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AIBU?

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Original poster

Weird dolls hanging on neighbours tree?

237 replies

sandyfroglets · 11/12/2022 22:57

Unsure what this is for but they keep adding more rag dolls to their tree in their front garden. It's really creeping my children out.

They are hanging with other objects like wooden rings and ribbons. Is it some kind of pagan thing? No idea but it's bloody weird...

Aibu to ask them what it's for!? We live in a quiet little part outside of a city. Nothing unusual goes on here!

OP posts:
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11
Original poster
sandyfroglets · 12/12/2022 12:37

We are making it out as a game with the kids now. Seeing when they will add more things and guessing what it'll be next 😂

OP posts:
Bestcatmum · 12/12/2022 12:38

I'm a pagan but I don't hang weird stuff like that from trees. 😮

itsnowjoke · 12/12/2022 12:38

In my head I can hear the theme tune of midsomer murders as I see those dolls!!

barneshome · 12/12/2022 12:38

So what ?
Tell your kids its just a doll on a tree and not a big deal

darisdet · 12/12/2022 12:40

I'm not very imaginative and would have dismissed them as frugal or home made Christmas decorations. Not my personal taste, but better than some Christmas tat.

I'd ask about them though as I'm nosy!

@CitizenofMoronia I'd like those! We have Pelham puppets but they live in boxes as they tangle the moment you try to do anything with them! At lease in my experience.

Sierra1961 · 12/12/2022 12:43

sandyfroglets · 11/12/2022 23:04

So I tried to crop as much as poss but there's another two as well

When I saw this, I said “Jesus…” out loud 😳

ScornedChicken · 12/12/2022 12:52

Myself and the younger children are ill, so between making lunch and blowing noses and that (and the odd cheeky look on MN) I showed the pic to my son who is laid wrapped up poorly and he said it was the creepiest thing he'd ever seen. I nervously laughed. It's a bit strange.

CitizenofMoronia · 12/12/2022 12:53

darisdet · 12/12/2022 12:40

I'm not very imaginative and would have dismissed them as frugal or home made Christmas decorations. Not my personal taste, but better than some Christmas tat.

I'd ask about them though as I'm nosy!

@CitizenofMoronia I'd like those! We have Pelham puppets but they live in boxes as they tangle the moment you try to do anything with them! At lease in my experience.

i have them on a sprung curtain rod in the window so they dangle

HighlandsMum · 12/12/2022 12:55

Another Pagan here, I’ve never seen it done anything like this

Puzzledstill · 12/12/2022 13:00

Some strange people around

darisdet · 12/12/2022 13:07

i have them on a sprung curtain rod in the window so they dangle

My mother used to do that with some of hers!

Weepachu · 12/12/2022 13:10

How enriching.

DesertIslandCondiment · 12/12/2022 13:28

Notanotherone6 · 12/12/2022 10:45

Not sure what's creepy about a doll in a tree.

It's a kid's toy. In a tree.

Weird, sure, but not creepy.

Many people find dolls creepy

How can you have never heard of this.

There are many Horror movies with dolls.

Original poster
sandyfroglets · 12/12/2022 13:28

barneshome · 12/12/2022 12:38

So what ?
Tell your kids its just a doll on a tree and not a big deal

Is it your house...?

OP posts:
Notaninterestingfact · 12/12/2022 13:31

If I was to guess at a culture, I would say Romany. They have some similar traditions though I've never heard of this one.

MidnightMeltdown · 12/12/2022 15:21

Awww...they are probably supposed to be decorations :-)

LimeTwists · 12/12/2022 15:23

Looks like a satanic ritual. I’d wear a crucifix.

Onnabugeisha · 12/12/2022 15:55

I'd ask about them though as I'm nosy!

I said I would too! I am super curious about odd things.

PrivilegedBurnOut · 12/12/2022 15:57

MarieIVanArkleStinks · 12/12/2022 10:00

Interesting stuff. There are so many variations on the theme of this story: the Holly King and the Oak King, or Persephone's return to the underworld being pretty similar. But I have to say that if hanging creepy dolls in trees is their 'thing' it's harmless; a sight more so than some of the practices of conventional religion. They're proper, full-sized dolls too, not poppets. (Have to say I prefer a good cleansing smudge and some bells/chimes by the door)!

Conventional Christianity does the same thing with gargoyles around the tops of churches to frighten away evil spirits. They serve exactly the same function.

I'm quite happy to see such a reemergence of Paganism following all the years of persecution.

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True my only concern is the environment. I do hope they take them down when they are done with whatever it is they are doing. I prefer to do things that don’t harm the tree or the environment in the area. haha

BooseysMom · 12/12/2022 16:11

Isthatmcormac · 11/12/2022 23:55

@Wittyend This is an old Streetview pic 🤣 - not sure how much you can make out. The grassy area is now covered too but streetview hasn’t updated in the area 🙈 Theres all sorts of things - big dolls heads, tiny ones, some animals, a torso 🤷🏻‍♀️🤣 It doesn’t look anywhere near as bad in the pic as what it is in real life 🤣

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Late to the party here but I swear I can see DH's head in this pic!

BooseysMom · 12/12/2022 16:16

Here he is!!

BooseysMom · 12/12/2022 16:19

Sorry..hope he's here now!

Weird dolls hanging on neighbours tree?
FreddieMercurysCat · 12/12/2022 16:21

Could be a cloutie tree or wishing tree. Celtic I think.

StrawberryWater · 12/12/2022 16:26

Well that’s rather creepy, I want to see what their XMas tree looks like now. I bet it’s something like this (no not my tree lol, found it on Google):

Weird dolls hanging on neighbours tree?
Foodieasfuck · 12/12/2022 16:30

Oh God. That’s so creepy