AIBU

Dont some authorities show their power, giving orders like that! To be ignored by most I hope, The parents should be with their children anyway.
One year I had some "treats" and the cheecky children who knocked, took a handful of sweets almost all until I did politely say,there may be other children coming who would like some too.

Ridiculous to be asked to go to those lengths, but I will enjoy it fully as I alwasys do. Up until retirement a couple of years ago my pupils would knock on my door as I taught at a school close to home then - it was lovely! Today going to 4yr old DGS, he is to be a spider and cannot wait! My opinion as a winter hater is that any festival/ occasion, such as Halloween, Fireworks, Christmas, should be celebrated to the full to relieve the dreer! ☠️?☠️

On our local Facebook community page, some delightful ‘children’ dressed for Halloween had fun snapping car wing mirrors off the other night. Expect tonight they will try and top that, maybe setting them alight?

Why would anyone buy a pumpkin just to make sure that the trick or treaters knew they could knock at the door?
We usually get them but I have never bought a pumpkin.
I get some of those haribo sweets and hope someone comes to eat them.

This was the message!
Sadly there is not a facility to reply?

sounds the wrong way round, lol

I don’t mind little ones under about 8 as they seem genuinely excited but older than that, no. Last year we didn’t get a single knock and incredibly, the tub of Haribo sweets I got are still in date. God knows what’s in them.

House decorated. Food being prepared. Bring it on! ?

Our local PCSO's post notices, info, what's occuring etc on a website dedicated to our area which is very useful. They've put a small A5 size poster on there for anyone to print off and display if you wish to participate. Stating it's ok to knock but remember your manners. They also have a 'no thank you' one. Last year we had approx 30 very polite youngsters Inc one little chap who had a bag nearly as big as he was which he held out for me to tip sweeties into and thought he was going to get my whole stash - his eyes were big as saucers! I had some plastic spiders and offered some kiddies sweets or a nice juicy spider ? we've had unfortunate experiences in previous years with teens, no attempt at costume, demanding money (not given) and bedding plants ripped up.

Lancslass1 my daughter has informed me that where she lives there is a trend to only go to houses which have some Halloween decoration outside as this indicates they will welcome trick-or-treaters, and not to go to others. It seems like a good idea to me.

When they knock on the door...I shall hide behind the sette like I do when the rent man comes.....LOL lol

No pumpkin outside my front door, either. Apart from disliking Halloween in the first place l am a private music teacher and do not want a constantly ringing doorbell interrupting lessons.

OMG where in the UK do you live Missfoodlove? Am flabbergasted by this! "Make sure you don't give sweets to kids with allergies?" Isn't that up to the parents to deal with?

My GC absolutely love Halloween...I detest it! Back in the day, the most we did was bob for apples. Now it is like a mamouth carnival - been going on for days here with people hosting lavish parties! Last year I got my very big bay windows 'egged' when I was out with my GC "begging" because that is all I see it as "begging for sweets" Oh lordy they get enough of these all year round but Halloween they end up with carrier bags full!! This year I am going to turn lights off, watch a scary movie, maybe and ignore anyone who comes.

I am being the GRINCH of Halloween bahaha.

I remember being in a shopping mall in America on Halloween when our kids were quite young and the shops were handing out goodies to local children. I got talking to one couple who were quite bemused by the fact that ours weren't joining in. I explained that Halloween was fairly recent to Britain, even though I think it originated in the old world, I also said we had something called "Guy Fawkes" early November and the story behind that, which they found quite shocking, well of course it was.

My son and girlfriend are coming to dinner tonight and so we will probably be too busy talking, drinking and catching up to be anwering the door, we went along with Halloween once, but I think it's a mutual thing for those with youngsters. The pumpkin outside the door to denote those who are up for all the capers is a good idea. Advice about clearing the drive and what you should be handing out sounds all very nanny state people don't want to be dictated to on their own territory quite honestly. Clearly misfired with that one!

Our village goes completely nuts, it’s like Halloween world, we get messages via the village website, from people encouraging you to come down and see all the amazing displays, luring you with promises of sweeties.
Actually we quite enjoy it, with my daughters and all their children, we shall be out tonight (in the rain) supper and a scary movie.

But seriously, Missfoodlove, what a bloody nerve!

Guess it depends if you are participating. rule is that they should only call if you have a pumpkin outside. We do, so don't expect to see anyone. The drive is long and dark!

Oh you're all such grouches!

I used to cower under the table too, until one year I thought up the wheeze of silently tossing scatterings of wrapped sweets out of a darkened upstairs window. Biggest success of my life. So far as I know no complaints to the local police of children rushed to A&E after being hit on the head with a barley sugar.

I had better crack on and get a disclaimer printed and posted at entrance to drive! The worlds gone mad.

How strange. Its really not your responsibility. If people decide to let their children take part then they should be responsible for their children not householders who may not what to take part. I would just ignore it

Elcie- it sounds as though you are!

I thought that all children knew that you only knock on doors that have a pumpkin outside showing that the people inside the house are happy to participate
Optimist yes. I’m in the States just now and my DGC are excited about Halloween tonight.
They will definitely only be going to the houses of people they know and who have put something outside to indicate they welcome trick or treaters.
It’s quite harmless IMHO and lovely to see the children enjoying something so much.
Unfortunately rain & thunderstorms are forecast for tonight so I doubt if we’ll be going very far!

So, the Constabulary has chosen to issue instructions for trick or treaters. No mention of the same being needed for anyone else who may approach a house. Too bad for delivery folk, window cleaners and invited people. Think this is taking pampering a bit too far. Detest trick or treating, to me it's basically begging. Another dreadful think imported from USA along with baby showers and gender reveal parties. Store shares must rocket at this time of year.

Annpl, why are people who are not agreeing with you grouches? You and a large section of society as well as the above mentioned constabulary are pressurising the rest of us to play along with something we don’t agree. An important rule I tried to impress on my children was “never run with the herd, make up your own mind”.

I think any “custom” where someone can knock at a door and demand something from a stranger is essentially not “good”. If the custom then says that you can harm that person if they don’t comply with your demand is in my eyes “bad”

An evening where people have to hide in their house in darkness in order not to feel threatened is wrong on every level.

I don‘t agree with the idea behind Halloween even if the majority of people and especially children don‘t have a clue what they are celebrating. In the same way I would never agree joining a seance or dabble with Ouija boards “just for fun“.
Agreeing with an event just because it is “fun” is dangerous. After all public executions in the Middle Ages were great fun and entertainment for a lot of people. I am not comparing the two events, I am only making the point that just because someone thinks it’s fun that this is not enough reason to go along with something or someone.
Zombies, the Undead, skeletons, graves - to me it is sinister and has no place in my life and even less in the life of an innocent young child.

We have had six sets of treaters so far tonight, all under 9/10, all wide eyed and polite. Hands may want to scoop up a handful but always respond to “just one”. H and I are in witches hats.