Trick or treating banned in lockdown areas

[Orangeblossom7777]

www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/news/hallowe-en-divide-as-trick-or-treating-banned-in-coronavirus-hotspots-jqx2r56kn

"Children in lockdown areas should not go trick-or-treating this Hallowe’en, Downing Street has said.

Going from door to door would break rules against households mixing that are in place across most of the north of England as well as in Scotland, Northern Ireland and parts of Wales, No 10 suggested.

In other parts of the country parents face fines if children go trick-or-treating in groups of more than six, which potentially includes the person answering the door, officials said.

Boris Johnson’s deputy spokesman said it was “very clear that households should not mix” when asked about trick-or-treating.

The geographical differences in how children can enjoy Hallowe’en are the latest consequence of Mr Johnson’s strategy of containing the virus in hotspot areas to avoid tougher restrictions for the rest of the country."

I assumed no-one would be even thinking about it going ahead however if you want to ...

My DCs are too old for it anyway so it doesn't bother me; I felt it was confusing because it seems to say it is OK in non lockdown areas, maybe old people might not want to have it going on this year...

I feel that these rules sometimes do not give room for individual judgement. But maybe that's just me.

@ineedaholidaynow

Why does someone need to be told not to do trick or treating, surely it is common sense you don’t do it this year. I do despair on how stupid some people are in this country.

This

Good. Who in their right mind thinks it’s ok to go knocking on doors for sweets from strangers at the best of times (not least in a pandemic). There are plenty of suggestions/ideas out there on how to have a different sort of Halloween.

I don't see how five children going round houses, talking at the door, sharing sweets meeting other groups in the road is a good idea. I think it would have been easier to just have said a nationwide ban on trick or treating this year.

Is it not the case that people put a pumpkin out if they want to join in and not otherwise? So they could opt out that way I guess.

maybe old people might not want to have it going on this year...

Maybe not just old people fgs.

@Orangeblossom7777

Is it not the case that people put a pumpkin out if they want to join in and not otherwise? So they could opt out that way I guess.

But that doesn’t stop the spread of the virus does it. I am pretty sure a pumpkin doesn’t make you immune!

In an area with high rates, that is in a local lockdown. who would be stupid enough to go trick and treating anyway?

I'm torn as, although my kids are too old for it, I love decorating the front of the house and carving a pumpkin or two and seeing the costumes everyone turns up in. However, I think it's a completely nuts idea to have random kids rifling through a big bowl of sweets to find their favourite and don't really want the hassle of making up party bags or whatever (usually get at least a hundred kids round our way!).
Will sadly give it a miss this year.

Excellent move - ban the horrible begging with menaces permenantly

Not in a lockdown area, btw.

I agree however that five children from five different households going round together is not sensible even if it’s technically legal, but then the same could be said for them meeting up at the playground.

If anyone comes knocking on my door I will not be answering.

Good, time it was banned everywhere. It’s not something my generation did as children, and it’s time this American import was banned

We aren't in a lockdown area but we aren't trick or treating this year. I'd be happy to take DS but I don't think it's fair on other people who might not want strangers coming to their door at the moment, plus I don't think many people will be participating. We are going pumpkin picking and on a Halloween trail at the local park instead.

But that doesn’t stop the spread of the virus does it. I am pretty sure a pumpkin doesn’t make you immune!

I'm just saying that it is possible to choose not to join in....

@ineedaholidaynow

Why does someone need to be told not to do trick or treating, surely it is common sense you don’t do it this year. I do despair on how stupid some people are in this country.

a lot of people appear to be stupid in this country, that's why they have to have everything explained for them, young kids are probably more intelligent and some nt adults tbh

Guarantee we'll still have door knockers. Last Yr we went through 200 sweets! It's massive here, so bound to have some still Try.

Im Making a poster for door with along the lines of unfortunately no treats here this year but we'll see you next year

this American import

In Scotland it is called Guising, thought it was from here, not USA?

"In Scotland and other parts of Britain and Ireland, the tradition of going house to house collecting food at Halloween goes back at least as far as the 16th century.."

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trick-or-treating

How is it confusing?
I think anyone who takes their child truck or treating this year needs their head read

It's not rocket science. Don't take your kids. Just buy sweets for them 🤷‍♀️

Getting sweets from random strangers is weird at the best of times but during a global pandemic it seems positively crazy

@Orangeblossom7777

But that doesn’t stop the spread of the virus does it. I am pretty sure a pumpkin doesn’t make you immune!

I'm just saying that it is possible to choose not to join in....

But that doesn’t work when we are dealing with a virus. It isn’t that simple is it.

We can’t let people pick and choose when they mix with others

Don't mind a Halloween party with a cute costume for DD but I always thought trick or treating seemed rather pushy, not everyone wants to take part & it's not setting a safe example to go knocking on a load of random strangers' doors asking for sweets (even if you accompany them). You'd not do it under any other circumstances.