Halloween

Happy Daze · Senior Member

Halloween

Cloak · Guru

Hahaha Annie here Judie and I sit watching a movie with a bag full of sweets..... and not one kiddie has bothered to turn up.

So if anyone want $20.00 of sweets come on down to Warneet....

Dunmowin · Guru

For the first time in my life we have been approached by children trick or treating. We are currently house sitting, and the children from the neighbouring property (all acreage) stood at our gate, while the watch dog did his bit. We went and investigated to find four little girls dressed in black ranging from about 15 to 2 (with a bottle) Caught totally unprepared, all I could give them were some muesli bars. (Had I thought about it a bit more, I could have raided my geocache swaps bag....have lots of little girlie things in there)

Question raised, who does the trick - if we don't do or have the treat. Do we trick them, or do they trick us?

Jude and I - enjoy your sweeties.

AusGabby · Member

We've never had trick or treaters turn up on our door - maybe not many young ones in the neighbourhood or just not that into it up this way, except of course for the shops who treat it as yet another marketing tool. I know there were great specials on boxes of 'favourites' last year after halloween at one local woolies.

As for the manners of your visitors Happy Daze unfortunately lack of respect for others property/feelings is becoming more common - but they've obviously never been taught same judging by the lack of reaction from the adult.

GaryKelly · Guru

I asked Woolies yesterday if they cans of child repellent on special. Nah, just kiddin. But two little boys turned up at my door for a trick or treat and I told them politely that I wasn't into Halloween, and apologized. So they accepted it, and said "that's alright" and left without incident.

But I must say I don't like the idea of kids turning up at the front door expecting a treat or money. Halloween is not traditionally celebrated in this country and I don't see any reason why it should be. As AusGabby says, it's just another marketing tool for retailers.

shekon · Guru

The only time I have had kids knocking at my door is if I have nothing to give them. Bought some lollies yesterday, no kids, so I figure that they act as a natural repellant.
Don't particularly believe in it either but the kids have fun. Commercialism at its best just Christmas, Easter and other days we recognise. It is a shame but that is life.

Happy Daze · Senior Member

Have to agree with you Gary. Cheers, Annie

kandagal · Guru

Late yesterday afternoon a lady turned up at our door & asked us would we mind giving out treats when the kids came later. She had prepared the treats in little bags & gave them to us. When the kids came we just handed them out. Just as well she provided the treats as I didn't have much here. Just a little bit of chocky in the fridge. Glad this wasn't on the calendar here when my kids were small.

TAJ · Senior Member

i think if you put a pumpkin or something that advertisers the event out the front

they are only suppose to be the houses to call on

taj

chopit · Senior Member

We're in a showgrounds at the moment so no trick-or-treaters.
When we were in a house last year we had a few littlies accompanied by adulst come a-knocking.
We gave apples. All were appreciative & polite.
Then after 9pm the teens roamed the streets yelling and yahooing. An excuse to be out, upsetting the neighbourhood dogs.

The true celtic tradition calls for...
Kids knock on door. Ask for treats. Kids perform a"trick" ( little dance or song or suchlike). Are given something sweet as a treat for their performance.
The trend these days seems to be standover tactics. "Give us treats or we'll "trick" you. ( Throw insults or eggs.)
Just another tradition adulterated & commercialised.
Shame about that.

Grandad5 · Senior Member

I admit this is one tradition that bothers me seeing it arrive here.
I hold great memories of Halloween in Canada in the 50's, but I've seen how it can go real bad.
Of all the things that North America may have to offer that we can use here, Halloween sure as H@#L isn't one of them.

Jim

Explorer · Guru

Hi,

I had never been that fussed on Halloween but have over the last few years have become more involved. Now I look forward to putting a few webs and "scary" things up. To me the interaction & fun with the neighbour hood kids is great, it is a wonderful opportunity to meet the local kids even if only briefly. Sure it costs a few dollars & is a commercial exercise but it is also a bit of fun.

Mike.

Gerty Dancer · Guru

Several bunches of neighbourhood kids came round, well-behaved, good fun. One boy had broken a leg so his mates were pushing him round on a wheel-chair, great to see.
Last year we were unprepared so I just said sorry kids, and they all left without any problems, but this year we enjoyed seeing them all dressed up, gave an extra lolly for the scariest/ugliest/whatever.

We had only 2 lollies left, so one each, how perfect is that!

Tumeke4u · Member

Hi there Everyone, We had our first Halloween in town and I thought I was fully prepared with 60 lolly, well silly me, we live in an area with a lots of American personal from the space base and we got slammed with Goblins Witches Ghosts robots etc, we didn't last long but it was fun. No nasty Kids on our block thank goodness.

Mousey · Senior Member

just put your bin in driveway with NO HALLAWEEN THANKS worked for us

johnq · Guru

Some years ago I had some experience from the 'other side', as a parent co-opted to monitor some children. It was a blended suburb with a scattering of university students, academics, professionals and with a sizeable number of itinerants (apart from the students and academics).

A suggestion I would make to the GN grandparents is to tip off their younger relatives, the mums and dads, that is a far better idea to host a 'scary' party instead, or get dressed up and have an hour or two at Maccas. Door to door is simply not a good idea in many suburbs. Been that way for a while and it is not getting any better.

elliemike · Guru

Another ancient Northern European Festival taken over by the commercial Sector to make lots of $$$$$$$$$$.

US$ 2.5 Billion is expected in Candy (Lolly) sales for Halloween in North America this year. This is at a time we in the Western World have chronic obesity problems ???????

No wonder they (the retail sector) push for more Trick or Treat type celebrations in NZ, Australia, and the UK ! where it has not traditionally been celebrated that way (it was Duck Apple Night where I came from) and family stories of our old rellies were related. We ducked and bobbed the apples, and cooked Chestnuts around the lounge fire. If we had enough sugar Toffee Apples were the treat. (It was still rationed up to 1953 in the UK) It was a looked forward to family celebration with fun and laughs for us all.

In France they go and wash clean the family graves tidy up, weed, etc.

What did you do on your Halloween as a kid.

QUOTE
Samhain: The origin of Halloween can be traced to this ancient pagan festival celebrated by Celtic people over 2,000 years ago, states The World Book Encyclopedia. The Celts believed that the dead could walk among the living at this time.

-- Edited by elliemike on Sunday 2nd of November 2014 10:39:32 AM

-- Edited by elliemike on Sunday 2nd of November 2014 10:41:23 AM

Knowledge speaks, but wisdom listens.