Trick or treating?

[Mikey]

Now can I have a green Welsh cake please

Haven't made any yet, been manic at work and the next couple of days aren't going to be much better. I've been to Gatwick and Wallingford today, the latter I found to be a very pretty little town.

I'd had the teenagers call Big D, and chance their arm where we used to live, here we have hardly any trick or treaters which I feel a little sad about. I've got a massive pumpkin which I will carve tomorrow night if I'm home in time. So that any potential callers will know that we welcome them.

To all those taking part enjoy your evening and to all those abstaining, shhhhh keep the noise down.

[Bren In Pots]

However I draw the line at 14 year old boys who knocked my door with there hoods up and said trick or treat the night before last !

We had that one year, mid afternoon the lads stood at the door with their hoods up and bag of chips an peas in one hand the other out stretched expecting money. Told them to come back in 3 days time wearing a custom and they'd get sweeties just like the other kids. Never did see them again.

[darcyvuqua]

I do Halloween and always will

Annoying yes but I remember being a kid and that magical feeling when someone opens the door and gives you sweets.....

However I draw the line at 14 year old boys who knocked my door with there hoods up and said trick or treat the night before last !


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[Dorothy rouse]

This should be so easy.

People who want to be Trick-or-Treated, are supposed to put a lit pumpkin on the porch, or in a window.

No pumpkin, no knocking. Simples

And if you don't want to be part of it, just put your lights off for an hour and sit in the dark and should they knock at your door, don't answer it!

[veggiechicken]

Mikey you and your OH are lovely people, enjoy Halloween

I'll second that.
If Mikey came to my door, dressed as a ghoul, I'd know immediately that it was him so would be afraid, very afraid - then I'd offer him some sweeties - as I do to any strange man who comes to my door
Nah, whatever Mikey does, he does it with a lot of consideration for others, he knows his neighbours - so go forth and enjoy it.................



Now can I have a green Welsh cake please

[maytreefrannie]

Mikey :

I think the leaflet idea is a good one, people can then let you know (maybe by a note on the door or gate) whether they "do" Halloween or not.

My daughter (who has young children) told me that the current social practice is that if you will welcome Trick or Treaters and are prepared, put a pumpkin outdoors with a light in it, or another noticeable sign. If there's nothing of this nature showing, the kids of all ages pass the house on.

I just realised the above point (about the pumpkin) was made already by Two Sheds - sorry for repetition.

Have a good one, Mikey.

[Two_Sheds]

This should be so easy.

People who want to be Trick-or-Treated, are supposed to put a lit pumpkin on the porch, or in a window.

No pumpkin, no knocking. Simples

[FROSTYFRECKLE]

I've now read through the thread and some of the comments made me laugh out loud and some made me feel a tad sad.

VC and DR both reminded me of carving turnips/swedes but both forgot to mention the plastered up fingers!

Yes Halloween is an import but it is so much brighter than guising.

When my friends' children were small Mr F and I used to make up bags of sweeties for them. However if I lived in area where Halloween is used as an excuse for anti-social behaviour then I would not like anyone coming to my door.

Think it's time to make some pumpkin pie, enjoy your Halloween/guising evening when the time comes.

[Florence Fennel]

Mikey you and your OH are lovely people, enjoy Halloween

[Bill HH]

I dont think anyone is doubting your willingness to bring pleasure to lots of children and local residents, and in certain communities I am sure this is a force for good. But not all communities are like yours, and not all trick or treaters are young children. There are old people, single mothers etc who have great anxiety when the door knocks at night, and many of them would consider not to answer it to be rude.
It would be good if they combined Guy Faulkes night with Halloween and all those attending bonfires could wear whatever horror outfits they like, and trick and treat or scare each other, those not interested could stay at home.
It seems to me you do it very well and do consider these points but many dont.
As to your original question, telling people when you are likely to not be in, is not the best of ideas.

[Mikey]

Having read the whole thread I can't find much response to this part of your question and my response may well be unpopular with some. However, basically I'd not be too happy and find it rather rude. To me it says "I can't be bothered to speak to you in advance but I want you to go out and buy sweets for my little one". OK not as blatant as that but if you really want to call round like this then I think you should actually speak to the neighbours to find out if they mind. The note doesn't give them this option or are you expecting them to write back?

Thank you for adding your comments Alison, I didn't elaborate as much as I could have in my opening post and as such it does leave room for others to fill in the blanks even if the assumptions they make are way off the mark.

I'm not by intention a rude individual, but it would appear to be a topic that creates a certain amount of confrontation and polarised opinion.

So that we don't descend into bickering I'll clear up a couple of points for you. My OH will be accompanying the leaflet as she could without any difficulty talk for her country. The leaflet is light hearted and more of an advanced warning for some that Halloween is fast approaching.

We have a number of quite senior members in our street a few of which I know would actually be disappointed if DD didn't call on them as they love her dearly.

Every year in the run up to Chr....as, off her own back she takes time to make individual pop cakes for every member of our street, all 61 of them!! and then personally hand delivers them, an act which takes her several days to complete. She doesn't do it for reward she actually appreciates the community she lives in and is a very caring and generous individual.

I'm sure there are many more like her out there, many who will be out on Halloween enjoying a tradition as they see it, as they are only small and haven't been around long enough to know where its origins stem. Its just a fun activity to them, some of you will chose to answer your doors and some of you will pretend that you are out and sit hoping they will go away.

[Bill HH]

See normally I would totally agree with this comment, I would never normally let my daughter go knocking on a house if I didn't know the owner and advance warn them of her imminent arrival.

However last year we were behind on time and planning and as such the turnout was so poor that we visited a couple of other streets and some houses with owners as yet I hadn't met. Some of those who answered have since become very good friends, to which I would say you never know who you'll meet when you answer your door or what benefits it may bring.

Could even meet hannibal lector!

[Alison]

This year we've decided to do a leaflet to warn our neighbours that there will be some ghouls calling on them this year and what sort of time they will be out!.

How would you react to receiving such a leaflet?

Having read the whole thread I can't find much response to this part of your question and my response may well be unpopular with some. However, basically I'd not be too happy and find it rather rude. To me it says "I can't be bothered to speak to you in advance but I want you to go out and buy sweets for my little one". OK not as blatant as that but if you really want to call round like this then I think you should actually speak to the neighbours to find out if they mind. The note doesn't give them this option or are you expecting them to write back?

I don't think I had even heard of Halloween as a child in the 70s and was even when it did come on my radar it was a totally American thing rather than any tradition with which I was associated. I can see why communal events might be nice but the I very much dislike cold calling. I think I posted this previously but I know my MIL in particular finds the door bell ringing after dark (which obviously it would be at this time of year) to be quite frightening and doesn't like to answer, but then worries it's not important. I don't see why the likes of her should feel intimidated for what somebody else's entertainment. Yes, I know a couple of kids shouldn't be intimidating and they may well not be but that doesn't mean that the householder (particularly if they are vulnerable or live alone - and you might not know this if you don't know the people on whom you are calling) won't feel scared.

[julesapple]

Last year, after giving out more than 60 paper drinking cups filled with candies, we ran out. I had to disappoint a few older children who strabbaged up the driveway. They had a tangerine (with a stencilled pumpkin face on) and an apple apiece and, as they were leaving, one of them came back and offered me some of his candy from his trick or treat bag in case of any other late comers.

I wish his mother had been there - she would have been proud of the wee tyke.

[Sheneval]

A fitting likeness mind you - you obviously have very good eyesight coupled with a good imagination