is very safe, so I wasn't too worried about them.

We had a fair few round as well, AP was answering the door and giving out chocolate, which she thought was really funny, she is from Kenya and has never seen Halloween before!

TheEvilDediderata · 31/10/2007 20:54

God, there are some uptight feckers on MN

Any how, apparently we've got it totally wrong in the UK.

In the States, Trick or Trick means that the person who opens the door can give either a trick (a stone in the bag) or a treat (a sweet in the bag).

The ghouls on your threshold should have no say in the matter. It isn't within their gift to administer a trick. It is within ours. We've misinterpreted, as per bloody usual

mumbleboo · 31/10/2007 20:56

We've just had a set who took loads of sweets, and then another who banged on the door and rung the bell several times, 3 times over!!! (didn't answer that time) Who teaches their kids it's ok to behave like that? Little kids, people who've made an effort,fair enough. But i felt really intimidated, it's ridiculous. Ds is sooo cute in his spider costume though!

pollywollydooooooooodle · 31/10/2007 21:02

well we have only had one group this eve...admittedly a group of 15!...but all littlish, all going wooooooo and all of whom accepted a lolly and said thanks.....one of them was desperate to show his trick which involved letting dd pull his fake arm off...and that seemed to please everyone

it warmed the cockles of an old cynics heart!

tigger32 · 31/10/2007 21:07

I love halloween but I do think that teaching your children to go knocking on doors begging for sweets in exchange for them not throwing eggs at your house is wrong! There are other ways to enjoy halloween where those who want to celebrate it can and those who are sat in the dark with the curtains closed petrified at what might happen to them can relax.

essbeeavenue · 31/10/2007 21:08

Message withdrawn

essbeeavenue · 31/10/2007 21:09

Message withdrawn

BelaWotzLugosi · 31/10/2007 21:14

If it is in the spirit of things and it is good of course all enjoy it. But for some I can see its a problem for various reasons. My dh hates it. I don't mind. Kids love it.

Stick by the simple rule that a pumpkin on view say, knock on the door and there shall be sweets.

divamum2two · 31/10/2007 21:37

we always had civilized halloween here. mostly little kids with parents. i made little bags of sweets this year for neighbors and friends kids, and lollipops and sweets for other kids. i think its for kids and i quite enjoy it,lets see the fund side of childhood. im sure my lo`s will want go around when they older. there was no t&ters after 7.45 which i think qite nice.

Bocoreepy · 31/10/2007 21:40

My dds loved it this evening. My neighbour actually knocked on the door and asked if we'd please come round as she'd prepared little bags for them and a hairy spider each. We only went to people we know and they all made a huge fuss of the costumes. Everyone walking around was little bands of small children with grown ups. I think it's great as long as it's not just teens wanting cash.

Bocoreepy · 31/10/2007 21:41

...and, we met a policeman on our way, with a giant bag of sweets. He made a big fuss of each child and let them take something each.

Ripeberry · 31/10/2007 21:47

Had loads of people round for trick and treat and one large group of 10.
At 6pm had the local pranksters knocking on the door, bascially playing knock up ginger.
He and his friend finally came to the door half an hour later and got some sweets.
An hour later they came back pretending they hadn't been round (he is a bit simple this boy).
By 7pm i went out with my DDs, eldest dressed as a witch with green skin and spiders and youngest as a black cat.
It was their first time doing T&T and they loved it!
Most houses had pumpkins out and one even had a quite scarry witch in the window with red glowing eyes...scared me!
At least i looks like we did not get any tricks, the only thing was the local prankster had knocked over my pumpkin but at least he did not kick it to bits.
Great sense of community round here.
AB

Sassafrass · 31/10/2007 22:06

I had some lovely kids come around of all ages. I was pleasantly surprised how polite they were. They took one little minibar each from the bowl and said thank you and good night. My little girl thought it was very exciting to have them come around.

I am in two minds though about trick or treating, when done nicely at houses that show signs of celebrating halloween, pumpkins, decorations etc, I think it's lovely. I can't stand big louts of teenagers who don't even bother to dress up though.