Halloween feels weird when you're older and without kids

[Likewhatttt]

Am I wrong? 🤔 like if you have kids obviously Halloween is Halloween.
And if you're under say 35 then Halloween is messy party territory with fancy dress.
But if you're over 35 without kids I'm wondering do you actually "do" anything for Halloween? I've been to a couple of Halloween parties in the last few years but I cant quite be fucked this year 😅

The only aspect of it that I’ve ever enjoyed is the local kiddies coming to the door. I always have a lot of sweets in for them.

Until I had a kid that was old enough to participate (I was in my 40s then) it was just another day/ night. I didn’t even bother with costume parties when younger. If I wanted to ‘participate’ I’d buy cheap candy the day after and veg in front of the tv

I'm 66.

I follow the custom of sticking a Hallowe'en decoration in my window to let the kids know that it's all right to come guising to my house and I get a load of sweets in ready for their arrival.

If I have to go out before the older teenagers get here, I leave an orange container of sweets on the porch with a note telling them to take two or three sweets.

No, it was never big in England, as a Scottish person (funnily enough “uk based” 🙄 it was a very big deal hth

I am in my sixties with adult kids. Going to an all adult Halloween party. Strange when people think you can't party over 35 years old.

Since DH died, I’m scared to answer the door after dark. I must admit Halloween scares me.

I grew up in 70s and it wasn't anything then. Plus I went to a Methodist church, and they weren't keen on it. November 5th was the biggie back then.

I'll be sitting out on my front stoop, dressed in my witch hat and black dress and boots with a bowl.of candy to give to any passing trick or treaters.

I’m older and without kids and Halloween mean nothing to me. I’d much rather read actual ghost stories.

My kids are adults and one at uni the utter lives away so I’m on my own at Halloween. It’s mayhem around here - easily 200 kids come to my door. I carve pumpkins and put other decorations out. I’ve never been to an adult Halloween party though. It’s a couple hours one night that’s it.

nods head in agreement

https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/19655339.halloween-guising-scotland-meaning-different-trick-treating/

I have never had any interest in the gore-and-sweets American version of halloween, but for the past few years I’ve gone to a local Samhain celebration which is great fun. Who needs horror movies and fancy dress when you can honour the ancestors and celebrate the changing season around a roaring fire? It’s become a tradition for me, like going to a carol service at Christmas.

Never celebrated it. Not when I was a kid, or a young adult, or now I have my own little kids. Don’t get trick or treaters either as they adhere to the pumpkin rule around here. Having to get extra fucking clothes for xmas jumper day and world book day each year is enough.

I do literally nothing. My kid is a late teen and will probably go clubbing. Why would I even notice it's Halloween?

I've never been interested in Halloween, dd's grandparents take her trick or treating and we do a pumpkin. If we didn't have dd I don't think I'd even notice it, bit a of a non-event really and far too much orange.

I don’t even notice Halloween, it’s the only ‘communal’ thing that has literally no impact on me.

Are you in Yorkshire?
I had never heard of mischief night until I moved to Leeds.

We only ever 'did' Halloween once we had DC. For 10+ years we went all out in decorating the front, with unknown things for the 80-100 kids to put their hands in to get sweets etc. Then the DC grew up and Covid came. We give it a miss, hardly any children near us anyway.

I’ve bought pumpkins to carve and me and DH will watch a horror film on Saturday night.

I feel a little sad that I have no excuse to dress up.

I will turn the lights out to ignore trick or treaters though!!

Just ignore Halloween. It’s utterly pointless.

Drawing curtains and pretending to be out works for me.

Turn all your lights off and hide in your back room. 😄

Not quite Yorkshire. I lived in a very rural bit of North Lincolnshire near the South Yorkshire border. I haven't lived there since I was about 18 so I don't know if they still do it.

It was most fairly innocent stuff - knocking on doors and running away, tying two doors together and knocking on both, jam on door handles- but there was some minor vandalism I suppose. Also because of its proximity to Bonfire Night there was sometimes a bit of horseplay with fireworks.

The worst thing I ever did was sneak in to my grumpy old Uncle's outside toilet and put boot polish all over the seat. There, I've owned up! He never did guess it was me.