Am I nasty/mean

summerday

They had a right cheek knocking on any day other than Halloween in my opinion. And I don't agree with giving out money full stop, even older kids will only be offered sweets by me.

Edinburghlass_2

Interesting to read that people think "trick or treating" is either an American, Irish or English tradition :rolleyes:

msmicawber

I don't think you're mean at all - I've done the same before now. I loathe this business of children of all ages wandering around the streets bothering people and begging - I think it's appalling.

It's definitely an American custom that's gradually been adopted over here, not Irish or English. Why do we only adopt the crap things from America, I wonder...

Edinburghlass_2

Guising has been going on in Scotland and Ireland for years, long before America decided on Trick or Treating

msmicawber

I didn't know that, Edinburghlass - I lived in Ireland and have family there and never came across Guising or Trick or Treating. I remember kids in England starting to do it in the 1970s to the bafflement of many of their neighbours and had it explained to me by relatives who live in the US, which is why I'm convinced it's an American thing.

meadowcat

Definitely was happening in Belfast in the '50s. Don't know how far back it goes though.

Stompa

seven-day-weekend wrote:

I have never given anyone anything for Halloween, always told them I don't agree with it

I agree entirely, it's a crass idea in the first place. I simply don't answer the door (carol singers get the same treatment later in the year).

siren13577

Hi there,
Trick or treat was different, people wore masks to disguise themselves from the dead that walked the earth and the whole giving sweets away stems from beggars coming to the door and you would give them soul cakes, bread make with currants. The way it is today is more American, I don't think you can have American tv over here and not have some traditions seep over into our culture. It's like carving pumpkins used to be carving turnips (which we used to do as kids) from Jack o'Lantern who trick the devil of his soul so when he finally shuffled off neither God or the Devil would have him, the devil took pity on him and gave him a lighted coal to put in his turnip and he was to wander the earth forever, that is a Irish legend. But now we use a pumpkin. Duck apple is about fertility too and marriage but we don't think about that anymore either, I think this is what happens to traditions, they do change over the years.
I never asked for money at Halloween, we never went trick or treating as children but no one has ever been to my house and asked for money. Besides if you're not a beggar you don't need to go to anyone's house

Lillibet wrote:

Oh please, when will people learn that Hallowe'en & trick or treating isn't American, it's a Christian ENGLISH custom dating from the middle ages when the poor would ask for Souls cakes on All Souls day (Hallowe'en is a Pagan celebration which the early Christians hi-jacked to try & convert Pagans to Christianity) & would say a prayer for the giver in return, the dressing up relates to it being All Souls day & spirits supposedly rising from the dead. The Irish took it to the USA in the Victorian era. Hardly suprising that our kids don't do it properly & ask for money when the adults don't know our own countries history!!!! Try asking some of the trick or treaters why they are doing it, some of them learn it at school (not sure what age group but I'd say late primary school age) as you may learn something!

Sorry, rant over:o

Savvy_Sue

siren13577 wrote:

But now we use a pumpkin.

Much easier to carve a pumpkin than a turnip - although pumpkins aren't exactly easy at least you can scoop the middle out!

Not that I ever do either. Or answer the door to T&Ters. And last year, a few days AFTER Hallowe'en, some bright spark padlocked our front gate shut! It's a tall gate in a brick archway, our drive also has tall gates, so the only way in was to climb over the driveway gates and then cut the padlock off! :mad:

toadhall

i dont let the children go out, never have, dont answer the door and the local kids have finally learnt not to knock.