To go trick or treating to strangers' houses?

[TickOrTeat]

Just read on another thread that a lot of posters only knock on houses of people they know presumably for safety reasons. Do most people do this? Apart from our neighbours (only a couple of whom are participating) we pretty much only go to stranger's houses. Not on purpose but just because I don't know anyone in walking distance who has young kids or is happy to participate in tnt. We usually get a few trick or treaters too. Always unknown.

I'm slightly worried now. Is it rude to go to people you don't know? Is it unsafe? I think it's very low risk considering we don't enter any houses and most sweets are wrapped (and most people are nice and peaceful) but am I missing something?

Normally we go with friends in their area in a fairly large group but this year it will probably be just me and my two young kids.

For some reason this topic always brings out the paranoid and neurotic.

It's fine.

It's also fine not to do, but don't kid yourself into thinking it makes you somehow superior to others.

We get loads of kids we don't know every year!
Seems to be the rule around here that you can knock on any house with decorations/lights on

Yes, this! Are people not taking part expected to sit in the dark all evening? Or perch in the kitchen round the back?

@Daysgo said “Go to decorated houses! Anyone who doesnt want callers will be in the bqck of the house with no lights on in the front!”

We decorate (well put a 🎃 out) and buy sweets, we live on a new build estate and normally get loads of kids.

My dd is 18 now but still likes to carve a pumpkin 😂

Our lights are on a timer which you need a PhD in electronics to change. We don't want visitors and don't decorate but the house is definitely not in darkness.

Decorated only. You never know if someone vulnerable is living in a stranger's house. Or very elderly with Dementia. For some, a knock on the door is confusing and upsetting.

I didn't see any where I grew up but it's really common where I live now. It's not related to how 'rough' the area is, more what folk have put up with over the years.

As others say..if they have pumpkins and decorations they are welcoming trick or treaters

For some reason MN always brings out name calling too. 🫣

In our street we have an agreement- if your house is decorated (or you have a pumpkin out) you're open to Trick or Treaters. If not, you're not.
Nothing to do with being unsafe etc (and how sad your friends have thought of that). It's just being considerate.
Now that my kids are in their 20s I don't particularly like having to get up and go to the door 20 times on Halloween so no pumpkin for me!

Teaching children about context is important. Your children presumably don’t think it’s appropriate to walk up to old men in the garden centre January-November, sit on their knee, tell them their name and how old they are, and ask them for presents, because they’re aware that Father Christmas occurs within an exceptional and particular context. Teach your children the same thing about Halloween and they’ll be fine.

I grew up in the Midlands where Halloween was always a bit of a thing even though no trick or treating. Guy Fawkes was more important and I'm old enough to remember that never a year went by without some child/children being blinded by a firework, injured by a bonfire or worse.

Loads of dressed up, supervised kids seems infinitely safer to me and from what I gather the "no decs no call" rule seems to be very much adhered to, round here at least.

Agree

Plus the "rule" to only go to houses that are decorated seems to be a Mumsnet phenomenon

We don't decorate and regular get guisers.

And from where does she get the notion that non-participants think they’re “superior”?

I just don’t want anything to do with it 🤷🏼‍♀️

You're assuming that I bought into the Santa 'experience' as necessary, normal or okay.

Yeah we have no decorations, and still get them, my neighbor's house got egged last year because she ignored them. I don't usually mind and get some sweets in but with a little one this year it's a bit of a nightmare.. I don't want him to be constantly woken.

I think you’re unlucky. Ive lived in several different places in the UK and Ireland in areas where there’s a trick or treat culture, and have never had anyone knock after the sweets were gone, or after we took in our pumpkin.

Yanbu. If it's decorated it's fine.
I don't know any local little kids these days, more than happy to have anybody turning up.

Aye, all the posts about "begging" or (incorrectly) criticising Halloween as tacky or an American import aren't superior at all.

Yep. That's what happens in the real life that seems alien to the mumsnetters that live in St Mary Mead

I have a pumpkin and a few decorations so I really hope people feel comfortable knocking on my door because I have soooooo much chocolate! I live in a small road but don’t know everyone but hopefully will have a few visitors.

I’m Irish and know extremely well exactly what Oíche Shamhna is. That’s why I don’t like it, nor celebrate it.

That doesn’t make me paranoid, or neurotic or superior. It’s just my personal, informed choice not to participate.

Why isn't trick or treating begging?

I live in a rough part n of bolton ,I rarely see gangs of teens roaming my estate on Halloween, the kids that do call have always Been pleasant enough
You can,t assume we all live in nice middle class areas .

Of course you can go to strangers' houses. Where do people get these stupid ideas??

But decorated houses only is always a good rule.