It's only 3pm and the doors already knocking

[Sillysausage76]

It's 3pm and already we've had people trick n treating. I've now brought pumpkins inside until 5ish. Anyone else?

We've been having a great time! Though there was an elderly man stalking around the streets shouting "Be gone you pagans and devil worshippers! Shame on you celebrating Satan's way. Praise be to Jesus!"
Scariest thing we've seen all evening lol

Care to elaborate? Because if you're a genuine poster I don't think you would speak about other cultures in that way.

5.30 start here, and we’ve had about 50 or 55 and run out of sweets, bubble wands and satsumas with faces drawn on them.

Sorry, genuinely can't parse that sentence.

Trick or treating has been around for centuries under one name or another.

That's so sweet of you! How thoughtful. 💖

That’s an absolutely brilliant idea! I am going to shamelessly steal it!

Fat kids 😳

This surely

Awww, look at you being all edgy and try hard being a dick about kids. Who have you come dressed as this year, Katie Hopkins?

Feels pretty traditional to me, as others have said ‘guising’ goes back to the 16th century. There was also ‘souling’ in medieval England, when poor people would go door to door on November 1, receiving food and soul cakes in return for prayers for the dead.

But more recently, I’m 45 and went trick or treating as a child and don’t get the impression it was a new thing even then? I had a carved swede rather than a pumpkin though.

Anyway; we’ve had a fabulous time with my 4 year old - only going to decorated houses of which there are absolutely loads round here and everyone seemed happy and having fun with this tradition, however/ wherever it came from.

That’s so lovely!

It's not imported it's celtic.

I wouldn't try that in my corner of the UK if I were you...

As soon as I put the outside light on I had 3 young teens ring the doorbell. They weren't dressed up and I asked where were their costumes. One said "we can do a trick". I told them no and to come back when they had put their Halloween costumes on. I did point behind them and say "what's that?" as they all turned to look at my cctv. Can't be too careful.

I had a carved swede rather than a pumpkin though

Bloody Nora, that must have been hard going. Did you need a hammer and chisel?!

Yes if the house is decorated absolutely. I wasn't going to say anything of the sort but you never truly know who lives next door... 😂

Oh!!!! There's an idea. Next year I'm doing satsumas with faces on. No one will nick them

I'd need lots though

@purplebeansprouts I'm up to 37 so far!

We had lots of kids, all pretty polite and most of them had a joke or some other 'turn' (in Scotland where this is expected!). DDs got a good haul visiting decorated houses and telling their jokes.

We've run out of sweets now so took decorations in and turned lights off and no further knocks.

I see a lot about Ireland but I would presume the entirety of what is Britain as well would have celebrated this in the Celtic age. It isn't a new thing.

I did 40 years ago my DM did it 65 years ago ( London and Cardiff respectively if it matters) then as now a lit pumkin or other decoration = fair game. No pumpkin = don't knock. It isn't difficult or complicated and as far as I am aware the rules have been the same for 50 years.

Haha, that's funny!