halloween

I haven't seen "penny for the guy" for many many years , I suppose all the trick or treat sweets make the kids stay in scoffing them for a few days

Mine was similar..

Ankle biters - Trick or treat

Me - I'll have a treat please

Ankle biters - Er, erm (pause while this was being processed, followed by complete bafflement)

..and they went away. I count that as a win.

we left a bowl of candy on the front steps (as we have done the last few years) with 2 lit pumpkins. We get back and the bowl still has most of the candy in it.

(not all places are bad..)

You miserable lot!

Had the usual halloween mass visit from the local kids all dressed up in the most scary costumes and accompanied by an adult. Bought them off, as usual, by handing out sweeties from a box bought in readiness for the occasion. They enjoyed it, we enjoyed it - where is the harm in that?

Norman

Sorry Sam - you are excluded from "the miserable lot "- to whom Bah Humbug!

Edited By NJH on 01/11/2016 15:43:42

Well we thoroughly enjoy the whole thing, what's not to like about giving, receiving, sharing and making people happy (each in differing quantities of course) and all in the name of demonic possession? Great for kids!. I don't go trick or treating with the daughter and wife as a smack in the mouth generally tends to offend.

Where do you live, Sam ?

Foula ?      

Edited By Daniel on 01/11/2016 16:49:10

Heh - no. Not that remote. We live near lock and dam #6...

sam

My front door is half glass. I leave the hall light on. When they knock I just go and stand behind the door. I just stand there, I don't move and I don't say a word. Eventually they stop shouting and knocking, and walk away confused and silent. I'm known as the 'weird guy at number 21'.

Steve

Same in Canada. It got jumped on pretty quickly and surely. Good day for confectionery manufacturers who now make special Halloween candy all sized, packaged and sealed. Bad day for kids' health/obesity since no one gives fruit any more.

Nor does the "trick" in "trick or treat" have much meaning any more. Some of the older kids were getting a bit "over-creative" with their tricks at houses they didn't get a treat from (sometimes the owners were away). At least some of the razor blades and other sick activities were a twisted retaliation for those tricks. When the razor blading etc was jumped on, they jumped on the "tricks" too and those aren't generally done any more (even in the original, fairly inoffensive form).

NJH and Fizzy: +1

It's very enjoyable .... especially with the little kids who are wide-eyed with it all.

I just highlighted the 2 week old cut from a knee replacement still very scabby which seemed to frighten everyone away so I ate the sweets - result

I can't believe some of the things I've read here - they're just LITTLE KIDS!

If the worst they ever do is knock on your door once year in the hope of getting a free sweet or two out of you, I'll chalk it up as an overall success for society.

I'll concede, there are perhaps a few teenagers who should know better - but most of the callers I get I'd put at aged 10 or less.

Do we REALLY think it's "clever" to scare them, slip them LSD, put razor blades in apples, soak them with water...

Does it REALLY give you satisfaction to upset pre-school children?? What a bunch of mean-spirited miserable b*st*rds.

Good God people - were you mixed in a bucket or were you young once too? I won't see 60 again but I can still remember some of the things I got up to 50 years ago! Why not break the habits of a lifetime and try being nice to them?

Honestly, given some of the vitriolic attitudes displayed towards young children in this thread, I'm surprised it's not been deleted by the Administrators.

Rod. It's joking!

Hmmm Steven

In my book jokes are meant to be funny.........

I used to have a big black furry toy spider in a box above the front door. Solenoid. Yes it scared the kids, was it mean?

I hope not. I was planning to do get it set up for next next year!

Steve

must admit only had half dozen call all very pleasant and well mannered.

couple of teenage girls turned up after little ones had been and in costumes said trick or treat please and thank you after.

don't mind older kids if polite and at least made effort.

We had a small tot, with her Mum who said to her " Go on, say it (i.e. trick or treat) ".

The tot said "thank you" and smiled sweetly.

Daughter is 33, Gdaughter is 15. Is there a limit?

I resemble that remark. Scrooge was OK until they brainwashed him.

George

In England 'All Souls' was banned by Elizabeth I. Unfortunately Halloween survived in the Americas and it has a distinctly nasty side.

Ten years or so ago we had a near riot in the village. One yob happened to be working in the local egg-packing station and was able to supply his mates wholesale. Many houses were egged and floured. Then they set up an ambush on the main road and bombarded passing traffic.

This wasn't kids: an over-excited mob of older teenagers and young men out of control. Drink involved. Very threatening especially as it was obvious that decent lads had lost their heads. Anarchy continued for a few hours because the police were too busy to attend. In the end it just fizzled out. Fortunately without injury though there was a lot of minor damage.

The interesting thing is that there's been no trouble at all since. Many of those involved frightened themselves I think. And since the incident became infamous, it seems that parents are much more suspicious about what their off-spring are planning for Halloween.

Dave