what you think of halloween?

[adam7485]

. ok. halloween can be a fantastic time for all people kids and everyone, but am i the only person to think it brings the worst out of people? 2019 before covid i got a taxi to a local pub who were having a halloween party and we almost had a nasty accident as some kids threw something in front of the car. how we didn't have an accident was probably more luck than judgement. to think that a good celebration and fun has become tainted by the actions of a certain group of people?

The only time I've seen regular egg throwing was when I worked in South Yorkshire on mischief night.
But that isn't Halloween or trick or treating.
Which isn't to say that egg throwing never happens.

but this idea that children are being led to egging houses as teens because they used the phrase trick or treat literally is pure fantasy.

Quite. I've celebrated Halloween my whole life and I've never come across a house being egged, ever.

I think it's silly. Like everything, its become a whole season. Everything has to be H themed. Its hard to avoid

Nursery is encouraging the three year olds to dress up so having to buy a costume even though its on a Sunday and child is too you g to understand what its all about anyway

Everything is so commercialised

@FourTeaFallOut

Well, I think this is a bit earnest. I've never seen, in 42 years, anyone Halloweening and then egg someone for not having sweets. I'm sure it has happened somewhere to someone but this idea that children are being led to egging houses as teens because they used the phrase trick or treat literally is pure fantasy.

Why else would they egg a house unless they thought it an acceptable "trick?" If the concept of trick or treat wasn't ingrained, it wouldn't have happened.

And another thing, i keep seeing posting on local social media pages: is it trick or treat on Sunday or Saturday? Its 31 October. Always has been. Its not a bloody weekend or week long or month long season

@VickyEadieofThigh

I hate how it's grown and grown - houses decked out with masses of stuff from 1st October until into November, tonnes of plastic shite bought and then shunted into landfill, mountains of sugar bought and consumed, parents feeling obliged to spend - every year - money on new outfits, etc. This bothers me more than kids roaming the streets begging for sweets and in some cases, cash.

I quite agree

When i was a kid, we went out after school on 31 October. Mum would drape a sheet over our heads. Neighbours would give a satsuma or a penguin or a club

I love it for so many reasons, can get new home decor easily, horror films galore, trick or treaters and ancestor worship (it's a pagan holiday celebrating the final harvest)

Why else would they egg a house unless they thought it an acceptable "trick?"

Because the odd few kids who do this do it because they are feral and it's a hangover from mischief night - which is not Halloween and predates "trick or treat" in this country by well hundreds of years.

My parent's house had been egged, and also had silly string sprayed all over their windows.
I have been egged by twats in a car, and one year when out in costume and the way to a party, had to hide in a chippy from a gang of teens who were keen to egg and flour me.

I'm not keen but I accept it has grown over the last few years as a money spinner. I don't light the house up or put pumpkins out and use a poster from the local authority to put in the window to say not taking part. Touch wood, I've had no trouble - yet.

@FourTeaFallOut

Why else would they egg a house unless they thought it an acceptable "trick?"

Because the odd few kids who do this do it because they are feral and it's a hangover from mischief night - which is not Halloween and predates "trick or treat" in this country by well hundreds of years.

Never heard of mischief night in this area (S East).

@prettyteapotsplease

I'm not keen but I accept it has grown over the last few years as a money spinner. I don't light the house up or put pumpkins out and use a poster from the local authority to put in the window to say not taking part. Touch wood, I've had no trouble - yet.

The fact that a local authority had to produce a poster to this effect shows how there is an element of intimidation involved. It shouldn't be necessary for people to have to put up poster like this in their own homes.

www.theguardian.com/uk/2008/nov/02/2

^^That's a history of Mischief Night. Egging has always been in the mix of the mischief. I'm not sure how you can be unaware of it though, it's been around historically since 17something and often the papers will report on "mischief" where it spills into violence and vandalism.

@AlwaysLatte

I’m not saying people are intimidating when you answer . I’m saying that groups of people chapping your door in the pitch black every few minutes is intimidating to some. In our village it's not on to knock at a door without a lit pumpkin.

I wish it was like that here

I don’t really get Halloween.

I think it’s original meaning has been completely lost if I’m honest. It’s actually the eve of all saints day. It’s also the day I lost my father.

The ones knocking on our door never had to even say the words ‘trick or treat’ as I had the sweets ready.

@TheKeatingFive

Bingo players, I think we have a winner

Great! What have I won?

A pumpkin to leave to rot outside my house? Some sweets to give to the local spoilt brats? Some eggs to throw at my neighbours?

There you go. Food waste. Full house for you!

The prize is surely another free round of Bingo. 😂

I think the prize should be the chance to compile the next bingo sheet of your choice.
Maybe fireworks or elf on the shelf?

@FourTeaFallOut

^^That's a history of Mischief Night. Egging has always been in the mix of the mischief. I'm not sure how you can be unaware of it though, it's been around historically since 17something and often the papers will report on "mischief" where it spills into violence and vandalism.

Per the article it's a north / midlands tradition, rather than a national one.

@OurChristmasMiracle

I think it’s original meaning has been completely lost if I’m honest. It’s actually the eve of all saints day. It’s also the day I lost my father.

💐 I'm very sorry for your loss. Anniversaries of the loss of loved ones are so hard.

If people only went to houses decorated with pumpkins there would be no problem. They are inviting people to knock - the rest are not.

Maybe people on here are confusing Halloween with Mischief night. Mischief night is on 4th November as stated in the article that @FourTeaFallOut linked in the post. It was actually much more related to Bonfire/Guy Fawkes night, where kids would use fireworks in their “mischief”.
I was terrified of that night when I was young and we lived in a mining village in the North. Feral kids who actually aim fireworks at houses at cars for no other reason than to cause carnage. Thankfully, we don’t have any of it here in York even though we’re in the North. I also think it’s less of a thing now.
I’ve never known or been aware of any “tricks” played on Halloween.