General Chat

nearly time for the trick or treaters to be out in force knocking on the doors again.me for one have no problem with it.me and my neighbour take our daughters only locally to show off their costumes which they have so lovingly made .as we know the area we know where the elderly residents live and don't knock on their doors as we know it could frighten them.what do you think?is it harmless or should it be bannedxxxx(:

i think it's harmless but i think things could change if it gets out of hand like it can do.the elderly are the most vunerable and it must be terrifying when someone is banging in your windows because you will not open the doorxxxxx(:

I dont remember doing it when I was a child and it wasn't done when my daughter was young, so I'm not sure that it is traditional or is it just that some areas did and not others. One girl that used to live near me, said openly she wanted money not sweets, she said the previous year she had made £50, (took that with a pinch of salt) so I replied in that case you dont need my money then. June

maybe i'm in the wrong job then.all that money for just an hour of walking.better get me costume ready then!!!!xxxx(:

The little ones are so sweet, their parents are in the background keeping a watchful eye on them, I usually have a small bucket with sweets in, they get so excited choosing what they want. JUne xx

yes we seem to follow in the americans ways and beliefs in alot of things.one just recently!!!!!xxxx(:

I only answer the door up till 7, then I settle down to watch the soaps. I'm not keen when the teenagers come round with masks on, so I put the lights out at the front. June xx

your not a killjoy linda.that's your opinion and sometimes i think the money side is classed as a form of begging but if it's sweets and little toys i feel there is no harm in itxxxxxxx(:

I agree Linda, it is a form of begging, especially when they are demanding money. When they are teenagers with masks on, it can be quite scary. A couple of years ago, these teenagers came and I must have looked worried because one of them lifted his mask and said " its alright its David" thats my grandson's friend. June xx

I think its ok and as Lisa said, just knock on peoples doors that you know & try to avoid elderly people. we may go out this year & do it cos i bought a bagfull of halloween stuff for pennies in a sale in wilco last year. However I think that kids should have a cut off time eg 8 oclock, as most little uns are in bed at this time and there is nothing worse than the constant ringing of the doorbell. It will be dark earlier then so that shouldnt be a problem. I normally tape a notice at this time over my doorbell no trick or treat after 8pm (child in bed) this normally works. I also NEVER give money. I buy several bags of value wrapped sweets or lollypops & give each child one of these. As for elderly peeps being scared, my neighbour switches off her bell & never answers it on halloween night. one year they had eggs thrown at the window all because they diddnt open the door...... the window cleaner had only done them that week. so yes its ok to go trick or treating , but respect other people as you do so. Elaine x

Paul, I dont think I'll be around to hear your comments in 40 years time, but I think you will very likely have changed your opinion then. June xx

i think we have all got a right to our views and to respect themxxxxx(:

I don't mind little children coming to the house all dressed up but I haven't let my son do it. If I do in future it will just be at our neighbours' houses and nowhere else. I'm not keen on some of the teenagers coming round and I always tell them to lift their masks so I can see their faces. I made the mistake once of giving money a few years ago as I had no sweets in and was inundated with kids. I turn the lights out at 7.30 pm and won't answer the door after that. At our last house we had trouble with teenagers and they would bang on the door until midnight which was frightening. Elfx

It should be banned. The little darlings should have better things to do than causing upset and worry!! Its not OUR tradition! It should be banned along with the "school run". Mr Grumps (with good reason)

We do get quite a few, and I always keep some sweets handy, but I think by some of the looks you receive, that they were expecting the crown jewels!. Having said that, though some of the little ones do look cute all done up with face paint!. Other people that give nothing have beebn known to have the odd box of eggs up the window, splat!..

Hi all I think its ok to go to the houses of people you (or your children) know. Last year we had our neighbours kids which was fine and also one little boy who appeared to be all on his own. He would have been about five years old. After a minute or two of asking him what his costume was etc, I noticed his father (?) hovering across the street making sure that we didn't do anything to his child. I personally would never send my kids to strangers' doors to beg for money/sweets. If its necessary to to watch so that nothing bad happens to them then don't send them to people they don't know. What happened to teaching them NOT to talk to or accept sweets from strangers. I hate to think what his father would have done if we had invited the little boy into the house! When mine are old enough, I will invite their friends round for a spooky party on the night. Lynne

Hi all, When I was young many many years ago there wasn't "trick or treat", but we always went to halloween party's, always hollowed out a large swede, yes I said swede, god only knows how we did it can't even cut one up for sunday lunch now, and carved a face in it, and lit it with a candle, and hung it in the garden, had apple bobbing and all that, my own kids went trick or treating when they were young, my oldest has just gone 30, but only to the folk in the flats where we used to live, and Never Never threw eggs or flour, or gave abuse when they came away from a front door empty handed. I myself always make up at least 30 goody bags to give away, and never give anything before the night, I always send them away with a flea in there ear if they start calling a week before hand as I don't think it's right, one night is enough. Belle.

That is my Birthday, so I usualy go up my mums to get my pressies, then dress up my two little ones. My mum has lived in the same house for 43 years so she calls to a few neighbours in the afternoon and asks them if they would mind them knocking later. So we usualy knock on a few doors and they are ready cause they knew they were coming. Last year the dear little lady next door had a bag with a banana apple chocolate bar and £1. They were absolutely made up with that. Cause I was out last year from my own house obliously someone had knocked and had no answer so they through eggs all over the front windows.

I don't do guising. I totally agree with Linda. Lucia

I am totally against it. It's an imported foreign custom. It's a form of intimidation/blackmail/demanding with menaces.