Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

what you think of halloween?

344 replies

adam7485 · 24/10/2021 18:40

. 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?

OP posts:
StoneofDestiny · 25/10/2021 21:16

PITA. I have always just wanted to stay indoors quietly watching TV - and wherever I've lived the door gets knocked by random roaming kids. I now make a point of going to the pub to avoid the annoyance.
Can't get why parents think their kids enjoyment has to be achieved at other peoples annoyance.

If there is no pumpkin out - don't knock the door. Think of others - the elderly, the infirm, the night shift workers, the sleeping infants and those who want a bit of rest after a days toil.

Aspergirl77 · 25/10/2021 21:31

Not for us, we don’t even go to the door!

GladAllOver · 25/10/2021 21:49

It's certainly developed into something very different to the old tradition of Halloween, with all the plastic tat and ready made costumes you now see in the shops.
There's absolutely no excuse either for the throwing of eggs, flour and fireworks.

RuggerHug · 25/10/2021 23:31

Some of these commentsConfused.

One of my favourite memories of Halloween conversations is one of my mates who, over 10 years on, still feels bad about how they responded to being asked 'Do you have Halloween in Ireland?'. Had just moved to the US a few months before and coworker asked in innocence while they were out drinking. He wasn't cruel but basically gave a history lesson after WE INVENTED THE FUCKING THING IT'S YOUR LOT THAT COMMERCIALISED IT.

Fun memories. Can't obviously comment on how it's celebrated outside of ROI but in general we all get it and don't go anywhere that doesn't have a decoration or marking so there's no 'begging' children and there's no need for plastic landfill tatHmm. You could use that as a criticism of nearly anything.

earsup · 25/10/2021 23:44

I usually make an effort...decorate the front garden with bits i have had for years....not sure this year....last time had quite a few children demanding cash....!!...and not a few coins either...they wanted a fiver...told them where to go...!!

Explosivefarts · 26/10/2021 01:03

I did think walking about Wilko the other day . We are talking about saving the planet and the shop was filled with plastic Halloween tat covered in glitter . All to end up in a landfill .

Original poster
adam7485 · 26/10/2021 03:29

wow what have i started lol. i wasn't a mumsnetter last halloween so didn't realise there was such a strong feeling about it. i did say in my original OP that i thought it was something that was really enjoyable if done right but couldn't help thinking after the other year and getting almost in a car accident due to mindless twats whether it really had become a day to use halloween as an excuse to be dam right stupid and dangerous. i guess though you can say that about any celebrations though bonfire night,christmas etc. i have a lot of sympathy though with the elderly or people with MH issues who find any sort of event like that hard to handle.

OP posts:
LoveFall · 26/10/2021 03:49
  1. I am Canadian and well into my 60s.
  2. Halloween was a huge deal in small town Canada throughout my childhood.
  3. We loved it.
  4. We made up special treat bags for the trick or treaters who came to the door. Usually more than one hundred. My three siblings and I were sort of an assembly line, counting candy and things into paper bags.
  5. We dressed up in a variety of things, none of it plastic tat or even purchased. Potato sack anyone?
  6. We ran around and burned hundreds of calories looking for the coveted candy apples. I never got one. But the rumours were rampant,
  7. My parents confiscated our candy after we had a few treats and doled it out over the year. It was very exciting knowing our stash was there!
  8. The spooky side was the most fun. Running and screaming because someone said BOO.

It makes me very sad the majority of you seem to hate it, It was so exciting and fun.

Sparklingbrook · 26/10/2021 06:34

@Explosivefarts

I did think walking about Wilko the other day . We are talking about saving the planet and the shop was filled with plastic Halloween tat covered in glitter . All to end up in a landfill .
We used our Halloween ‘tat’ every year. We added to the collection and it’s still in a box in the loft to be passed on. So no landfill.

You could say the same about Christmas ‘tat’.

Explosivefarts · 26/10/2021 07:40

Yes Christmas Tat is exactly the same. That’s brilliant you reuse. I can’t imagine many of my neighbours do as they have different displays outside every year.

Sparklingbrook · 26/10/2021 07:43

@Explosivefarts

Yes Christmas Tat is exactly the same. That’s brilliant you reuse. I can’t imagine many of my neighbours do as they have different displays outside every year.
Maybe they use a bit of last years and then have them on rotation? All my Halloween and Christmas tat remains in the loft for future use. I don’t think it’s a given that everyone buys new every year and takes last year’s to the tip. There always loads of Halloween fancy dress stuff in the charity shops.
sbhydrogen · 26/10/2021 07:47

It was fun as a kid and is still fun for kids. I'm a millennial, and so my peers are always "so excited about spooky season" from 1st September onwards. I find it SO dull.

sbhydrogen · 26/10/2021 07:49

@LoveFall

1. I am Canadian and well into my 60s.
  1. Halloween was a huge deal in small town Canada throughout my childhood.
  2. We loved it.
  3. We made up special treat bags for the trick or treaters who came to the door. Usually more than one hundred. My three siblings and I were sort of an assembly line, counting candy and things into paper bags.
  4. We dressed up in a variety of things, none of it plastic tat or even purchased. Potato sack anyone?
  5. We ran around and burned hundreds of calories looking for the coveted candy apples. I never got one. But the rumours were rampant,
  6. My parents confiscated our candy after we had a few treats and doled it out over the year. It was very exciting knowing our stash was there!
  7. The spooky side was the most fun. Running and screaming because someone said BOO.

It makes me very sad the majority of you seem to hate it, It was so exciting and fun.

See, this sounds great!
Dontgetyerknicksinatwist · 26/10/2021 08:23

I can see it being another target for the anti fun lobby 🙄 Yes there are some idiots that always have to take things too far but events like Halloween bring joy fun and excitement to many children. Mine are young and we went pumpkin picking at the weekend. We are carving them today and they are so excited about it. They dress up, my mum often does a Halloween party for the grand children with fun and games. We bake and decorate Halloween cookies and cakes. I don’t take mine trick or treating but I don’t judge others that do so long as they don’t cause harm or upset to others.

This world is becoming far to judgemental of others. People are dictating to others what they should and shouldn’t be doing. There was even a piece on the news this morning about a new protest group that are trying to ban meat. There’s so many bad things going on with higher bills, interest rates and tax rises about to happen, Covid, Brexit. Many are worried if they will be able to afford to keep a roof over their heads. Events like Halloween bring a bit of joy and relief from that.

I’m honestly feeling quite deflated at the way things are going.

Dontgetyerknicksinatwist · 26/10/2021 08:27

@RuggerHug

Some of these commentsConfused.

One of my favourite memories of Halloween conversations is one of my mates who, over 10 years on, still feels bad about how they responded to being asked 'Do you have Halloween in Ireland?'. Had just moved to the US a few months before and coworker asked in innocence while they were out drinking. He wasn't cruel but basically gave a history lesson after WE INVENTED THE FUCKING THING IT'S YOUR LOT THAT COMMERCIALISED IT.

Fun memories. Can't obviously comment on how it's celebrated outside of ROI but in general we all get it and don't go anywhere that doesn't have a decoration or marking so there's no 'begging' children and there's no need for plastic landfill tatHmm. You could use that as a criticism of nearly anything.

Christmas and Easter will be the next targets…
MRex · 26/10/2021 08:28

If you live in a dodgy area then you'll get occasional bad behaviour, regardless of "cause". In most areas Halloween is fun and doesn't cause an issue, though fireworks can be dangerous and I'd like to see more restrictions on them.

You did remind me with a chuckle of when I lived in a dodgier area. A couple of teenagers knocked on my door who weren't dressed u;, when I pointed it out one poked his bandana and said "I've come as a gangster miss". Fair point, sweets duly provided.

Sirzy · 26/10/2021 08:31

I don’t like it but generally have an each to their own approach with it and just ignore it.

Ds however is autistic and just the mention of the word can send him into a meltdown. We have major anxiety issues around leaving the house as it is but Halloween means October half term we are completly housebound

Angel2702 · 26/10/2021 09:16

I don’t know anyone that bins their Halloween decorations. It’s only on Mumsnet I see the argument of plastic tat to sneer at anything and everything.

Yes a lot of decorations are plastic but used year on year the same as Christmas. People don’t tent to just bin things. I have plastic tree decorations that were my grandmothers and they are definitely not tat.

Shops are making an effort to move away from plastic for celebration bits. Sainsbury’s are only selling paper trick or treat buckets this year for example.

But the plastic argument is just an excuse really Mumsnetters love to sneer as demonstrated by the sneering at biodegradable pumpkins.

TheKeatingFive · 26/10/2021 09:20

I don’t know anyone that bins their Halloween decorations.

Me neither. The Halloween bag is brought down from the attic every year with as much anticipation as the Christmas decorations.

Explosivefarts · 26/10/2021 09:26

@Sparklingbrook excellent point . But I doubt the plastic ghosts hanging from their tree and plastic caution tape covering their garden will be reused as they look already to be falling apart in the weather . I could be wrong.

FourTeaFallOut · 26/10/2021 09:29

No. We don't bin Halloween things either. It just goes back up in to the loft for the next year (the same as every one else). Nor do we have Christmas themes and fling out 'old colours' and replace with new. I mean, even if you didn't have an eco bone in your body, who has the energy for replacing all this stuff each year?

Sparklingbrook · 26/10/2021 09:32

Yes every year on MN when Halloween gets a mention-

Begging
Plastic tat
America to blame
horror at the thought of a few sweets on one night-the sugar!

We now have these to add to the list

Extortion
Worries about food waste

What next?

GladAllOver · 26/10/2021 09:40

Christmas and Easter will be the next targets

The other two festivals that have been commercialised way out of their original meaning? Yes.

Sparklingbrook · 26/10/2021 09:50

Sorry, I forgot to add 'commercialised' to the list. Grin

WhatATimeToBeAlive · 26/10/2021 09:55

More commercialised tat. It's ridiculous the way people go overboard with it. When I was a kid we made some toffee apples and did a bit of apple bobbing in the washing up bowl!