To want a simple, nostalgic halloween?

[Mountainmamma]

I really liked halloween growing up - I experienced the classic 90s UK version aka carving a pumpkin then going trick or treating wearing a bin bag and a witches hat.

Yet even though it was simple I have fond memories. This year my nephews (4 & 6) are coming to ours for trick or treating with my own DD (5) and I would love some simple, cheap ideas to make it memorable and maybe create some traditions of our own.

I see of stuff online about boo baskets and big elaborate feasts but even if i had the money its not really my vibe!

Would love to hear about other peoples ideas of a fun, simple halloween!

Why don’t you give them the Halloween you want to give them? You’ve already mentioned what you liked as a child, and how much you enjoyed it. You don’t need to do any more than that.

What the fuck is a boo basket anyway

Come with me back to the 70s when we had to carve a swede with a dessert spoon ...

I think most the people I know that like Halloween still just carve a pumpkin, make a costume out of whatever dressing up stuff they have in tbe house and either give out sweets at home or go trick or treating

Not sure if anything more than this exists outside of social media posters doing more for selfie and content.

I do like to decorate the outside of my house but only because it is one of tbe oldest in our area and it looks fantastic with decorations. Don't spend a lot on decorations, just use the same ones each year in a different scene.
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Who is stopping you?

Ive just got the Halloween decorations out of the loft. Inside only, but I love it.

I remember my mother giving us a swede once. That was impossible but keep us busy for ages. All before the internet so we kept at it as had more patience back then

We decorate the house, carve a pumpkin or two, dress up & go trick or treating in our neighbourhood with school friends. That’s it.

duplicate

I was a dc before the internet but I had books & games, no way would I have spent ages dicking about with a spoon!

I feel your pain - we did exactly the same in the 90’s

Well my halloweens involved carving turnips, eating treacle toffee, bobbing apples and wearing black bin bags with holes cut out for the arms and a plastic mask held on with elastic.
Aaah, the 70’s.

Or slice your thumb off with your mum's sharpest kitchen knife!

We did bobbing for apples, or trying to take a bite from an apple on a piece of string in 70s/80s. Didn’t seem to worry about germs in those days!
Made and decorated our own witches hats.
More recently have divided into teams and had a competition to see who made the best mummy (used toilet paper to wrap up one member of team).

My husband and I are Americans but we like the simple traditions best. Carving pumpkins, a bit of Halloween themed baking (fairy cakes with candy eye decorations and orange sprinkles sort of thing), thrifted costumes (my 13 year old has spent weeks trawling charity shops to put hers together) and friends round for a bit of trick or treating. We have a box of decorations and usually make something each year to add to it - paper chains etc. My kids are ageing out of this but yours are perfect ages. You can make adorable spiders out of foam balls and pipe cleaners. We usually get a couple small pumpkins at Aldi or wherever and the kids just colour them to decorate, stickers would work too (as carving is tricky for wee ones)

I wish I could go back to Halloween 3+years ago before my new ndn arrived as she dresses up to trick or treat us and I’m pretty sure her costumes are from Ann summers. I have made plans to go out this year and won’t be bothering to decorate the house as I can’t cope with another year of dh asking me why I don’t dress up like her . Or maybe I will dress up as It or a dalek or something ridiculous and totally unsexy 😂

This actually made me laugh out loud 🤣 I think I still have the scars

Apple bobbing, toffee apples, baked potatoes eating whole with like an apple, scary stories holding a torch under your chin while you read them. It doesn't have to be expensive to be fun! Lots of candles and candy 🍭

Actually I have not seen apple bobbing or toffee apples for a few years. Think will bring them back this year after the remainder here so thanks folks.

Apple bobbing!!! I had totally forgotten about this - kids will find it hilarious, on the list...

Yes, what on earth happened to apple bobbing? Memory unlocked 😄

What is with these threads about 'simple Hallowe'en'?

When my boys were small we had Halloween parties - lots of decorations, bit of trick or treating and games

Apple bobbing

String up mini doughnuts and the children eat them with hands behind their back

Different boxes with gross things in (cold spaghetti, jelly, cornflakes made sticky with honey etc) and children have to put their hand in and find a prize

Pack a small bowl with flour and turn it out onto a plate. Place a sweet on top. Children take turns cutting the flour with a butter knife - the one who makes the flour mound collapse has to put their face in and get the sweet with their mouth.

Halloweeny version of pin the tail on the donkey? Pin the fangs on Dracula or pin the horns on the devil?

When my kids were younger we often made their costumes. Made a really brilliant (if I do say so myself) red back spider costume for my son, and my DD was a school satchel once! They loved going round and if friends were coming back to ours we’d have pizza and some Halloween themed plates/napkins etc and a spooky kids movie. But it wasn’t too elaborate. Halloween is often on a work night so I wouldn’t go OTT as you’ll have to repeat that every year!

And 80s.
I didn't see an actual pumpkin my whole childhood, we had a turnip, with a candle in it.