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Hallowe'en nerves

(7 Posts)
dartmoordogsbody Tue 22-Oct-13 10:39:47

DH is in hospital and I shall be alone in our new house on Hallowe'en. After a life lived in small villages where we knew all the children, I wonder how it will be on the estate we now live in, in a small town. Our last village used to organise a free party in the Village Hall on the night for all children, 0 - 16, and everyone enjoyed it. It stopped Trick-or-Treating. Should I be prepared for callers? And how much is acceptable to give? Will a bowl of sweets to dip into be enough, or are bigger things, such as chocolate bars and packs of crisps needed? Dare I just go out for the evening, or simply not open the door? Any guidance would be welcome!

Anne58 Tue 22-Oct-13 10:44:45

We did supply sweets the first year we lived here, but due to the huge number of children we ran out by 8.30! We didn't do it again.

Here there is an unwritten rule that if your outside light and hall light are turned off, then you are not taking part. We also print off the poster (see the link on the right) and put it in the window.

glassortwo Tue 22-Oct-13 10:45:57

dart if your not happy opening the door just close your curtains and ignore the door, but if you want to encourage revellers you can get pick up bags of sweets from all the supermarkets Tesco have them reduced at the moment, Haribo/Swizzles etc are great just to throw them in a bowl for them to dip into (I only put something small in the bowl and not packets as they dont go so far) I never give money. I usually find the earlier the caller the younger they are and as the night goes on its the older/teenagers.

KatGransnet (GNHQ) Tue 22-Oct-13 10:55:29

<shuffles in> We've got our Halloween pages up if you're interested, including a survival guide and No treat or treat posters you may like to download.

Lona Tue 22-Oct-13 11:15:34

I don't answer the door although hardly any children round here. Depends on your area and how you feel.

bikergran Tue 22-Oct-13 11:45:48

We just don't answer door full stop..as the ones that were little are now strapping 12/14 yrs olds! never had any problem with this.

shysal Tue 22-Oct-13 12:21:40

I enjoy the visits by local children, who always greet me with Happy Halloween, no threats of tricks! I always make about 40 small cupcakes individually wrapped in cellophane bags. I have already made the fondant cut-out pumpkins, ghosts and witch's hats to decorate them. I also offer fun sized choc bars, satsumas and drinks.
The unwritten rule around here is that only houses with a pumpkin or outside light visible are visited. I use the lazy option of a battery powered flashing plastic pumpkin from Asda.