Why won't trick or treaters come to my door?

[BathildaBagshot]

This is the first house DP and I have lived in (previously flats) and we are SO prepared for trick or treaters. I can hear them outside but nobody has knocked! Why??? I have so many sweets and I'll just end up eating them.

Have you put a pumpkin out?

Do you have a pumpkin or anything?

Is your porch light on? Where I am it's the universal sign for yes or no to T-or-T'ers. Light on = yes. Light off = no.

they are only just starting here.

yes ti lights on and pumpkin/decorations up

I only let DD go to neighbours we know. Might be the case if you've just moved in. I'm envious iv started giving the Xmas chocolates out now.

No one came to mine for a while last year and I was disappointed.
Put a candle in the porch and then there were hundreds.

We only go to houses with some sort of halloween decoration, usually a pumpkin. There are a lot of old people round here that have their lights on anyway so i just send DS to the decorated houses so we don't disturb the elderly.

Around our way, the sign that you are a Halloween-friendly house is having the porch light on and a clearly displayed pumpkin or other Halloweeny decoration.

Yes you need some sort of "invitation". Kids round here are not allowed to call at houses with lights off, or no pumpkin at the door, or other decorations.

Update: we had one lot, on their own with no adults. Eldest was about 11, two others about 7 and one about 3/4. Gave them a handful each and biggest one put his hand in the (massive) bag of chocolate bars and took the lot!

New question: aibu to want to chase the little sod down the road and take them back??

Also - who knew there was so much Halloween etiquette?? We don't have DCs (yet) so this is all a big learning curve for us. Tried to buy pumpkins earlier but couldn't find any