Ash UK/US

Do you celebrate/recognise it?

As a kid in the UK I was NEVER allowed to go door to door, my dad called it organised begging. As I got older I would not answer the door to them either.

I never bothered with it in the US until I had kids. Last year I bought chocolate for any callers and this year I have bought some pumpkin path lights and a couple of other decorations for outside the house.

Funny how things change.

Ash

DaveC

As kids, we were only ever allowed to go guising to one or two close neighbours. As an adult, I used to sit in the house in the dark on Halloween, pretending to be out when the guisers came. Like you say, having kids changes all that. I get really into it now. Mrs DaveC has already (2 months ago) picked out the costumes for the kids.

There still is the organised begging element, viz, the teenagers with no costumes and a plastic bag. But they only get one piece of candy, the little kids with the costumes get the most.

It's kind of OT, but having kids is great for meeting the neighbours too. We've spent more time with the people in our street in the last 2 summer months than we ever did in the previous 2 years. It'll be fun to have their kids coming round trick or treating.

dbark

Yeah, back in the UK when I was young, never heard of trick or treating. The most we ever did was make a pumpkin lantern and put it in the window. Here, it's a different story - I put up lights, witches, even a Halloween village. Last year we had spooky Halloween sounds/music that we downloaded, and would switch on when the doorbell went. Hubby thought it was hilarious to scare the little kids with creaking, ghostly sounds etc. whilst I was at the door with the bucket of sweets, admiring their costumes. I think it's a lot more fun this way!

Jerseygirl

We never get callers on Halloween....so I have to eat all that nasty candy myself.

britvic

To be honest after last year I dont want them knocking on my door, Why !!! because never got a thankyou off the little sods, well may be one or two, but when you let them help there self's there manners have gone right out of the window If Hubs gets home in time he will take little man out but I really cant be asked.

TruBrit

we never celebrated it when i was at home but then when we had a little 'un of our own i started getting in the sweets. we have some little 'uns around and about and i always have sweets in just incase they come trick and treating.....i like a bit of fun hence my avatar however it's when it gets out of hand that it all turns nasty.

DollyLlama

living in Utah it costs a fortune to get the candy for trick or treating.
as the average family has 5 kids here (bit like being surrounded by the Osmonds) it is a never ending stream of kids at your door all night.....
I love seeing the smaller kids in their little outfits, but the older kids with the pillowcases in hands I could do without!

peacelover

I buy lots of candy and then I sit outside dressed up as a witch (normal dress OK) and give it all out to the munchkins, it is great fun.
I never let my kids do it in the UK though, thought it was too much like begging!

britvic

So with you there Girl.

Chorlton

Same with me. Here, though we get SUV loads turn up and go house to house. Not really in the spirit of things, but what do I know? Half of them are a bit old for it and like you guys say, manners dont exist anymore. We get a bag of supermarket candy and when thats gone, we turn off the light. I always thought it would be fun to sneak around the streets like michael myers (not mike)...maybe one year

DollyLlama

I have even been asked by parents with little ones "do you have halloween in the UK"?

dan_alford

We used to do it when we were kids in the uk. The thing is that nowadays the paranoia pedlers that are the local news stations tell you not to eat the candy you get from houses, so all of that candy you give out gets chucked in the bin.

britvic

Do you say yes we do but not quite so over rated

DollyLlama

Yes, i did. they act as if they invented it!

DollyLlama

When we lived in Illinois the local hospital used to let kids x-ray their candy to check that there were no blades in them...... also the kids around here only take wrapped candy.