Anyone here not answering door today

[Auburngal]

I am going to switch off doorbell late afternoon. I have never done trick or treating as a child nor gave sweets to kids.

I just don't want my evening to be disturbed by the constant ringing of my doorbell. First few years of living at my home didn't get anyone as its a newbuild and people didn't know to go to the doors, you walk around the back of the block of flats and maisonettes.

Wonder how many people with Ring or similar doorbells will tell the kids and chavs to go away, politely or rudely?

Where we live children only knock at decorated houses and we never did trick or treating so I don’t feel obliged to now that mine are adults . A couple of years ago we had an influx of teens from a different area who caused trouble and required an appearance from the police but the last couple of years have been quiet . Our local Tesco has had a sign up all week about not selling eggs to under 18s at the moment .

What do you mean, chavs?

You've mentioned that on almost all your posts.

Why are they chavs?

In our semi-rural area we just turn off our outside light if we are not handing out candy. That way people know not to make the walk up to the house. I’ve never had anyone break the “rule”

No of course not. I wasn't suggesting that it was Halloween or isolation. But it's an opportunity to get involved, that's all.

I won't be answereing the door as its just too much, as soon as I get settled on the sofa there are more and the dog barks etc.
BUT I have decorated and put out a bowl of sweets (that I will top up) along with a note asking that they don't knock. I have also told my immediate neighbours with kids/Grandkids that it doesn't apply to them and feel free to knock.
There is no trouble here and its been nice to see all the kids dressed up but with DS at his mates and DD off at Uni and me and DH recovering from Covid I don't want to be up and down all evening.

I tie my front gate shut and so they can't come in to knock but there will be lots of kids and adults running up and down the road screaming until around 10.30- 11pm. Even the shitey wet and windy weather doesn't put them off and kids get bussed in from other villages too, we see them dropping off and picking up at the end of the street.

People spend all year telling their children not to take sweets from strangers, but it's OK on 31 October.

It must be sad to be so miserable.

I'm referring to name calling in general, but it is a tad ironic that you're pointing out how people can have different opinions.

You seem a bit obsessed with chavs, I didn't even know people still used that word 😂 silly

That’s what my husband did and they all got taken by the teenage shitbags !

Halloween traditions are rooted in necromancy (making contact with the dead, seances etc) and divination (fortune-telling).

I used to do it all when my kids were children but not now. There is a sort of rule that if a house is not decorated then it is not participating so non one knocks.

Halloween traditions are rooted in necromancy (making contact with the dead, seances etc) and divination (fortune-telling).

Neither practice is something I wish to have any connection to, nor would I wish to unwittingly encourage others to engage, even as “just a bit of fun”.

Are these kids not going with parents?

Even the pumpkins?

I like giving sweets to the local children if they call, but have had to stop in the last couple of years as it was getting so expensive. Plus I felt absolutely terrible for the ones who knocked when I'd run out. The dog and I will be hiding out at my DM's this evening - she lives in a quiet cul-de-sac and never answers her door.

I suppose I could always try this...

Oh no I think it is just fun and sweet. It's one night of the year!! I've got 3 older teens who don't do it anymore but have always loved it. My 9 and 6 year old are definitely trick or treating today and looking forward to it. I feel like they'd just be sad if their mum banned them just because it's apparently seen as "begging."

And we have decorated outside to let kids know it's okay to come. While DH is out with my 9 and 6 year old, I will be at home giving out all the sweets. 😁

We don't decorate and don't buy sweets for trick or treaters. But it's because it would wind the dog up too much. Before we had the dog we used to join in.

Terry Wogan once read out a comment that someone puts out an empty tub of sweets with the message Help Yourself and the man reckoned that the children will just think they are too late.

An actual law that you can't knock on a stranger's door?! 😂 That might be the most MN thing I've ever read.

There are already laws against harassment, egging etc, btw.

I know, imagine thinking everyone has to behave exactly like you.

We made an effort with 40 Halloween bags - extravagant with lots of sweets, crisps and toys - and left them outside as we had a newborn.

As PPs said, teenagers took the lot and scattered the contents across the estate.

Now, years later, we live in a much nicer area and I'll be doing the same this time as I'll be out with the children. Here's hoping the little ones benefit this time!

That's a very unusual take on things in Ireland, do you mind if I ask your faith? It's a view I'd associate with the types in America who ban Harry Potter and such. I think Irish Catholicism and Irish culture in general have never really treated the dead as something to fear.