Trick or Treat?

[dexterdoglancashire]

I know that this is now a common custom in this country. However, are you "for" or "against"?
We live in a small cul de sac with only 4 children who live here. However, come tomorrow night there will be numerous various children of varying ages, knocking on the door, (winding Dexter up) saying "trick or treat" or asking for money.
I'm afraid I don't have any patience anymore. I think it's a form of begging. If you don't given them money and offer them sweets they pull their faces.
Afraid this year Im just going to let Dexter bark his bark and ignore the knocking.
What do you think about Trick or Treat night?

PS Yes, before you say it I AM a grumpy old woman!

[pigletwillie]

It is a horrid American import. We are forced to batten down and close the curtains and make like we are out.

Fun it is not, its crass, terrifies our elderly neighbours and has very sinister undertones.

[Brengirl]

My grandaughter (Windows Live) asked me today if I had anything planned for Halloween. "Apart from locking the door and turning the lights out" nothing much I replied.

[mrswadders]

i'm with you - hate it....
batten down the hatches and ignore the door.
Don't know if my kids(now 15 and 18) feel deprived but never let them do it. Even turned down a night out tomorrow because its a halloween fancy dress - can't abide this time of year closely followed by loud bangs for fireworks up til christmas and beyond.

Grumpy old woman...........................and proud of it!!!

[Florence Fennel]

I can't say I wholeheartedly agree with it (it came from the USA didn't it?), but then I have up to now only been visited by little children, accompanied by an adult or an older sibling. They are always in costume carrying pumpkin lanterns and they usually have a cauldren into which is deposited sweets or chocolate. I never offer money and the trick or treaters have always said thank you. Just been lucky I guess. None of my 8 grandchildren practice trick or treating as their parents class it as "begging". I didn't do it as a child, nor did my children and aptly none of my 8 grandchildren do it. I did do "Penny for the Guy" as a child, but that was to pay for fireworks and the carolling at Christmas? As a child it went into my pocket, but as I grew older it went to charity. I don't consider you a grumpy old woman, perhaps I have gone a bit soft in my senior years and generally I am only visited by children I know. If you're getting nuisances asking for money I don't blame you for not opening the door.

[jacob marley]

One of the benefits of living in the middle of nowhere is that they do not find us .
we have lived here since 1968 and the carrol singers have only found us once....jacob

[snuffer]

We live in a little village with narrow roads and, in places, no pavements. This means trick or treaters are usually accompanied by their parents and so don't cause a nuisance.

What is a shame is that youngsters don't seem to do penny for the Guy anymore. (I think they can't be bothered to put in the effort of making the Guy). It is still a form of begging but at least it is a British tradition not another American import.

[SimonA]

I have to say, I rather like it. I have kids and their friends come around trick or treating. A lot of kids live in our area and many houses are decorated. Those who don't want to get involved put a note on their door.

We only go to the doors of people we know.

[Mrs Jackson]

I don't mind if it's just little ones because it's just a little bit of fun. If we weren't going to a birthday party tomorrow night then my 2 boys (18 months and 4 years) would probably go out trick or treating. However, we'd only be going up our road and we know nearly everyone on it, nearly everyone has children under the age of 10 and most of them will be knocking on our door too. What I really don't like is groups of teenagers coming round after my boys are in bed and waking them up or random strangers who don't live on our road coming round trick or treating. When I was little I was only ever allowed to go to the doors of people we knew and definitely no elderly people.

Mrs J

[SlugLobber]

Don't tend to get them here, but my Mum does. It's not even kids dressed up. They're young teenagers begging. We used to dress in costume as kids (home-made, not the carp you see in T***o) and DO stuff for treats, but we only visited certain houses, which were other kids' parents.

I'm afraid I don't entertain it, really, but I get away with it as they don't visit here!

[Brengirl]

Trouble is that I never weant to be regarded us grumpy old git and always have a supply of 'treats'. Sometimes I feel real disappointed that nobody calls. :.-)

[Florence Fennel]

My daughter goes out every Halloween to avoid the callers. Tomorrow evening they will be in Matlock at an organised "bit of a do" so that the children can dress up as witches and they can enjoy the organised fireworks at the end. I think we should revert to celebrating "All Hallows Eve" instead of this American Trick or Treat jobby.

[kirsty b]

I quite like it!

We have a bit of an unwritten rule round here and that is, if a house has decs up, or a pumpkin in the window/garden, its ok to knock. If not, then not.
By and large everyone goes along with it. Makes for a pleasanter (?) atmosphere and I love seeing the young kids all dressed up scary-like.

[Dibblecat]

My friend has just suggested coating Swedish meatballs in toffee as a 'tricky' treat for the little darlings.

[mrswadders]

our local radio station suggested chocolate coated brussel sprouts!!!