Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Parties/celebrations

Whether you're planning a birthday or a hen do, you'll find plenty of ideas for your celebration on our Party forum.

Original poster

Trick or treating in your neighbourhood

57 replies

EgSk · 04/10/2021 20:51

I’m from Canada but have been living in the U.K. for nearly 10 years now . This will be my oldest son’s first year trick or treating (if everything goes to plan) .

If you live in the U.K. , what is trick or treating like for you in your neighbourhood ?

I live just outside London in a residential area . My street is quiet Halloween night and I only get a few kids come to my door, even though we live in a family neighbourhood. Is that the norm?

OP posts:
Pythonista · 08/10/2021 08:55

@stayathomer

Just because people are 'older', it doesn't mean they are thrilled at the concept of lots of children turning up all through the evening My aunts and uncles, my grannies when they were alive, our neighbours, our mil's neighbours all have said over the years they were thrilled they had more children in the area at Halloween and I've heard so many people express disappointment that nobody turned up. Different strokes for different folks of course, I know others that hope people wont knock but I don't know anybody bar people with young kids that decorate their houses
But you say that in Ireland it's expected. That's fine. But your relatives wouldn't actually have suffered if there were no kids trick or treating.

OP lives in England where it isn't done to knock on doors without decorations and can actually cause distress.

If elderly neighbours want to be included, surely the parents of the children will already know them and know this.

The desire for children to get sweets does NOT trump the amount of stress potentially caused to people. If they all 'knock once', that is still stressful. Of course if you are happy for them to risk upsetting people and/or being told to piss off, then fine.

Pythonista · 08/10/2021 08:56

But then I don't understand why you would go to strangers' houses anyway.

ReeseWitherfork · 08/10/2021 09:03

@EgSk

Halloween is bigger in Canada I think . It’s uncommon for houses to opt out of it, or at least it was in my old neighbourhoods. It can get expensive for some people. I had someone post of socia media about stocking up early on Halloween candy because it costs her $300+. ( that’s £175). Her street is a busy one though .

I love Halloween myself so I’m excited for it all 😝

Wow!!! I usually buy a £5 assortment bag from The supermarket and end up with some left over.
sashh · 08/10/2021 09:04

I usually get a few, the teenagers arrive first, I normally complement them on their costume of hoody and jeans.

Then a few younger ones with parents / older siblings.

There are some shops near me that stay open later and give out sweets (local independent shops) and encourage trick or treaters to visit.

BertieBotts · 08/10/2021 09:30

What I would add to the discussion is that "decorations" often means a single pumpkin. The displayed pumpkin is considered a sign that trick or treating is welcome.

furbabymama87 · 08/10/2021 09:33

It depends on area and if the houses are decorated or not. My mum's street is a quiet cul de sac and they get quite a lot. My road is off a main road and we don't get many, despite decorating.

TumtumTree · 08/10/2021 09:50

Near me there's a very popular high street which gets loads of groups of kids. Everyone knows to only knock if there's a pumpkin in the window. I live in a small street away from the centre so get hardly any trick or treaters - which is fine by me! I'm not really into Halloween but it's fun for the kids.

LindaEllen · 08/10/2021 10:11

@stayathomer

And please don't only go to the houses that are decorated with Halloween decorations because older people don't decorate and some of them absolutely love seeing children at the door. You knock once and if they don't answer then you move away obviously so you're not bothering anyone but a lot of people will be thrilled to seek kids, especially this year!
No.

Shocking advice.

If people want children to come to the door they will show some indication of that.

RuggerHug · 08/10/2021 10:27

In defence of stayathomer that is how it has been here. Unless the lights are off then it was expected. My DM and other older relatives have only been putting the pumpkin welcome out in the last 10/15 years. A few years ago we had so many I had to break open the tins of Christmas sweets!

greedygut · 08/10/2021 10:33

This really pisses me off, I like doing a couple of pumpkin lanterns , always have but that is nothing to do with trick or treat so why make it a signal that it is ? This stops people taking the quiet pleasure away from them being able to have a pumpkin . I don't want a load of kids banging on my door

RuggerHug · 08/10/2021 10:44

Just don't have it on between 5-8 on the 31st then?

BertieBotts · 08/10/2021 10:47

Confused That's been the unwritten rule since I was a child in the 90s. It's not a new thing. You don't need to have the pumpkin facing the street if you don't want trick or treaters.

stayathomer · 08/10/2021 10:51

Sorry everyone, I know everyone is different, wasn't speaking for all of Ireland either, just a lot of elderly people I know said they got a tin of Roses in or some of th he packets of penny sweets and nobody called and they were disappointed. It wouldn't have occurred to any of us to put a pumpkin out.

Pythonista · 08/10/2021 10:52

@RuggerHug

In defence of stayathomer that is how it has been here. Unless the lights are off then it was expected. My DM and other older relatives have only been putting the pumpkin welcome out in the last 10/15 years. A few years ago we had so many I had to break open the tins of Christmas sweets!
So people had to sit in the dark if they didn't want a load of kids coming round for sweets? Fucking hell! Bugger that!

To those agreeing with stayhomer - please only bother people you know. That way everyone is happy and you don't stress strangers out.

Because be aware that that stranger may have severe anxiety or small children in bed or anything else. And that your knock on the door might upset them. Of course, you might be fine with being told to fuck off in the hearing of your kids.... 😂

Pythonista · 08/10/2021 10:54

@stayathomer

Sorry everyone, I know everyone is different, wasn't speaking for all of Ireland either, just a lot of elderly people I know said they got a tin of Roses in or some of th he packets of penny sweets and nobody called and they were disappointed. It wouldn't have occurred to any of us to put a pumpkin out.
And presumably you were aware of that and made a point of visiting in subsequent years.

Go to a stranger's door - potentially cause a problem

Don't go to a stranger's door - potentially a little disappointment

Aroundtheworldin80moves · 08/10/2021 11:00

Some years the police have made flyers for people to stick on doors if they don't wish to take part.

But generally... no decorations don't knock.

RuggerHug · 08/10/2021 11:09

I mean porch lights/front room with curtains open. The ones who sit in total darkness are, generally, pricks who just want to moan about it.

Pythonista · 08/10/2021 11:15

@RuggerHug

I mean porch lights/front room with curtains open. The ones who sit in total darkness are, generally, pricks who just want to moan about it.
Why are they pricks just because they want to be left alone? It could be said that disturbing unwilling people just so that your little darlings can blag sweets is fairly prick-ish too

Incidentally we have neither a porch or living room curtains so guess we would have had to be in the dark.

Pythonista · 08/10/2021 11:15

I suppose a big sign saying 'Fuck off' might work though Grin

TheFormidableMrsC · 08/10/2021 11:17

It's quite a big thing where I live. North Herts. Lots of people make a real effort including us. We only knock at doors that have decorations. Never doors that are clearly not participating. I make sure I have enough to hand out between around 6 and 8 pm and then that's it.

RuggerHug · 08/10/2021 11:26

I mean pricks who want to find something to moan about for the sake of it, but I think you knew that. OMG I had to sit in the dark ALL NIGHT because CHILDREN. Did any knock? NO BUT THEY MIGHT HAVE IF I HADN'T SAT IN DARKNESS!. Those kind of whinge tits. Anyway, it's by the by. We were talking about what it's like here, you're clearly somewhere else so it's different there.

Pythonista · 08/10/2021 11:37

@RuggerHug

I mean pricks who want to find something to moan about for the sake of it, but I think you knew that. OMG I had to sit in the dark ALL NIGHT because CHILDREN. Did any knock? NO BUT THEY MIGHT HAVE IF I HADN'T SAT IN DARKNESS!. Those kind of whinge tits. Anyway, it's by the by. We were talking about what it's like here, you're clearly somewhere else so it's different there.
No we still have people coming round here as well. And yes I whinge because after the fourth of fifth time it gets wearing.
stayathomer · 08/10/2021 14:03

And presumably you were aware of that and made a point of visiting in subsequent years
Ah we always visit, yes

merrygoround88 · 08/10/2021 14:23

Is it acceptable to stop decorating and giving out sweets once your DC are no longer trick or treating themselves. I endured rather than enjoyed Halloween so am only hoping I won’t be a total crank by stopping as soon as youngest stops ?

Pythonista · 08/10/2021 14:34

@stayathomer

And presumably you were aware of that and made a point of visiting in subsequent years Ah we always visit, yes
So people were sad they missed it, mentioned it and then they didn't have to miss it again... Not the same as bothering strangers on the off chance they might not tell you to piss off!