Trick or treat? Argh, not again!

Zero trick or treaters for me this year - RESULT!!!

Now I have three bags of lollies to eat myself.

I hold no truck with it never have, we didn't as kids, Nov 5th was always the important date in the calender for us as kids, and the same for my kids who also hold no truck with it.
Though it maybe some Pagan ritual that went across the pond and then transposed itself into our culture in it's present barstardised version, I consider a form of begging and hopefully in view of the current Sa vile scare at the moment the more sensible parents will either not let their kids out or at least accompany them.
Either way they'll get nothing from me, sorry to poo on your parade kids.
Not sorry at all had me fingers crossed when I wrote that!

In Scotland 50 years ago when I was a child Halloween was a big event, though why most people in England think it came from the USA, I don't know. It was called 'going guising'. Don't know if it was spelled that way and maybe comes from the word 'disguising'. The costumes had to be really good to get anything too. Anyway it was not demanding money with menaces. We were all expected to perform some sort of party piece, eg singing, reciting or dancing. This is still how it is today, which I think is a much nicer tradition. You only get rewarded if you put on a good show. Think that is a tradition that the English should adopt too. It makes it much more fun. Happy Halloween. Lang may yer lum reek. (A charming Scottish term meaning. 'Good health'.)

I never let mine go trick or treating - although admittedly it wasn't as common then - as I agree with bryangbsn that it is basically demanding money or good(ies) with menaces. I do give out sweets to children that come, but there aren't that many.

However, I still feel that rather than standing at the end of my drive looking at me as if I were a child molester (for heaven's sake, I didn't ASK for your kids to knock at my door), parents should have some sort of policy where their children only knock at doors of people they know or at least on doors of houses which have some sort of halloween decorations up to show that they are entering into the spirit of things. Either way in that case it wouldn't be my house.

My grown up sons have been very tempted to answer the door in very scary costumes but of course I have forbidden this in case some of the trick or treaters are very young and impressionable - but I can't help having a sneaking sympathy with their view that - "Well if they and their parents think they are old enough to go out threatening tricks unless they get treats, they should be prepared for a bit of a scare."

Trick or treat - penny for the guy - carol singing are all a pain! Last year in late November, I opened the door to two tone-deaf, pimply adolescents who commenced an appalling rendition of "We Wish You a Merry Christmas" out of tune and out of sync. Managing to keep a straight face, I waited until they eventually fizzled out with "....and a happy new year!" and said "if you can sing me a carol, I'll give you some money." They couldn't and went off muttering to each other, without any!

Trick or Treat is another money spin it has nothing to do with this Country, the shops are full of it, ban it, the elderly are frightened as it is to open their door without opening their door to someone wanting to scare them.

There are also some very spiteful people who answer the door. When my kids were very young 4 & 5 they got together with school friends and other parents and we all ventured out into the cold for 'Trick or Treat' fun. All the kids were excited as for some it was the first time for them, unfortunatly also the last. We went to the next road and knocked on the first door, two teenage girls opened the door and were confronted by the kids with the parents standing in the background. The kids, all smiles, facepaint and buckets at the ready called out, 'Trick or Treat' to which the two teenage girls shouted back 'Trick.' The kids did not know what to do as they were expecting some sweets to put in their buckets. The two teenage girls said, "hold on a moment" and closed the door. The kids waited a minute after which the door opened again. The two teenage girls threw a packet of salt at the kids which got in there eyes and mouths and started screaming with fear. The two teenage girls started shouting "Jesus this and Jesus that" and slammed the door chatching one of the kids fingers who was holding on as he could not see because of the salt in his eyes. We, (the parents) rushed towards our kids who were screaming and crying to recue them. We had to call an ambulance and the police who did NOTHING. The little boy who had his hand caught still bears the scars from the stitches and had a fear of Halloween for many years.

I later found out that the two West Indian teenage girls had been brought up by deeply religious parents via the church.

I personally have not issue with treat or treating but wish that it was embraced more and the American tradition of only approaching house with light on / pumpkin displayed was followed to allow those who wish not to be disturbed the choice.
Do love the writers idea of a little street party to bring the community together, we could do with focusing on this more these days.

No Pip, you are not a bore for resisting the Trick or Treat rip off. The whole practice has no place in English or Welsh culture, it's a preactice taken by the Scots and Irish (Roman Catholics mainly) to the USA from where it has spread back to Europe via the ghouls of TV and film. Carry on resisting.

I wonder if the kids go trick-or-treating anywhere near Garry Glitter's gaff.