Halloween in England, especially at school?

[inkstainedwretch]

We just moved to England from Canada, so this will be our first Halloween here. I know North Americans make a bigger deal out of Halloween than Britons, but what should I expect out of Halloween here? What, if anything, would normally be done at school for Halloween? Should I expect to send my daughter to school in costume or not? She's in Reception at a non-religious community school. Also, how common are out-of-school Halloween children's activities? Community Halloween events? How common is trick or treating? We live on a very busy street with little sense of community.

Halloween seems to be a bigger deal than it used to be over here now, but I imagine less than in N.America. The school will let you know about whether or not the children can come in costumes, although I don't think this generally happens.

Lots of people have Halloween parties now and some communities do events - you'd need to keep a look out locally. Trick or treating is very common. Usually children go round in small groups, generally with an adult, and are given sweets.

It does depend on the area - round here the kids TorT - generally I only let my DD knock on doors of either neighbours we know or houses which have a pumpkin or some other such decoration indicating that they're participating. The supermarkets will be selling pumpkins and treats so carve your lantern and prepare for visitations.

I've never heard of kids going to school in costume for Halloween (the events you'll be likely to need to make costumes for are World Book Day and Children in Need day - the school will let you know and MN will help you deal with whatever odd theme they may come up with!)

some schools ban halloween. For example when I was teaching London, our borough had a policy of no halloween in school, so don't assume it will happen at all.

Most schools don't make a big thing of it. No dressing up in our school, but there is a disco that happens in Oct, and the theme for that is halloween, so that is when kids dress up.

T&T happens usually only just to friend's houses. Not that common round here.

By the way, if they do dress up, it is only in halloween related costumes, eg witches, ghosts, skeletons etc.

Halloween is in our half term break, so no scgool activities here. But local community does loads of t&t'ing.

What everyone else said- varies, and most schools avoid it. Also just to add that Halloween fancy dress here isn't general anything goes costumes but limited to spooky stuff like witches and ghosts etc (as opposed to Wonderwoman/ a ladybird, etc). You'll mainly see Halloween tat in the shops. Some people carve pumpkins. Trick or treating v common in some areas and less so in others. It's actually a night known for a bit of anti-social behaviour in some places, eg teenagers "trick or treating" for cash late at night. Some councils issue "no trick or treaters please" signs for old/vulnerable/ boring people as a result!

It tends to fall in half term tbh so most schools don't do anything, other than perhaps a party/disco. Communities will sometimes have parties, check hall notice boards.
Some areas ban eggs or flour being sold to teens if theres been a problem before as some think its a huge joke to throw these things at other peoples houses and cars.
The stickers they issue are useful, I really don't like older teens knocking on my door in full face masks inthe evening as it feels intimidating when on your own.

It's usually in half term in recent years, so schools don't mark it in any way.

At any rate I have yet to come across a school who has fancy dress for it.
Trick and treat has all but disappeared round here since the local residents association arrange a fairground and stalls on the green with (sometimes if the buget runs to it) fireworks later. That was in answer to a few years of antisocial behaviour.

Those who do trick or treat tend to be littlies who go to friends houses-we get perhaps 3-4 a year, generally all have phoned and agreed beforehand.

Next door neighbours boys (teenagers+) usually decorate their garden with pumpkins and have a party. It's very sensible-the silliest they got to one year was blowing one of the pumpkins up with bangers, very carefully and health and safety was definitely followed as best as they could. they even invited us out to see!

we get perhaps 3-4 a year, generally all have phoned and agreed beforehand
gosh really - you must live somewhere really 'naice'
it does seem to depend where you live - in our old town on the south coast,it was huge, and the children came home with enough sweets to last a month....in fact it was a high spot of the year for them....and if someone had a lit pumpkin in their window it meant they were good for a knock.

I've never known anything really happen in schools except perhaps a disco?

In our area if you put out a pumpkin or decorations you get trick or treaters but tend not to if you don't 'invite' them.

A lot of community groups that hold meetings in church halls are not 'allowed' to have Halloween themed events.

Bonfire night (5th November) is a much bigger event round my way

Nothing at schools (it'll be half term this year anyway). Unless you live in an area with some sense of community spirit, young kids and / or Americans there'll be nothing going on community or trick-or-treat wise.

So expect nothing, although you may strike lucky!

As titchy says, expect nothing, then be pleasantly surprised if something does happen. School will probably largely ignore it, as it's in the middle of most half terms, so can safely be passed over. In some residential areas you'll get groups of friends T or T-ing, but it's very unlikely that there will be any sort of community activity/party. In other areas it has caused issues with antisocial behaviour so is frowned on.

Best thing is to ask a few parents at the school gates what they do or know of; most things will be small groups of friends getting together (e.g. two of my DD's friends are having small parties)

In our little village the kids are only allowed to knock on doors if the house is decorated/has a pumpkin out. School is c of e so no Halloween.

Embrace England! Bonfire Night (aka Guy Fawkes Night, Firework Night) is the bigger celebration which communities usually put on an event for. 5th November.

yyy to bonfire night! Get those sparklers in.

We didn't have Halloween at last school, and only the teenaged yobs did trick or treating (with menaces). In a new town now, so waiting to see what happens here. I think it does vary between areas, but I have never come across anyone dressing up for school.

yay for bonfire night! was checking which day of the week it falls on and planning drive to Lewes! Halloween is just part of the run up!
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It is during half term holiday in our area too. Last year my two went to halloween craft during the day at our local arts centre and came home with home made bats and witches hats. We then went to soft play for a halloween party in early evening where all the children were in suitable costumes. The soft play and tables were all decorated and we got suitably scary halloween food.

I'd say it's likely to be less full on than in N. America but still plenty going on if you're looking for it.

Trick or treating is low key here but does happen. A pumpkin in the window means you don't mind visitors :)

our school is having a Halloween disco in the evening. its a normal school day for them though. some areas have kids going out trick and treating, others not. personally I only let my kids knock on doors of houses which have some form of decoration on them, pumpkin in the window etc. I find that more places are organising alternatives to trick and treating now though, for example castles and national trust properties in my area now have things on. I've got a feeling we don't celebrate it nearly has much as Canada.

I'm also going say yah for Bonfire night. All about Guido Fawkes who tried to blow up parliament. It's cold, it's crisp lovely hot soup watching the fireworks and bonfire burn in the dark winter sky. Hundreds around you going oh, ah.
Schools often have a big event for the whole family and even in the rain it's fun.

Thank you so much, everyone! You've been so helpful! I think my little girl will be disappointed in Halloween, but hopefully she'll be able to get excited about Bonfire Night, a new thing for us.

If Hallowe'en is something you usually make a big thing of, then having a hallowe'en party at home for children in her class might be a good way for her to make friends. I remember having hallowe'en parties as a child where we did things like bobbing for apples or that game where everyone wears blindfolds and you pass round various 'body parts' (peeled grapes as eyeballs etc).

Round here the rule of thumb for trick-or-treating seems to be stick to people you know (neighbours etc) or people in your area who have lit pumpkins or other decorations.

There will almost certainly be a bonfire-night firework display at your school or in a park or sports ground nearby.

From my experience in teaching in primary schools, it's mostly ignored. It often falls during a weeks holiday, but even if it falls on a school day, it probably won't get mentioned.

I don't mention it certainly, as it's never been a holiday I've liked (sending small children to knock on strangers doors in the dark? No thanks), or promoted amongst my classes.

Some teachers, if they like it, might drape some fake cobwebs around, but that'll be the minority. Sorry!

Ah yes, Bonfire Night on November 5th is a MUCH bigger deal and celebrated in schools. :D

Halloween is mostly ignored around here, not really any trick or treating.

Bonfire Night is huge though. Massive displays, parties, hot dogs. Yum.

Depends where you are. In Scotland, Hallowe'en is a much bigger deal than in England. All the local children go out guising and wear costumes to school.