Trick or Treating - do you agree with it? - Wedding Planning Discussion Forums

bobbly1 · 2008-10-31T11:43:52+00:00

I took my son a couple of times when he was a lot younger (just to local friends and neighbours), but now he is 10, I have said that he is too old for it, as it I feel it is not "cute" at that age and more like begging. Am I an old grump?

Beginner November 2004

Minx Sauce · 31 October, 2008 at 11:49

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Trick or Treating - do you agree with it?

No. Skanky little brats knocking on my front door all night, asking for sweets. And if I say I don't have any... "It's OK, money will do instead". Yes that's right. That's one little gem I got from a parent escorting the little darlings.

Bar humbug to it all. ?

ps I love Halloween though, just the T&T aspect I hate.

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Beginner October 2007

princess layabout · 31 October, 2008 at 11:51

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No, no, no and no. I see no call for dressing your children in cheap polyester tat then taking them begging.

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Beginner August 2005

KJX · 31 October, 2008 at 11:52

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Depends.

When we lived in a small cul de sac where everyone knew each other and most of us had smaller children, then we all chatted and agreed that we could dress up the kids and they would only knock on the agreed doors. Done like that, I don't mind.

When it is random bumfluffed scrotes in one torn binbag between the five of them hammering on your door, bellowing trick or treat (usually taking you on a guided tour of the octaves) and then thrusting their hand in your face for cash / spogs, then I have issues - and will make my views known to them.

Thankfully, we are out tonight.

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Knownowt · 31 October, 2008 at 11:55

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I'm not mad about the craze for a US-style Halloween. T&T itself though doesn't bother me- I've never encountered a T&Ter who was over about 7 and they've all been sweet. I know people tell stories about being terrorised by youths but it's never happened to me. I do wonder where people live- I live in a very rough bit of London- when in the UK- and we've only ever had delightful little children dressed as pumpkins, not hoodie-wearing thugs at all.

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The Nightmare before Lois · 31 October, 2008 at 11:56

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AAAARRRRRGGGHHHHHH. Evil, thieving, robdog trogladytes. I don't like begging. I don't like trick or treating. I think it should be banned. I am going to stop now as I have veins throbbing in my neck.

L
xx

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Beginner January 2009

Jaffa cake · 31 October, 2008 at 11:56

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I had this conversation with my H this morning, our son is a few months old and we were talking about trick or treating, H said to son "you can do that in a few years!" I said "no he can't"! Cue accusations that I was being "mean"... (allbeit hypothetically in a few years time ?)

I think it's begging. I don't mind giving sweets to them, especially the smaller ones who have made an effort, but I don't agree with it in principle unless, like kjx says, it's pre-agreed.

Last year we had some tracksuited teens just with masks on at our door. Even H said "you've got to be joking" and shut it quickly.

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Voldemort · 31 October, 2008 at 12:00

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So you're in the 'against' camp then? ?

I don't mind the littlies (say under 8s) coming but refuse to give money to teenagers. If they knock, and are polite, then I might just give them a mini bag of haribo. Surliness is not acceptable!

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The Nightmare before Lois · 31 October, 2008 at 12:00

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They are greedy, they are badly costumed, they are with their parents who ought to know better and some of the little feckers now expect MONEY. <head explodes>

L
xx

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Beginner January 2009

Jaffa cake · 31 October, 2008 at 12:01

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What do you mean performance, do you always ask for a trick then? I just open the door, admire the outfits (or not - see my post above ?) and give them a handful of sweets. Am I doing it wrong? ?

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Beginner February 2007

JK · 31 October, 2008 at 12:04

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Round here it's rather nice. I always keep some sweets in in case get any knocking. I'm not much fussed by the American-style dressing up, but whatever. No terrorising here either.

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Hecate · 31 October, 2008 at 12:05

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Nope don't agree with it but in the main because its an important festival for me and I want to get on with doing my thing in peace!

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Beginner June 2008

babycake69 · 31 October, 2008 at 12:15

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I don't really agree with it, I think it is an excuse for kids to just cause havoc. Egging cars, houses and generally just making a mess!

God I sound like a moany old cow!

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Consuela Banana Hammock · 31 October, 2008 at 12:16

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What I object to is kids arriving on our doorstep up to a WEEK early and asking for money! Actually, that's not true, I object to it full stop. I just don't think the kids are interested in sweets - they want cash and I'm sorry but for what? Putting on a dustbin liner or a mask you got in the Poundland shop?

I don't answer the door on Halloween. End of.

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Beginner November 2009

shionaf · 31 October, 2008 at 12:17

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Im in Scotland and we always used to have to be properly dressed up our party piece ready whenever we went guising - a wee song or peom of fews jokes ( had to be more than one lame one). Mind you when i was young and when my son was of that age - we only went around neighbours/friends houses and got a selection of sweets ans small amount of cash. Having just moved into a small cul de sac with a few children i well expect knocks on the door tonight and will reward dependant on effort put in on their part.

As an aside - i recently had a few of the young girls knocking at the door for sponsor money for a walk they were doing for local kids charity - all legit - and after the 3rd one knocked i did moan slightly - only to be advised by a 7 year old that " thats the problem you have when you move into a place full of kids and know them !!!"

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Beginner November 2005

Skittalie · 31 October, 2008 at 12:24

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We’ve only ever had a couple and they were girls aged 13-16ish they had made a lot of effort though with their witchy costumes, don’t mind giving them chocolates but money is out of the question ever!

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Lillythepink · 31 October, 2008 at 12:24

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I will not be letting Evie or Scarlett do it. I see no reason to turn my kids into panhandlers one day a year.

I usually have some sweets for little littleys whose parents are with them. I got stuck talking to 2 little boys on the doorstep last year for about 15 minutes, I was freezing.

We're away tonight, so it won't be happening. I may come home to find the front windows full of dried egg though ☹️

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Bells · 31 October, 2008 at 12:25

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I won't answer the door either, last year was a nightmare, we had just come home from hospital with a new born and it drove me mad!

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Knownowt · 31 October, 2008 at 12:25

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Actually, the more I think about it, the more I like it. It's one of the few occasions when one gets a real sense of community, I think, at least in cities. People can live just round the corner and yet you never meet them. I like the openness and inclusiveness of it. Why shouldn't there be an event where the adults of a community give the children sweets etc, much nicer than everyone staying behind closed doors and saying, "if someone I don't know asks anything of me, they're beggars/thieves/skanky little brats". God forbid people should feel a connection to their community and want to help children have fun- let's all just look after ourselves.

Obviously this doesn't justify teenagers misbehaving or making people feel intimidated- that's wrong, of course- but I do think that people who object on principle are a bit joyless.

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Beginner January 2009

Jaffa cake · 31 October, 2008 at 12:30

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I see your point KN, but I object to the principle because there are people that don't like it. As I said in my earlier post - I give them sweets, I like looking at some of the costumes - I just won't be letting my child do it because I know there are people who don't like it but may feel pressured into giving money if they have no sweets in the house, for example. I don't think that makes me joyless!

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Beginner May 2003

Cazzyg · 31 October, 2008 at 12:33

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As a couple of other have said, in Scotland it's not a new thing and the children get dressed up to go out 'guising', which involves some sort of poem, joke, song etc for a some sweets We did it when we were children and I quite like it. It's very different in spirit to trick or treating.

I have noticed a recent tend for older children (11/12 year olds) to turn up with a mask on angling for cash, which isn't quite so cute.

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Beginner September 2008

memedoaky · 31 October, 2008 at 12:33

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It was something I was never allowed to do as a child, my mum saw it as some form of begging!

It really wasn't the done thing in my part of Scotland, but since moving to Northern Ireland I've noticed it seems to be far more common here, particulary as the children start soming round a week early!

Money is a big no no, I only answer the door on the actual day and only give sweets.

Luv Victoria

xx

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whitetiger · 31 October, 2008 at 12:40

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Thanks for the reminder to take my door bell out tonight ?

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July · 31 October, 2008 at 12:43

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I'm in Scotland too and we went guising as kids, there was usually a few of us. we either went with a parent or an older kid in the street but we only went to the neighbours that we knew and it was mostly the parents of everyone that went out. We had to sing a song, tell a joke or something. We never went to strangers doors. And I never got money, it was either a bag of tablet, monkey nuts, toffee apple, apples and oranges or we were allowed to pick things from the sweets they had laid out.

My favourite outfit was Little bo beep, that my dad helped me make with paper mache for my hat and attached onto one of my mums long summer skirts and I had my mums knitting wicker basket covered with paper mache flowers. ?

I never answer the door at halloween.

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Zooneycat · 31 October, 2008 at 12:55

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Where we live now, it's quite nice. It's only little kids that do it, and they have their parents with them. I bag up little bags of sweets for them.

However, a few years ago when we lived in our previous house (On a council estate), it was a different story. TT started early October, and there were very few sweet kids, but these were few and far between. On one occassion (About 10days before hallowe'en), my H answered the door to 2 18yr olds, one wearing a scream mask, the other hadn't bothered. They sounded out a chorus of a deep "trick or treat", to which my H replied he had nothing as it wasn't Hallowe'en. They then asked for beer or fags, again my H replied he had none. "Cash?" was the next response. Again, no... Not to leave empty handed, they spied a half empty (or full) bottle of Coke on the lounge table. "We'll have that, then!" pointing to the bottle on the table. My H was so astounded, he handed it over.

The next year, I encountered some TT's at the door. Again, early Oct (I know, as we were about to move house, and we moved on 19th Oct). They must have watched my H leave the house, and 2 mins later, they came shuffling up the pathway. I refused to answer the door as it wasn't even hallowe'en. So, as they could see me sitting in the lounge (slight gap in curtains, and they were peering through the letterbox), they then started banging on the windows, kicking the (glass) front door, and screaming through the letterbox "give us your f**king money, you f**king wh*re." The kids were about 10 - 12yrs old. I was 21, and cacked myself. I'm sure their parents are so proud.

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Super October 2007

Zooropa · 31 October, 2008 at 12:58

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So far we haven't had any which is a relief and we are going to a friends tonight for a party so they can deal with them. I don't like it becuase I'm not going to get sweets in just for kids at the door and when I tell them no I worry they might do something to our car as they walk away.

Last night I saw 4 cute kids walking along in their outfits and a woman with them walking behind stuffing her face with sweets.

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Beginner January 2008

marmalade atkins · 31 October, 2008 at 13:08

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As usual, I agree with Knownowt.

And as for whoever it was (sorry, can't remmeber your name) who did it as a kid and had a favourite outfit etc but now doesn't answer the door? don't you see the irony in that?

I haven't ever had any rough kids terrorising me at Halloween. Even when I lived in a rougher area of Belfast.

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July · 31 October, 2008 at 13:19

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The reason I don't answer the door is because I don't know any of the children that would come to my door. All of the neighbours kids are either too young to be out (babies) or too old. As I said we only ever went to houses that we knew (mainly the children in the groups parents).

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Beginner March 2004

RachelHS · 31 October, 2008 at 13:21

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Guising sounds quite sweet.

I was never allowed to go trick-or-treating as a child. The first time I heard of it was when a school friend, who had lived for a year in America, came round my house dressed as a witch, saying "Trick or Treat!" As my mum refused to hand any treats over, on principle, my friend threw a handful of scraps of paper over us, each with 'Trick!' written on it, which is a fairly harmless trick, being a lot easier to clean up than, say, eggs or flour. My mum, however, was outraged, and the next day went to complain to my friend's mum. I was mortified.

My mum saw trick-or-treating as begging with menaces. "Give us a treat or we'll play a trick on you!" Whereas I think the original tradition was closer to guising, where the trick-or-treaters perform a trick to get their treat.

We get a couple of groups coming round, but we tend to miss the really cute little ones in their costumes as we're home from work too late. We tend to get the slightly older ones with rubbish costumes, who look disgusted when you give them a fun-size Mars bar and say "Haven't you got any money?". One of them last year had one of those crocodile oven gloves on his head as his costume ?

I don't like going out on Hallowe'en because some of the little scrotes don't seem to understand that if you don't answer the door it's because you're not actually in the house. We came back from the pub one year to find my husband's car covered in eggs!

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Soda Stream · 31 October, 2008 at 13:29

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I don't mind Hallowe'en at all. In fact, the SS house is a bit ? on years that we don't get a knock on the door. The kids/parents make a real effort to dress up and it all in good spirits. The only negative is that people don't do a party piece in these parts - I can remember the older kids doing this when I was living in Scotland and was very impressed.

However, if I had little oiks dressed in a bin bag, battering my door, begging for dosh and then coveringthe cat/windows/fence/car with silly string/eggs/toilet paper/cabbage/wee, I'd start to hate Hallowe'en

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Hoobygroovy · 31 October, 2008 at 13:31

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I go out every year to avoid it. [insert Hallowe'en equivalent of Bah Humbug here] I'm not into the idea of random children knocking on my door, thank you. Well, any children really but that's another story. ? If it's pre-arranged, fine, or if you can see that a house is decorated for Hallowe'en but just doing the rounds of the entire neighbourhood is not acceptable, imo.

We had Hallowe'en parties at home as children and we'd dress up and play scary games with friends and Mum would put on a fantastic buffet. We'd help to make cakes with gruesomely-coloured icing and other horrid-looking delicacies. There would be a prize for the best costume, all of which were homemade and with face paints, no masks. We'd decorate the house with skeletons, cobwebs, dimmed lighting, a tape of scary wailing sounds playing etc. As with Christmas, I don't like the commercial side of it now. Half the fun back then was the weeks spent getting your costume ready. Now you just nip down to Asda and pick up a ready-made polyester witch's garb. Not the same.

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Beginner September 2004

duggo · 31 October, 2008 at 13:41

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I used to do guising as well (must be a Scottish thing)

<sings> Guy Fawkes is coming, the squeebs* are coming to, please put a penny in the old mans shoe. If you haven't got a penny, a ha'penny will do. If you haven't got a ha'penny, then god bless you. <sings>

*Fireworks

I always took my turnip lantern complete with candle (pumpkins were way too posh, and not available generally in Hawick!)

As I did it as a kid, I now feel obliged and do have sweets for tonight - I tend not to answer after about 7.00 though when it comes to the bigger kids.

Lois - I think word for word you said the same last year?