Halloween!

haras_nosirrah

I took my son out last night for the first time and he really enjoyed it. We were out about 90 mins and he walked the whole way - he is nearly 3. Around here we have a rule that if you are happy for kids to trick or treat you put lit pumpkin somewhere visible. No pumpkin means you won't be bothered.

I was surprised at how much effort some houses went to. One house had created a haunted garden which we avoided - mainly because of the screaming and I saw one small child come out crying. That will be one to go to when he is older

There were probably about a dozen houses we visited that had really gone to town with decorations and costumes - most just had a box of
Sweets for the kids.

Good fun and left the husband at home handing out sweets to the ones that knocked on our door. Will do it again next year

But if you don't want to be bothered then find out what the custom is in your area - as I say ours is a lit pumpkin means come and knock. I heard groups of kids saying - look there is a pumpkin over there - so they were abiding by the rules which was nice to see.

peachyprice

I had two knocks all evening. Seemed a bit of a non-event this year here. Perhaps because it was school holidays so there was no build up to it amongst school friends?

duchy

Lots of knocks during Strictly -A lot fewer during Dr Who.

We don't have young kids and don't know any of the families with young kids around here so it was quite annoying as most people weren't knocking reasonably but really hammering at the knocker (we didn't decorate).

There were also some out Friday night.....not sure why as to me it should be one night not two.

fuzzyduck22

I never understand when people comment that celebrating Halloween here in the UK is a new thing. I went trick or treating (and called it that then too) as a kid back in the 80s and have always dressed up or gone to a party. It's certainly more popular now, I notice people spending a LOT of money and lots of beauticians offering hair/make up packages for halloween but its certainly not new to the UK.

I enjoy Halloween but just see it as a bit of fun. This year I say in with sweeties and horror films, perfect .

duchy

The eighties is the earliest I remember it for going door to door- before then where I lived you didn't see it at all although we'd do apple bobbing and the flour stuff at parties.
It seems to have replaced Penny for the Guy so just one tradition fell out of favour and another increased. Just as a guy could be anything from a basic homemade effort to incredibly expensive and complex so can Halloween costumes. Some kids were only allowed to ask for penny for the guy from neighbours they knew- others would target entire towns or shopping areas ......just like some parents only allow their kids to T or T neighbours whilst others think any front door is fair game.

lisa110rry

haras_nosirrah wrote: »

I took my son out last night for the first time and he really enjoyed it. We were out about 90 mins and he walked the whole way - he is nearly 3. Around here we have a rule that if you are happy for kids to trick or treat you put lit pumpkin somewhere visible. No pumpkin means you won't be bothered.

I was surprised at how much effort some houses went to. One house had created a haunted garden which we avoided - mainly because of the screaming and I saw one small child come out crying. That will be one to go to when he is older

There were probably about a dozen houses we visited that had really gone to town with decorations and costumes - most just had a box of
Sweets for the kids.

Good fun and left the husband at home handing out sweets to the ones that knocked on our door. Will do it again next year

But if you don't want to be bothered then find out what the custom is in your area - as I say ours is a lit pumpkin means come and knock. I heard groups of kids saying - look there is a pumpkin over there - so they were abiding by the rules which was nice to see.

A friend's 9 year old told her about the 'visible pumpkin' test and she told me a few days ago. So for the first time we had a pumpkin in the front garden. We also had tea lights on the window ledges leading to the side door, which is the one we use (the front porch is full of demijohns of sloe gin). We had more visitors this time I'm pleased to say.

Opened the (suitably squeaky) door and when they said trick or treat I said I'd like a treat please, before handing them the treat bowl to help themselves. After each child had politely taken one, I said 'that's not enough, take two or three'. Lovely kids, it was a really pleasant evening.

Ps: very MSE treats, got three bags of suitably individually wrapped sweets for 89p each.

Gloomendoom

We had two knocks that we are aware of, but whomever knocked must assumed that everybody lives in a studio flat. By the time Mrs G had got from the kitchen to the front door, there was nobody there.

Mrs G was a bit disappointed as she had specially made some chocolate chip cookies to hand out.

onlyroz

Well we've just got back from Orlando. The Disney halloween event was a bit rubbish (well it was tipping it down with rain) but the Universal Studios event was really good - we only made it round 6 of the 9 haunted houses, even with an "Express Pass" that let us jump all the queues. Having people leap out at you with a chainsaw while you were trying to read the map was a little disconcerting, but still good fun.

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

Where have all the Halloween things gone? They were still in the supermarkets at full price on Sunday, but they've been swept away and replaced with Christmas tat - there isn't a single pumpkin to be seen anywhere (and I really fancied making pumpkin soup). I do hope that they weren't all binned, as I did see lots of big blue bin bags full of the things placed near bins outside some of the smaller Express type shops on Saturday evening.