🎃 HALLOWEEN 🎃

[SunShinesBrightly]

AIBU to think that it’s gone a bit crazy this year?
Houses decorated from top to toe, massive queues at the fancy dress shop in the city yesterday, everyone I meet talking about parties, local shops giving out treat bags...

It seems much more of a thing this year than ever before.
I’m not against it, just wondering if anyone else has noticed?

(If there is already a thread please link)

It's because everyone has been restricted what they can do the last two years...

It is a noticeably bigger event here this year. More houses have Halloween decorations than would have Christmas decorations. People have really gone to town. Normally, it’s just a few people with children sticking pumpkins on their doorstep on the evening itself.

I don’t like it at all, but appreciate its fun for those who do and I’m happy that they’re enjoying themselves. We definitely stand out by not having any decorations.

Some of my friends have said they’ve made a slightly bigger effort this year for their kids because they couldn’t last year, but nothing OTT - just a few more games/pumpkins etc.
What was interesting was I was in Sainsbury’s yesterday and popped down the seasonal aisle where there had been masses of Halloween stuff a week before - but they’d already replaced it with the Christmas stuff - which I thought was a bold choice one day before Halloween where you’re like to get a surge of last minute buys.

When I was a child 40 years ago lived a short stint in the states and I remember how they went all out for Halloween! Just amazing with decorations and trick or treating ! It was a big thing but got here and not so much but in recently years not just this year it has got much bigger with decorations and more popular so I don’t think it’s just this year.

Sparklesocks
I guess they just ran out of stock? I don’t know how shops predict sales - they seem to either over buy seasonal stuff or it runs out way before the event.

@SunShinesBrightly

Sparklesocks I guess they just ran out of stock? I don’t know how shops predict sales - they seem to either over buy seasonal stuff or it runs out way before the event.

Maybe, but there was absolutely nothing left! Normally there’s a few leftover bits or Halloween chocolate/trick or treat sweets. And the Christmas stuff was wall to wall so it seemed deliberate.

All Souls is always 2 November…

@PurBal

All Souls is always 2 November…

I didn’t know it was on the same day each year. I don’t know why I thought it moved around like Easter. Just goes to show how little I remember from my Catholic upbringing.

It was cancelled last year (trick or treating was banned here- you’d have got a police fine if you took your kids out) so people want to make the most of this year. As do retailers for obvious reasons. I see no harm in it, hopefully there will be a great atmosphere when I take my son out later.

Its nice to see that some areas are making a big thing of it but round here they aren't really.
We went out yesterday to look for some decorated houses and there were nowhere near as many as last year. I thought that maybe because we are out of lockdown and other restrictions that people aren't as desperate for something fun to do.

I wonder if people are making a big effort in case we are restricted at Christmas again?

There’s a fair few houses round by me that are decorated but it’s our first Halloween in this house so I don’t know if it’s more or less than last year.

Loads of businesses by me, cafes etc, are doing kids parties for the first year. Potentially making up for lost income?

I've noticed less houses around my way dressed up - they normally get very done up. I haven't got around to doing ours with my daughter either as I've been insanely busy and feeling wiped out. It's now hacking down with rain 😟

We are going to a local kids' Halloween event this afternoon/early evening though.

Our Halloween Plan A was cancelled last minute because of Covid so I'm having some of the DC's friends over this evening for games and party food. Like a pp said there was virtually no Halloween stuff to be had in the shops, I bought the very last dregs of decorations in the Christmas shops. If I didn't have Christmas decorations already I'd be buying them now!

We were in NI last week and Halloween in England is nothing compared to there. It was Halloween-tastic. Loved it. We always did big street parties as a kid, dressed as a witch in the obligatory black bin bag.

Where I live they never decorated their houses, they closed their curtains and turned off the lights and wouldn't answer their door when we called. This went on for years and years, I ended up having to bring my 5 kids to other estates to knock on doors with pumpkins lit.

My kids are all too old for Halloween but this year the decorations are bigger than Christmas. Some of the houses have lights all around the gutters, there's 8ft inflatables, there's floaty ghosts on the roof, pumpkin trail up to their doors, one house has a projector flashing ghosts on the front of the house and there's music playing too, monster mash and thriller on loop from 5pm to 8.30pm. The neighbours have set up tables all around the estate as they are arranging a big party later on.

It's seriously ott. Tbh I don't like Halloween, never did, did it for the kids over the years so I haven't got involved and I over heard the kids from next door talking about me and saying that their mam said I was a misery guts, actually a fuckin misery guts. Christmas is my favourite so I'll go all out this year with that.

We moved house last month and in our close several houses are decorated. We’re expecting trick or treating tonight so, for the first time ever, have bought sweets and mini rolls and will put these in the kitchen window.

I think it's both making up for the crap past couple of years,
as well as just in case, if another lockdown.

Meanwhile, I just want to post another Halloween emoji . . .
🎃 👻 💀

Well it’s absolutely pouring down here! A proper storm Wilco has is a real shame for everyone who made an effort with balloons and house decorations.
The rain is relentless so I’m guessing halloween will take place indoors tonight for most. Enjoy everyone!
I’m under a blanket watching films 🎃

Just about to head out in the driving rain and wind. I’m expecting my parenting award to be presented tomorrow. This is beyond the call of duty!

I think it's been growing.

We are close to running out of sweets and it's only half five. Chocolate is popular this year.

@Hetyanni

Because people missed it last year. We have been so restricted for so long I think people are just enjoying everything a bit more now. It'll be the same for Christmas and New Year, I bet Easter will be huge next year too as we have had 2 restricted Easters.

yes people as opposed to just the kids....waaay more adults getting involved. The 'conservative' man I work with adorned our shared workspace with decs and pumpkins this week....i was bloody shocked i tell ya!!

@LadyTiredWinterBottom2

I think it's been growing.

We are close to running out of sweets and it's only half five. Chocolate is popular this year.

yes, I threw in some chocolate and its definitely a fave!! usually its the haribo

Complete opposite for us - normally our area goes all out and there are loads of people out and about - a really lovely community feel with some amazing decorated houses. Tonight - most houses are in darkness and very few people out. Really sad

I love it, wish more neighbourhoods went all out (but appreciate it's not for everyone). We get very few down our street as a lot of older people and we are tucked away

I’d say it was toned down this year due to the weather and people isolating. We usually have a big skeleton out the front and a projector but couldn’t with the wind and rain. Very few around here compared to previous Years

It's more American now.

Personally I don't buy tat to decorate my home most of which will be landfill by the end of next week. Still others have to do it to have a good time apparently since unable without all the tat.