When did Halloween get like this?

[SoEasyToFall]

When I was younger Halloween was just about a school disco, and then when I was at uni it was a night out clubbing in fancy dress (or a flat party). It was never a huge thing.

Tonight while walking home from work there was masses of teens shouting abuse at everyone, smashing bottles and just being shits. More teens on the bus shouting abuse at everyone who wasn’t dressed up. I got called a miserable fat cunt because I wasn’t in a costume.

When did this happen? When did society get like this? I only left uni five years ago and it feels like it’s changed massively since then

I can’t stand this time of year.

But the tatt and plastic and commercialism is dreadful.

Also the Trick or Treat. That's from the US.

Children banging on doors and expecting sweets etc.
And some lovely kids throwing eggs or rubbish in people's gardens if they don't get a treat.

Dobber at the ready.

Never heard of a dobber.

Normally I loathe living in the middle of nowhere but not tonight! Only 4 houses anywhere near me. I did have some sweets just in case one of my lovely near neighbours happened to have grandkids round or anything. Passed some quite aggressive looking teenagers all in black with balaclavas on my way home. Hope they didn't knock on any doors of vulnerable/elderly people. They looked a lot scarier than they probably were.

Older kids turning up to the door grabbing handfuls of sweets. So unbelievably rude.

All quiet here. SE London estate

When did this happen? When did society get like this? I only left uni five years ago and it feels like it’s changed massively since then

Sadly there will always be idiots who take any excuse, they're probably exactly the same on any night.

Also we had some entire families dressing up, parents and children in matching or themed outfits. Such a waste. What do they do with them afterwards.

My first guess too, they've won the award again this year!

Definitely not like that here in Bristol, had a fab time trick or treating and answering door giving sweets and all the children and teens all being really polite and saying thank you and Happy Halloween. Was lovely!

I’m 50 and remember lots of dressing up and trick or treating as a child. No school disco as I went to a catholic school but definitely hordes of kids in black bin bags and paper witches hats. I remember the local shops always having a Halloween corner and we carved turnips every year.

It was trick or treating, then penny for the guy then carol singing.

Obviously things have gotten bigger than what it was but I think it’s always been big in some places.

I celebrate all eight traditional festivals and Samhain is my favourite. People will shout 'plastic tat' and 'begging' but are likely speaking from their own experience and how they would celebrate it. Around here, it's been great. Lots of polite kids. My daughter has had an amazing time. She understands the history and spiritual beliefs that I follow.

It's not a when, but where. In bad areas, Halloween, like anything else, will be an excuse to misbehave. I had my windows egged when I lived in a rough area. They hadn't tried to say trick or treat, just did it.

Oh wow that's pretty extreme. I'd like to think that's just one foul group you encountered and it's not the norm.
It's supposed to be a bit of fun, dress up, go to a party, go trick or treating, whatever it may be. We've had a lovely evening and came across lots of friendly people. Teens have been known to "egg each other on" and act up a bit no matter the occasion. Unfortunately it seems like they're using Halloween as a poor excuse for their behaviour.

I'm nearly 50 and, while we didn't use the expression 'trick or treating', we did dress up and go and knock on doors. No parents with us of course, but it was a small village.

Why? Teem around here don't go trick or treating, there are parties in houses or a gig at the Youth Centre. Lots of students going to club nights in the City, why is that not appropriate? I went to a Halloween party a few years ago as a 40 year old woman!

Where I grew up in West London, I don't remember it being about little children trick or treating, it was definitely not a thing for little kids as considered too scary that was the 90s!

Teens not 'teem'.

The only thing we had as little children was a school disco and they played Ghostbusters quite a bit, it was an evening disco so parents attended with your child.

We live in Highgate and it was bedlam here earlier but all very good natured / young kids etc.

It’s usually no big deal here. We don’t do trick or treating, so the house isn’t decorated, and people don’t knock.

We did just get a load of door bell ringing and shouting, but I looked at the door cam and it was just a group of young kids who clearly didn’t know or care about the ‘only knock on decorated houses’ rule. Seemed a bit late for them to be out. And they weren’t even dressed up! But they weren’t any threat. Just a nuisance.

I’m sorry someone said that to you, but I think you’ve just been unlucky. We have had literally hundreds of trick or treaters tonight, of varying ages, all super polite. It was quite joyful.

Halloween was massive here when I was growing up in the 1980s. I have amazing memories of school events, and guising with friends. I’d have Halloween over Christmas to be honest.

Fortunately nothing like that here. Had a mixed of kids age wise, little uns with parents and some teenagers, but all were polite

Hi OP. It's been absolutely murder where I live, non stop fireworks since 5'ish 😡. So, I feel your pain x