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Halloween! Will you answer the door?

(103 Posts)
Nonogran Sun 03-Oct-21 14:47:45

If you want a peaceful evening …
Why not use Mr Google for “Halloween poster” and you will probably find one to print off which asks Trick & Treaters not to knock.
Similarly, your local Police web sight, if you search it, will also offer something similar.
I’ve printed such posters off in the past & it works.
As an aside, last time knocking on doors was allowed, 2019 was it, the following morning there were sweets discarded & scattered in my culdesac. What a waste of money, so disrespectful & amounts to litter. If the kids don’t like your offering, it seems they may ditch it.

BlueBelle Sun 03-Oct-21 14:58:31

I always buy some sweets in and put my pumpkin out it’s not a big deal really I ve never had any nasty incidents

3nanny6 Sun 03-Oct-21 14:58:58

I may not bother to open the door. I have my living room at the back of the house so I will turn off all the other lights close my living room door and stay in there.
I used to get in sweets and have loose change to give to them.
When they done it which I even think they were out last year I opened the door to at least six children on two occasions. One thrust out the bucket for the money and the others held out bags or hands asking for sweets and candy there was too many of them and one cannot be expected to hand over a huge pile of sweets to so many. Do not like to be mean but I do not like the trick and treat anymore.

ginny Sun 03-Oct-21 15:00:27

In our area it is generally understood that if a house has no decorations outside then they do not knock. I admit if they did, I would not answer unless I had been asked previously .

Jaxjacky Sun 03-Oct-21 15:07:42

Yes I will and I’ll have some packets of fun sized chocolate bars in a bowl, my children did it and my GC’s do it. Children have had a tough 18 months, it’s a bit of pleasure for them.

25Avalon Sun 03-Oct-21 15:12:23

Nobody walks up the dark windy lane to my house and if they didn’t I certainly wouldn’t open the door. It’s ok for little kids though. My gc go round their estate with mum. What they did last year was you don’t put any sweets out at your house. Instead you give the treats to your own kids at someone else’s door marked with a rainbow.

Kim19 Sun 03-Oct-21 15:14:12

I switch my bell off but don't tend to have many Halloween visitors anyway.

lemongrove Sun 03-Oct-21 15:27:49

Haven’t had any little visitors on Halloween at my present house, but now that further down the lane two families each with two small children have moved in, I will buy some fun sized chocs in case they call here.It’s an exciting night for children.?

M0nica Sun 03-Oct-21 15:29:02

in my village you put a pumpkin and light out to show you are taking part and then have a tin of mixed sweets to offer the children when they appear.

Houses without pumpkins are not visited.

I'm a pumpkin person.

GrannyGravy13 Sun 03-Oct-21 15:55:26

Same here if there is a pumpkin out children will knock, I have my sweets ready ?

BlueBelle Sun 03-Oct-21 16:01:58

Yes same in my town pumpkin or lights outside is a sign they can knock
One year I had forgotten and had nothing bought in so I put nothing out and no one at all knocked

3nanny6 Sun 03-Oct-21 16:06:12

Some good ideas on here, although I do not know about the theme if you have a pumpkin out then you will have a visit.

I used to like the small little children that mum and dad walked around and always had the small pack treats chocolate for them.
Where I live it began to be 12-15 year olds and quite a few of them and if some people did not give treats they threw eggs at the house. These days I have no interest and will probably keep the door closed.

Westcoaster Sun 03-Oct-21 16:06:17

I put the pumpkin (plastic thing with lights inside) out last year along with a bowl of sweets and within a very short time both the sweets and the bowl were gone. DH was very annoyed at his "good" bowl being pinched!
I might get some sweets this year but they'll be kept inside for those who ring the bell. There are a few kids around who normally come, and if not the grands get a bonus. grin

Witzend Sun 03-Oct-21 16:10:05

Dds loved trick or Treating, and so do Gdcs, not that any of them ever did ‘tricks’. So I always put a small pumpkin in the window, and except for last year, usually have quite a few callers, nearly all quite young children, with a parent hovering at the end of the path.

The next day I turn the pumpkin into a spicy Thai-style soup. Waste not want not….

But thank you for reminding me to stock up on mini packs of Smarties, while hoping that there’ll be a few left for me. ?

Grandmabatty Sun 03-Oct-21 16:24:22

Where I live is predominantly retired people so I don't have anyone calling at Halloween. The only family close by are not pleasant children so I won't open my door.

Sara1954 Sun 03-Oct-21 16:34:08

Same as many of you here, we only allow the children to go to houses which are obviously participating, there is an estate in our village, and lots of houses go to an enormous effort, there are lots of families out and about, and it’s a great atmosphere.
We live on the edge of the village, and have never had truck or treaters.

Visgir1 Sun 03-Oct-21 16:35:02

GrannyGravy13

Same here if there is a pumpkin out children will knock, I have my sweets ready ?

Me too, I dress my house up for them. It's just once a year and the children are aways with a parent or 2. I did it with my children and every other year we held a party for all the children in the road in my garage, turning it into a spooky cave. All the parents pitched in, we all dressed up and played games with them.

Sara1954 Sun 03-Oct-21 16:35:53

I might add, that I always prepare for them anyway, and my husband usually manages to eat up all the chocolate to save it from going to waste.

Witzend Sun 03-Oct-21 16:36:22

Should have added, I put the mini packets in a bowl and tell them they’re allowed to take one each. TBH I don’t think I’ve ever had a child trying to take more.
I’d never leave them outside - they have to knock.,

SueDonim Sun 03-Oct-21 16:42:15

The children in our street are all grown up now, so we don’t bother anymore. I hate to waste money on sweets that get thrown away if no one comes, so we dine early and turn off the lights at that side of the house.

I’m also scared of spooky masks so don’t miss that at all!

Sarnia Sun 03-Oct-21 17:25:02

I enjoy Halloween but luckily we are a bit off the beaten track so only get neighbouring families with younger children. There are some amazing costumes amongst them. I like to see them enjoying themselves.

DiscoDancer1975 Sun 03-Oct-21 17:31:45

As Christians, we don’t celebrate Halloween. All the children round us have now grown up, but we used to offer them some sweets, and then give the parents a leaflet explaining why it’s not a good thing to do.

We always expected to find these leaflets dropped on our driveway, or somewhere...but never did. So quite encouraged by that.

Now, it’s mainly students and older residents, neither of which are bothered.

Cherrytree59 Sun 03-Oct-21 17:38:14

Pumpkin house ? here.
Eldest grandson's favourite time of the year. ? ? ?

Always have a small halloween party for grandson's .

Costumes already sorted.
Conservatory becomes haunted ?.

Whilst DGS's are out with parents trick and treating,
I shall be at home in my witches hat ?‍♂️ dishing out the treats our visiting little trick or treaters .

NfkDumpling Sun 03-Oct-21 18:14:07

I did get sweets in when the children were little and for a few years after we moved to our present house as the last family always took part. But as we got more decrepit, it takes longer for one of us to heave to the door, so we no longer put a pumpkin outside and no one calls. Around here they respect the pumpkin rule.

grannysyb Sun 03-Oct-21 18:28:53

The pumpkin rule is respected where I live as well. Its usually only small children with their parents that come round.