Halloween presents

[RosieLemonade]

I have got DD a costume and some baking bits. I was planning to pick up some Halloween craft bits too. I've also got her a new ghost book. She is 4.

A few people have posted on instagram (some I know in real life and some I just follow) about halloween presents and Halloween gift baskets. Is this a real thing?

No, it's not. It's invented by people who are obsessed with buying shit.

The only gifts given are the treats they get if they go trick or treating??

Not heard of Halloween gifts before

Nope. I've bought Dd a Halloween dress and costume plus some crafty bits but they aren't gifts... the crafts are just to keep her entertained whilst she's ill currently and during half term!

I got mine a Halloween activity book each but ots something to do throughout half term as the weather is looking rubbish. We'll also do Halloween baking and pumpkins but that's as far as I'll go

The Halloween gift in this house is decorations costume making and baking etc in spooky themes rather than doing harder work (home educating). We go all out for Samhain in this house. No presents though

What???

The last thing the planet needs.

We’ll make some spooky food, carve a pumpkin, have some friends over, and hand out candy. I suppose I did buy candy eyes to stick on biscuits and chocolate for the neighbourhood kids who come knocking.

One of my kids will dress up in a home made costume. The other thinks it’s silly and slightly embarrassing so won’t dress up. I will wear my old witch hat and my resting witch face. 🧙‍♀️

It has all become like the American way now, All the stores full of Halloween tat and rubbish, along with all the Christmas stuff at the same time.

I went to live in the USA for three years, starting in 1976, and couldn't believe all the merchandise that was sold in the stores for Halloween time, when back home, It was hardly a thing really, no one was particularly bothered about Halloween then.

But as long as some people continually fall into the trap of buying all the Halloween tat, just for one evening, it will always be available now.

Well I guess I'm the odd one out and I'm not normally into all the consumerism
Side of things but there was a lady
On fb selling a really lovely basket with some treats in.

Ten pounds had pencils from smiggle and lots of things I'm not sure how she sourced them and filled the basket with so much so cheap.

So this year yes I am guilty

No gift basket but I have got my 3yr old a book, stickers, some sweets (as we won't be trick or treating) and a paint your own pumpkin from Poundland.

There are some people who do Halloween gifts but I don't think it's a 'thing' per se. Definitely not the norm as it were.

I love Halloween. It is my favourite time of year, I buy DD a costume and some themed bits and bobs like activity books and crafty bits. We do a pumpkin together and on the day she gets all dressed up and we watch (age appropriate before anyone starts) spooky films. I like sharing something I really love with my DD. if that makes me 'consumerist' then that's fine by me! I do most of my 'home accessories' shopping at Halloween because it's when all the spooky stuff I love is readily available. I bought some liquid soap in a ghost shaped bottle at the weekend that I'll keep and refill when empty.

Never!

Fuck no

No, never heard of Halloween gifts. Am pretty sure it is not a thing at all.

No!

No. But I am getting teenage DD a Halloween bath bomb because they looked so cute

No. But I am getting teenage DD a Halloween bath bomb because they looked so cute

You answered your own question when you wrote "posted on Instagram"!

I was a 90's kid and I always got Halloween, Valentine's Day and Easter presents (not Christmas-level obviously but some little bits), so I don't think it's totally a new thing just for "instagram"!

I think it's lovely, honestly, I love how my Mum always made the different holidays so special and I have such fond memories of the house always being decorated and having little gifts. Go for it!

I’ve never heard of these and wouldn't do one, surely costumes, carving pumpkins and sweets/chocolate is enough?

We don’t go trick or treating as no one here really does. DD asked if she could have a piñata a few weeks ago though, so I’ve bought a Halloween one from the range and filled that with chocolates for her to have on Halloween instead.

Nope not a thing and it shouldn’t be in the future. This is just getting bloody stupid

Please stop blaming Americans - it is not like they forced this on the UK.
I grew up there and Halloween was a fun activity - got your pumpkin to carve, make a costume and go out trick o' treating in the neighbourhood, usually also collecting change for UNICEF or similar. Treats were often homemade, though even when I was growing up the trend for that was slowing down due to safety.
Decorations have become way more elaborate since then (as they have at Christmas), but really it's still a one day thing. The sweeties collected are enough.

Oh no, not more presents for the sake of it! Glad it appears to not be a thing, we don't do it. They have costumes and we go pumpkin picking and have some decorations up, as well as going to some kid-friendly Halloween events, but that's it.

I don't blame Americans but I do think B&M and Home Bargains have a lot to answer for!

It's ridiculous! People that buy Halloween presents are the same people that buy their kids all manner of shit on Xmas eve when they're going to be getting loads more presents the following day! And 'new jammies' posted about on FB on Xmas eve too!

Some of the responses on here are miserable! What's the problem with some gifts? As long as someone isn't going into debt to do so, why begrudge a child a nice time?

(Genuinely quite confused!)