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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think Halloween is just an extra chore

92 replies

2blue1green · 27/10/2023 20:34

My friend said to me this afternoon "your poor children" when I said I wasn't decorating my house in fake spiders and pumpkins and have shop bought a costume for them instead of created one myself

How can anyone be arsed with this level of detail for Halloween?!

OP posts:
Ponoka7 · 27/10/2023 20:38

Up to you. It doesn't cost much to buy a few bits, but if your children aren't bothered then don't. Most people at least carve pumpkins and display those.

Prinnny · 27/10/2023 20:38

I mean it doesn’t take much effort to stick a pumpkin on the doorstep and spider stickers on the windows but it’s hardly call the NSPCC those poor children territory 🤣🎃

Torganer · 27/10/2023 20:38

I don’t know anyone who decorates their house with fake spiders, or bothers with making a costume, bar sticking on a sheet and cutting out eye holes (although my child is little so wouldn’t be out knocking on doors). Is this person a good friend? I hope not, a good friend would not say something like that. Are they like this usually?

Comedycook · 27/10/2023 20:39

Virtually all festivities are a chore imo.

BHRK · 27/10/2023 20:39

It takes us about 20 mins to put our decorations up.

NuffSaidSam · 27/10/2023 20:40

I LOVE Halloween.

I don't sew their costumes though! Shop bought or cobbled together from bits we have.

Zanatdy · 27/10/2023 20:41

I never decorated for Halloween and think my 3 kids survived. We did a pumpkin most years and sometimes went trick or treating. It’s hardly child abuse

Iknowthis1 · 27/10/2023 20:45

I agree.

The problem with holidays in this house is that all the work falls to me and I can't be arsed anymore. There's too much work in going up in to the attic, decorating the house, undecorating the house and putting it all back up into the attic again. So much work for so little gain. I thought I was doing it for my kids but it turns out they're not bothered either.

Comedycook · 27/10/2023 20:52

I take my dc trick or treating and we usually get a pumpkin. That's it. I'm not actually decorating ffs..who has time for that shit?!

Beezknees · 27/10/2023 20:54

I love Halloween and I decorate. My child is 15 and doesn't care.

Iwant2beJessicaFletcher · 27/10/2023 20:56

I love Christmas & have epic decorations everywhere, but im really not bothered about Halloween. We'll do shop bought pumpkins (can't be arsed to pick them myself in a muddy field) and put some sweets outside the door on Tuesday but that's it.

Where I live most people are the same. Only a few houses decorated for Halloween, but most go to town for Christmas with lights, inflatables in the garden, etc.

DappledThings · 27/10/2023 20:56

I don't do anything for Halloween. I don't decorate or buy a pumpkin or costumes. It's not a tradition I've ever been part of and I would feel very odd doing it. I find it weird when anyone does anything for it really.

DD is going to a party on Tuesday and going trick or treating afterwards so this year I'll have to get on board for the first time, can't really make her come home and see her friends heading out. Dreading it.

PinkLemons99 · 27/10/2023 21:02

I live in Ireland and I never bother with Halloween.
We took ds trick or treating once in a large group when he was 7. It was perfectly nice but he wasn't bothered about going again. M'eh! 🤷🏻‍♀️

LadyBird1973 · 27/10/2023 21:03

I hate Halloween and think the decorations are ugly. I'd happily ignore it altogether.
When my kids were young I'd do them a Halloween tea and buy costumes and take them to the school parties. I never did trick or treat - I think it's mad to tell kids not to talk to strangers or accept sweets from them, then you literally do the exact opposite on Halloween!

I think you have to make some effort, if your kids are keen but it can be as simple as carving a pumpkin, it doesn't have to be full on making of costumes and decorating!

Agree with a pp though, that all festivities are work and effort (usually for women).

AutumnLeaves333 · 27/10/2023 21:04

We do carve pumpkins because it’s cheap and compostable fun. I hate the rest of it though, more plastic tat and costumes that are worn once or twice and discarded. I hate guiesing (in Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿) it’s such a massive hassle, and then I have to spend the next 3 weeks eating all the sweets to save my poor children’s teeth from ruin!

Justrolledmyeyesoutloud · 27/10/2023 21:06

Literally never decorated for Halloween - not even carved a pumpkin - ever!
But always take DD to a Halloween party or the cinema or something, even though l think it is a load of American nonsense.

endlessfall · 27/10/2023 21:08

I love Halloween, I'm a Scot.
It's part of my cultural heritage.
But yes obviously it's work. All celebrations are work and it's usually women doing it.

Meowandthen · 27/10/2023 21:10

It’s become far too American. If used to be a low-key day, dressing up was only in scary costumes, and few people knocked on doors demanding sweets. You also had to have a trick ready in case that was the response.

Pumpkins are not a British tradition, although a damn sight easier to carve than a Swede!

People have fallen for the commercialism which is a shame. It also seems to have taken over from Bonfire Night which used to be huge.

Meowandthen · 27/10/2023 21:11

endlessfall · 27/10/2023 21:08

I love Halloween, I'm a Scot.
It's part of my cultural heritage.
But yes obviously it's work. All celebrations are work and it's usually women doing it.

Proper Samhain though, not the American version.

Screamingabdabz · 27/10/2023 21:13

It is a ball ache, you’re right. But my kids loved and enjoyed Halloween so much. They got so excited and it was easier than Christmas in that it was one day and done and dusted by 8pm. The pumpkins lasted and looked good at bonfire night and it was fun seeing the community joining in for harmless fun. The effort spent was far more rewarding than the exhausting slog of Christmas so I think YABU.

coxesorangepippin · 27/10/2023 21:13

It's a five day event this year that's for sure

Ifailed · 27/10/2023 21:15

Most people at least carve pumpkins and display those.

No they don't. They really don't.

Bigcoatweather · 27/10/2023 21:16

You’re fully entitled to your opinion, but I think children enjoy little celebrations and events to mark the year. It makes childhood memories.
When I was young we carved turnips (!) and read a spooky story after a nice buffet tea. I remember it well to this day (good memories are rare after a fairly shitty childhood with a narcissistic mother), so I like to do a little decorating with pumpkins and spooky bits and pieces to make the same memories. It’s a bit of fun.

BCCoach · 27/10/2023 21:19

We never did it but it’s not really a thing here, we’ve never had trick or treaters. Very small village with no streetlights or pavements.

Coastalwalksarethebest · 27/10/2023 21:24

I love it personally.

We don't go trick or treating. I put a few decorations up around the house, it doesn't take long. We carve a pumpkin, I make the dc a bag of pick n mix up and we might watch a movie.

I absolutely love seeing peoples decorations up outside.

It's just a bit of harmless fun. If you don't enjoy it then you don't have to do anything.

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