AIBU to hate Halloween and Bonfire night.

It`s an American thing,so i don`t and will never celebrate halloween.
As for fireworks......were supposed to be looking after the planet,not polluting it even more.
And people are supposed to be struggling for money,so why waste it on rubbish.

Where I grew up in Yorkshire, we didn't 'do' Halloween - I wasnt really aware of anyone that did until I was in my teens, when I spotted a younger girl out with her father, walking up our avenue in a witch's costume. They were not knocking o doors or asking for anything though.

We did have Mischief night, though on 4th Nov.
It was rather like trick or treating, except that there was no treating involved.

Much of the tricking was reasonably harmless, such as knocking on doors and running away, or hiding people's dustbin lids. However, looking back, some of the older kids did pretty horrendous things, such as putting lit fireworks through people's letterboxes!

I think that the worst my friends and I ever did was creep onto the golf course and rearrange some of the arrows that indicated the direction of the next hole.

I absolutely loved bonfire night, but that was when we built our own bonfires (with a tractor, one year), and could let off our own fireworks once we were about 11 or 12.
It lost all appeal for me when it just became a spectator sport.

I look back on it all now with a mixture of nostalgia and horror!

That should have said petera sorry. Typo.

Peters cross post! I completely agree about the change in attitude too

Halloween isn't an American import in Scotland. Children have gone out 'guising' for a very long time. I did it in the 60s with my brother. The rule was you had to have a party piece of a song or a poem or jokes before you got anything. The 'treat' usually consisted of monkey nuts, an apple and some sweets. Occasionally you were given money. Most houses were happy for you to 'chap' the door. Like many traditions, it has evolved. I was always happy to open the door to children. In my current home, there are very few children around but I have small bags of sweets if any do show. I love watching fireworks but my last dog was terrified so I fully understand why people don't like it.

Sago

Just that really, when our three children were growing up Halloween never really figured.
There was no trick-or-treating in our village and people cert

I don't enjoy it, but it seems that many do so...

I do occasionally reflect on the change of attitude: when I was young and we went out guising (although I’m also aware that this is a north Britain term) the emphasis was that you did something entertaining to earn your reward.

At some point ‘guising’ changed to ‘trick or treating’ and this seems to have changed to ‘give us stuff or we will do something nasty’. I know this does not reflect the majority of children but I do think there has been a change in social contract of Halloween.

I enjoy both. Halloween has grown enormously since my children were small and with the price of fireworks, the larger family events held at schools and sports clubs have proved very popular. I have my tub of sweets and Monster Munch crisps ready for Sunday evening and my tickets to take my 4 youngest grandchildren to an organised Fireworks night. The youngsters have lost so much with this confounded virus. I can't wait to see them enjoying these days again.

I don't mind either way. It comes, it goes and happily doesn't affect me at all. If it gives an extra bit of fun to children then that can only be a good thing methinks. Perhaps a bit of extra angst for parents but, what's new about that?!

I call it Reformation Day. Better than that other rubbish.

Elizabeth27

The children love it and it is safer than firework night was. Pubs and clubs have events that will bring in much needed income. Nobody is forced to take part so if its not for you then ignore it and put a notice in your window so that children do not call.

Exactly.
I won’t have a pumpkin, lights will be off so I won’t get trick or treaters. My grandchildren will be dressing up and enjoying a fun raiser Halloween party for a child they know who needs special equipment.
I loved bonfire night but I’m pleased the fires are more likely to be organised so safer now.
I’m lucky, my various dogs over 40 plus years have all taken the noise in their stride

Didn’t happen in our house. The children however seem to love it, it’s harmless and fun for them. Something from America along with all those different days we are supposed to celebrate, along with the cats birthday.
Now Bonfire night I love, the fireworks the atmosphere, toffee apples etc but it’s always spooked me that figure they put on, reminds me of why we have it and that turns my stomach, as a child I begged my family not to have that figure so much they didn’t.

I'm more than happy with how Halloween's evolved. Children happy. Fun times etc etc

Can't stand fireworks though. We have a few dogs, donkeys, horses etc and they're petrified.

Luckily we're a bit away from most activity but some random record will be blown up close by.

I'm not keen on Halloween but know children enjoy it. I have recently moved so have no idea if there will be "trick or treat" callers but will have a bowl of sweets ready - just in case.

I live in Canada so we only have Halloween. We aren't super big OK Halloween, but it's daughter's favourite holiday. We don't really decorate, but last year and this year I have made her some Halloween decorations. (I am a crafter. Last year I made her some stacking boxes and a wall hanging from plastic canvas and yarn. This year I am making a cross-stitched piece for her.) She loves to dress up in "pun" costumes. One year her natural mother took an old shirt, glued some individual serving cereal boxes to it, added some spoons to the boxes, and splattered the lot with white paint - she was a cereal killer. Another year she made a hat out of cardboard, glued some cotton fluff and a cardboard lightning bolt to it, and had various pictures and clippings hanging off it - she was a brain storm. Last year she wore a black shift and then took some plastic piping, covered it with black cloth, and added some glow-in-the-dark balls. She was Morticia Atoms (Addams); the balls on the frame were meant to be electrons orbiting the nucleus of an atom. This year she's planning to wear a nice outfit (evening gown or trousers and a blazer) and have a name tag that says "sorry". She's going as a formal apology

She's too old for trick-or-treating, but they do have a costume day at school.

I’m not a fan of either so I agree you are not being unreasonable.

I've got a wall of flippin' black paper bats flapping away anytime the door is opened. DD cut them out and stuck them up with white tack.

I don't mind Halloween but DGS loves it, so I tolerate it. I DO like bonfire night. I'm indifferent to fireworks but love a bonfire.

I don’t think not liking Halloween hoohah is unreasonable. My grandchildren love it though and got their decorations out weeks ago. Thankfully they have decamped to their other grandparents for half term and the decorations went with them.
As a child we occasionally got a turnip for a lantern. Occasionally dressed up (once iirc) but we did do Apple bobbing and sticky bread on strings. It’s not Halloween I dislike so much as the commercialisation and plastic tat that goes with it now. But tbh I feel the same about that other major midwinter festival I won’t name.

I don't mind the pumpkins and the halloween goodies, at least they're reasonably environmentally friendly.

But the plastic tat, for heaven's sake.

It's a very recent development and it's appalling to see; wasteful and planet polluting. What are we thinking of?

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We love Halloween!! Lots of fun, pumpkins we've grown in the garden, dressing up, fairy lights, witches brooms parked in the porch, games, candles and halloweeny food.

Love Halloween in our village! Lots of people participate, lots of families go round together, lots of houses decorate and leave treats out - such a great atmosphere!

I used to love a bonfire although I’m not a huge fan of fireworks. We don’t go to one as my daughter is terrified.

My house is full of tat on Halloween .I particularly enjoy my bowl with a severed hand which makes a grab for you when you reach for a sweet.

Before I moved I always has loads of kids on halloween trick and treat, one time when they were at the front door I crept out the back door with a white sheet over me and scared them half to death.
Im fed up of fireworks already as theyve been going on for a week around here at all hours.

I love Halloween. We have an annual fancy dress party. I’m currently carving pumpkins in preparation. My grandson has requested a Batman pumpkin. I hope I don’t disappoint!

I dislike bonfire night immensely. I hate the noise and it absolutely terrifies my dogs. I can’t believe that just anyone can buy fireworks! I wish they’d only be permitted at organised displays.

I'm a bit 'meh' when it comes to Hallowe'en. Never really made much of a fuss about it when my kids were young anyway. Hate Bonfire Night though - our old dog was petrified of the fireworks, but this will be the first year with our new pup, so I hope he will be ok with them. They cause untold misery year after year, not just to animals, but also to many sufferers of PTSD, and I know some people on the autistic spectrum don't like them either.

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I just enjoy any excuse for a party with AC and GC, I love fireworks (I am also an animal lover), this year we shall be buying silent fireworks.
Halloween fun for children after the last 20 months who could begrudge them?