To hate Halloween

[TheBoxontopofthewardrobe]

I hate Halloween and especially trick or treating. I’m not especially grumpy or grinchy and quite a nice sociable person normally but this event, that is now being thrown out of all proportion, makes me really cross.

I don’t have a single Halloween decoration and the lights are off but still the local kids knock!

Grrrrr tips needed to get over myself!

Love Halloween. All the neighbourhood kids come round in their costumes... it's fun. I give extra sweets for creativity.

We go out for dinner now. Did all this when kids were small, but not now. Its other peoples turn.

I think because I was never allowed trick or treating as my mum didn't agree with it, I'm very bah humbug about it and refuse to answer the door

We also have house cats and I don't want to risk them getting out while faffing at the door

Previous years weve drawn the curtains and been left undisturbed... This year we only have one curtain up because one side has come down (either DH DIY skills or pulled down by a cat)

Still won't be answering the door, and there won't be any sweets available anyway

It's a really special time for us and the kids enjoy it almost as much as Christmas (not much between them really). We're Irish though and the family traditions go back generations.

It's a big deal where we live, the children running round the streets in their costumes always makes me smile. We'll have the neighbours round for a party and then go trick or treating.

But I wish we had guising. That's such a lovely tradition and I like the idea of the kids having to 'sing for their supper' 😆

I can recommend living at the top of a steep hill in a block of flats with a secure entry system. We never have trick or treaters!

I remember a bit of low key Halloween stuff as a young kid in the late 80s - Brownie Halloween parties (i was always a cat or a bat as it involved adapting the black leggings and leotard I already owned for dance classes) , apple bobbing etc..

Bonfire night was much more eagerly anticipated.

I love it! I'm Irish - so it's part of my culture - my parents did the same thing, they were sad when the kids stopped coming to their house. My kids have grown up now - but I've got my pumpkins ready and the sweets in - love to see them come to the door - polite, small ones slightly nervous, happy - parents looking on shouting hello. Even the teenagers are sweet.

In Ireland, in our small village we "went around the houses" it wasn't called trick or treating. You went out with all your brothers and sisters. And the aim of the evening was not to be recognised when you went to a door. You'd have a false face and your Da's old coat and the whole family would peer out to try and guess which family you were. So funny...so many great memories. Came home with a bag full of monkey and hazelnuts, apples and a few coppers - no sweets though.

The parents all met up and had a chat whilst the kids went to the doors and then around someone's house for a Halloween party and wine for the parents- what not to love!😁

AmazingBouncingFerret · Yesterday 19:37
**
Do what we did, buy a big fucking house down a long drive that nobody dares walk down in the dark”

We lived in a converted church surrounded by graves. Funnily enough, never a trick or treater 🤣

Have seen an increase in this lately too.

@Tealtoffee - similar for me. Also Irish. We got fruit and nuts. Only got sweets if they’d run out of fruit! And we didn’t say trick or treat - we said “Help the Halloween Party”. And there was a huge bonfire on a green space near our house which used to drive my Dad bonkers. So many years he’d have to go over and point out to the local boys setting it up that they were too close to houses and the electric wires and they’d moan a bit but move it. But all the neighbours would go down to stand and watch it for a bit.

We would have Curly Kale with mash for dinner and there was a coin hidden in it. And then Barm Brack afterwards. Always hoping to get the ring.

Costumes were very simple. Usually involving one of the masks linked to up the thread and maybe a witches hat. And a black plastic bag for a ‘dress’ and maybe another one for a witches cloak.

We didn't say anything - it would give the game away and they'd try to catch you out, make you laugh anything to hear you speak so they could guess who you were. Mum used to make an apple tart with money wrapped in greaseproof paper, we'd have those bright red toffee apples and the excitement of trying to pick a mask each year, those bloody things dripping in condensation from your breath, terribly uncomfortable. And then of course the next day off school - when you'd have to go to mass. And when we were older we dressed up and went to a GAA disco or nightclub - again trying not to be recognised was a big part of the fun. Best of times - simple pleasures.

YANNU it's how you feel and you are absolutely entitled. If you don't participate don't answer the door, hopefully this will be remembered for the next year.
Personally I love Samhain we decorate from the beginning of September (and "accidentally" forget to take some more down each year )and make new decorations throughout the year, however luckily we live very rurally so don't have trick or treaters as I don't personally like that aspect and wouldn't participate in it although I probably would just leave a bucket of sweets at the gate if we did get some.

We’re going out on the night so no decoration this year . I usually do decorate especially if it’s a weekend.
I love the little children coming round , we don’t get teens thankfully.

I really want to stick on long false nails painted black , hands AND feet then go to the door in bare feet 😉

I love the fact that every year there is the predictable'I hate Halloween' thread.

Part of the season! 🧡🍁🍂🥮🎃

It's not the only event that has grown out of proportion, though I agree with you OP on this one and do not take part at all.

@70isaLimitNotaTarget my Dad was once getting ready for a Halloween party when kids rang the bell. He answered in full Dracula outfit complete with bloodstained fangs. The poor kids ran off screaming in terror.

I used to love it when I was a child (teens/adults did not go for dressing up and having parties) and it was a fun time - making costumes, turnip lanterns, guising, doing your ‘piece’ (song, joke, trick…).

Now it’s plastic tat decorations and bought costumes - what a dreadful waste of money/destined for landfill.

Irish, loved it in the 80s, love it now, going to have a Halloween party for the kids and their friends, but it is so so rude to knock on undecorated houses. Just no.

I don't get the fuss over Halloween (which around here is a big build up for a few hours outside getting sweets). For the sake of my kids I have paid for Halloween outfits that only get one wear, put a pumpkin outside, handed sweets and taken them TnT for 10 years! This year they are out with friends and I'm another one with lights off. I will be on my own and I am looking forward to my netflix and the peace and quiet for a few hours.

And every year I join the I hate Christmas thread😂

YANBU at all. Don't answer the door to anyone if you aren't expecting a visitor. I don't. There's no need.

To some of you, BAH HUMBUG! 😂

I'm not a fan either I just don't get it. As a family we watch a scary movie and I buy one bag of sweets. Once there gone, thats it the doors shut. I know what you mean but if you don't do anything don't feel guilty. As I get older I realise how social pressure to join in when it's not your thing is total balls. Wish I'd known that years ago! My kids are 15 and 10 haven't been trick or treating for years they don't want to so not forcing it.