Any tricks-or-treats your way?

Subject: Any tricks-or-treats your way?
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 31 Oct 14 - 05:17 PM

Did you get any Trick-or-Treat callers tonight? We put one of those Cadbury's Treat-size minibar bags on the table by the front door. But no takers -- not a single solitary kiddie-size witch or ghost or zombie. Perhaps this only fairly recently imported American custom, never really part of our traditions in my generation's childhood, has had its day -- what do you think?

Guy Fawkes Night is our traditional post-Autumn·Equinox cheerer-upper: but only 5 days to go & I haven't come across any children demanding Pennies For Their Guys yet, for that matter...

Are these customs vanishing before our eyes?

≈M≈

Subject: RE: Any tricks-or-treats your way?
From: Manitas_at_home
Date: 31 Oct 14 - 05:36 PM

No trick or treaters while we were at home but when we go back we had been egged. I think the custom has had it's day in the UK at least.

Subject: RE: Any tricks-or-treats your way?
From: Stanron
Date: 31 Oct 14 - 05:39 PM

It's 10.30 pm here in the UK. Happy to say there were no callers tonight. Mind you I did spend an hour or so wearing earphones doing some audio editing so I might of missed one or two.

It's been a year or two since the last total stranger turned up toting a young un on the 31st. I said "No thank you" and closed the door.

Subject: RE: Any tricks-or-treats your way?
From: Jim Carroll
Date: 31 Oct 14 - 05:54 PM

"Perhaps this only fairly recently imported American custom, never really part of our traditions in my generation's childhood, has had its day"
It seems to have had a short life-span here in Ireland, where I'm pretty certain it was introduced from the U.S. a couple of decades ago - it now seems to have gone.
I felt rather sorry for a nice American lady neighbour in Wandsworth, just before we left England.
She was quite looking forward to the event and proudly showed us her stock of sweets and chocolates, in preparation for the visitors.
She was quite distressed the following day when she described how the little darlings has marched up the path, and had spun on their heels when she handed them sweets, saying, "What the **** this, haven't you got any money?" - bucket at birth jobs, the lot of them.
Jim Carroll

Subject: RE: Any tricks-or-treats your way?
From: Janie
Date: 31 Oct 14 - 06:06 PM

Haven't had a visit from a miniature goblin in 7 years. Two years ago I stopped buying treats and leaving the lights on. Not even the kids in the neighborhood trick-or-treat in the neighborhood. Their parents haul them off, either to big, upscale and densely packed housing developments, or fear poison, needles or razor blades, and take them to church-sponsored halloween parties with games instead.

Subject: RE: Any tricks-or-treats your way?
From: Jack Campin
Date: 31 Oct 14 - 06:28 PM

It's pretty routine here. We gave away nearly 10 pounds in 50p coins to an assortment of charming local children who had put a real effort into dressing the part, not just buying outfits from a shop. Two kids' parties for it just in this short street.

What a bunch of grumps most of the posters on this thread are. So what if it's American-influenced in its current form, it goes back a few centuries in Scotland and the American additions are fun.

Subject: RE: Any tricks-or-treats your way?
From: GUEST,Bob Schwarer
Date: 31 Oct 14 - 06:34 PM

I've had four so far. It is tending to fewer each year. I may try one more year. The city and schools have enough activities to satisfy them now I guess.

Subject: RE: Any tricks-or-treats your way?
From: Ed T
Date: 31 Oct 14 - 06:55 PM

Had about 90 kids, which is up a bit from last year. I suspect the warm local weather and Friday night presuaded a few more outside. It is about 9 pm locally, and I dont expect more to arrive.

Subject: RE: Any tricks-or-treats your way?
From: gnu
Date: 31 Oct 14 - 07:10 PM

My doorbell rang twice even though my porch light was not lit. I kept working. I recall just ten years ago when I used to welcome 120+. 20 years ago, one could not count them all. It was grand seeing the wee ones in their costumes. But, older teens and older than teens ruined it. It became a "treat grab" and many didn't even say "Trick or treat". Sigh. Fact is, I think, the over-commercialization ruined it.

We are not even "doing" Kissmeass this year. And I mean we are NOT (I hope). No big get together at all. Not even a big dinner because some just have to give presents that are useless and unwanted and most of us just cringe from the commercial bullshit of it all. Last year, one Grinch (guess who) said he was tired of taking presents to the Red Cross box. You can imagine how that went over. Someone actually saying "I have had enough of this bullshit. Kissmeass is for kids and there aren't any kids anymore." Lead balloon time. I hope.

Subject: RE: Any tricks-or-treats your way?
From: frogprince
Date: 31 Oct 14 - 07:14 PM

Our town & township schedules it from 6pm to 8pm, so it just wrapped up a few minutes ago. If I got the count exact, we had 35 kids. Lots of zombies, one Cleopatra. We had at least twice that a few years back. Just before 6 the weather was really nasty, with a mess coming down that couldn't quite decide whether it was rain or snow, and I wondered if we would have anyone, but it cleared up.

Subject: RE: Any tricks-or-treats your way?
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 31 Oct 14 - 07:40 PM

My doorbell rang at about 7.30, and it was 2 little girls on my doorstep, with a dad hovering at the gate. I said I didn't have any sweets, but would see what I could find - and gave them a tangerine each. I rarely answer the door after dark, but the girls were cute and polite, so I was pleasantly surprised.

Kitty

Subject: RE: Any tricks-or-treats your way?
From: Janie
Date: 31 Oct 14 - 08:19 PM

I miss them.

No kids anymore, but every local bar is having a costume party tonight for the grown-ups.

Song remembered from grade school, a propos of nothing particular to this thread. Just remembering childhood - my own and my son's.

Hallowee-ee-een, the witches flying high.
Have you see-ee-een their shadows in the sky.
So beware, don't you dare
even boast or a ghost to your dismay will hear you say
I don't care. Say a prayer
Or it may come and
Pull - your - hair!

Subject: RE: Any tricks-or-treats your way?
From: GUEST,#
Date: 31 Oct 14 - 08:44 PM

"Hallowee-ee-een, the witch is riding high.
Have you see-ee-een her shadow in the sky?
So beware don't you dare to even boast or a ghost
To your dismay will hear you say
That you don't care, say a prayer
Or it may come and pull your hair

There's a big, black cat a crossing in our way.
Now you've heard of that, bad luck they always say.
Weren't you scared when it stared with eyes aglow
Hear that crow?
There's a thump near the pump
Let's hurry home or a gnome
Will thump a lump upon your dome."

from

http://stitchingdream.blogspot.ca/2009_10_01_archive.html

Subject: RE: Any tricks-or-treats your way?
From: GUEST,.gargoyle
Date: 31 Oct 14 - 10:30 PM

Nobody comes by anymore. Tonight I had cans of tuna fish by the door, unopened, ready to drop. NO One !!!

Sincerely,
Gargoyle

Looking back I guess the decline every fall began the year I was given half a dozen burlap bags of English walnuts. The "trickster" would reach into the bag and politely take ONE. I would exclaim, "No take more, use two hands!" And they would, and they did. About the third urging of "more, more, please take more" the costumed bandit would be backing off the porch and soon running down the street. PERHAPS they were terrified that their bag would soon be overflowing with hard shelled walnuts rather than sweets. Soon thereafter I switched to golf pencils...the kind without an eraser...invited to take more than...the unfortunate outcome was a "diverticulitis, herneated," plastic treat bag that spewed its contents across the sidewalk. My three tins of tuna stand ready by the door, but I fear tricksters will approach...NEVER MORE.

Subject: RE: Any tricks-or-treats your way?
From: Janie
Date: 31 Oct 14 - 10:53 PM

I had completely forgotten that second verse. Thanks! Guess it its time for this witch to head for bed...after one last comment.







BOO!

Subject: RE: Any tricks-or-treats your way?
From: ChanteyLass
Date: 31 Oct 14 - 10:55 PM

Just two here, my next-door neighbors' 4 and 1-year-olds dressed as Ariel and Sebastian. Hardly any children in these condos, and I'd left a note for the parents telling them I would be home around 6. As usual, I gave each a $1 bill.

Subject: RE: Any tricks-or-treats your way?
From: LadyJean
Date: 31 Oct 14 - 11:46 PM

The weather here was wretched, wet and cold. I will be eating Milky Ways for weeks. I did get a few kids. I have a rather nice witch costume, and the kids all liked it, and they liked it when I told them I was going to turn them into frogs. This is the third year in a row we've had rotten weather for Halloween. It kind of sucks.

Subject: RE: Any tricks-or-treats your way?
From: GUEST,KT. not logged in...
Date: 01 Nov 14 - 12:31 AM

Back when my kids were little, (and it wasn't that long ago) we'd have as many as 200 trick or treaters. The sidewalks were swarming with the little goblins. Tonight - 5! The times they are a-changin!

Subject: RE: Any tricks-or-treats your way?
From: Musket
Date: 01 Nov 14 - 02:30 AM

As we were getting in the taxi to go to a party I did see a load of young witches and warlocks complete with Mums going towards our house. No idea what the dog gave them. He is rather protective towards his gravy bones.

This is one US import that doesn't seem to be sustaining, which in a way makes me happy. To be fair, in my childhood we had something similar on 4th November called mischievous night. Was that widespread or just a local thing?

All we need now is to drop the school prom and that irritating movie announcer who says "In cinemas November twenty four.". No, no. "the twenty fourth of November." Our children need to be taught to speak in English. My 31 year old daughter in law said "fall" last week instead of Autumn.

And whilst I have the floor......

Subject: RE: Any tricks-or-treats your way?
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 01 Nov 14 - 03:39 AM

Yeah, we used to have Mischief Night too. Seems to have been superseded by this over-commercialised American Halloween bollocks now. Another effect of the brainwashing-by-Big-Business-and-shitty-American-TV-programmes that we've been subjected to in the UK over the past forty years or so.

When I was growing up in the 50s and 60s, I'd never heard of Halloween.

Subject: RE: Any tricks-or-treats your way?
From: GUEST,CS
Date: 01 Nov 14 - 03:41 AM

We got no visitors (no welcoming pumpkin on the doorstep - or indeed treats got in) but our neighbours who do participate, received lots.

I was waiting for a late delivery, so I was watching the street and it was the first time I've really noticed the kids out in force in this. My b/f who popped to the shop to pick up some wine for us (due to the late delivery) also said they were out in droves.

I enjoyed seeing the wee tots dressed up as tiny witches, with their mums laughing and having fun. I think it's a good thing for the community. And whats more I think next year there will be a pumpkin on our doorstep too.

Subject: RE: Any tricks-or-treats your way?
From: GUEST,CS
Date: 01 Nov 14 - 03:49 AM

Jack Campin: "it goes back a few centuries in Scotland and the American additions are fun."

Jack, my mothers partner, when a child lived in a part of Scotland (not sure where) but he remembered going out with other kids and pranking and having fun on Hallowe'en long before the specific 'Trick or Treat' thing came to the UK from the US.

He told me they would hollow out and decorate a swede (rutabaga/ yellow turnip) and then illuminate it with a stub of a candle inside. Carrying the neep kept their hands warm, and once the night was over, naturally the candle had cooked it and made it ready to eat, so it was supper too.

Subject: RE: Any tricks-or-treats your way?
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 01 Nov 14 - 05:27 AM

Slightly exercised BTW as to why this thread was moved below the line. Not worried particularly, just wondering. I purposely posted it in the top section: it is after all about traditional customs -- I even thought of giving it the "Folklore" prefix.

≈M≈

Subject: RE: Any tricks-or-treats your way?
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 01 Nov 14 - 06:53 AM

Don't wanna join the grumps, Jack, but they'd cleared out a whole aisle in Poundland last week so as to fill it with all that orange and black tat. Couldn't even buy a bloody firelighter!

Any trick-or-treatster coming down to my house faces a mile-and-a-quarter trot in the pitch dark through mud and horse shit with the ever-present threat of being eaten by farm dogs, so we don't get 'em. But we did get the Jehovah's Witnesses yesterday. Stony ground for them this end, I fear, but it's a long way for 'em to come and I'm always nice to 'em. One day I'll make 'em a cup of tea and sit in the garden explaining how evolution alone produced the wondrous beauty of all around us that they keep telling me about and discussing the probable non-existence of God. But I'd really miss Watchtower. All those lovely smiley people...

Subject: RE: Any tricks-or-treats your way?
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 01 Nov 14 - 06:58 AM

To be fair, in my childhood we had something similar on 4th November called mischievous night. Was that widespread or just a local thing?

4th November? When we were kids that was the night we went round setting fire to all the other gangs' bonfires so as to ruin the 5th for them. Aye, they don't make us like us any more.

Subject: RE: Any tricks-or-treats your way?
From: Musket
Date: 01 Nov 14 - 07:06 AM

That's one of the tricks yes. Together with wrapping cowshit in brown paper, plonking it outside someone's front door, setting light to the paper and knocking on the door.

Then run.

Subject: RE: Any tricks-or-treats your way?
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 01 Nov 14 - 07:12 AM

We were deprived. I didn't see a cow 'til I was 21. Knocking on the door and scarpering though. Aye, that were fun.

Subject: RE: Any tricks-or-treats your way?
From: GUEST,Henry Piper of Ottery
Date: 01 Nov 14 - 07:54 AM

Musket .....
Fall as a word for Autumn was historically used in Britain before travelling to the U.S.A where it has survived , although no longer common, here in Devon you still occasionally hear elderly people referring to Autumn as "Leaf fall", or "Backend" instead of the more clinical and scientific sounding Autumn.

Subject: RE: Any tricks-or-treats your way?
From: GUEST,Henry Piper of Ottery
Date: 01 Nov 14 - 07:59 AM

P.S.
No kiddies trick or treating about the town last night, but loads of drunken Adults (??)in plastic outfits milling about at pub closing.
still its Tar Barrels next Wednesday, and that's a REAL bit of tradition for you.

Subject: RE: Any tricks-or-treats your way?
From: Musket
Date: 01 Nov 14 - 09:05 AM

Many "American" words went over with The Pilgrim Fathers etc and survived whereas they fell into disuse here.

Younger people saying fall, zee instead of zed, going up at the end of sentences etc etc are more to do with tv culture rather than Devon heritage.

I still recall a Radio 1 DJ introducing the first UK single by Zed Zed Topp....

Steve. A fair walk to the fields to be fair, but manageable.

Subject: RE: Any tricks-or-treats your way?
From: Ebbie
Date: 01 Nov 14 - 12:52 PM

In the USA the fall-off in trick or treaters is most likely due to the transition between generations. Never fear: when last year's children start having children, they'll all be back. So hang in there.

For the record, last evening down here on the 'flats' I saw scads of people on the streets and sidewalks. So maybe it is just Starr Hill that is in transition, KT. :)

Subject: RE: Any tricks-or-treats your way?
From: GUEST,bob schwarer
Date: 01 Nov 14 - 05:17 PM

Final count was nine with only two possible teens. I'll try one more year, but it has been down hill for a while.

Subject: RE: Any tricks-or-treats your way?
From: Janie
Date: 01 Nov 14 - 05:22 PM

Had brunch with my almost 21 y.o. son and his girlfriend this morning. Was a delight listening to him reflect on halloweens and the merits of his costumes over the years.

Subject: RE: Any tricks-or-treats your way?
From: GUEST, topsie
Date: 01 Nov 14 - 06:22 PM

More of them than usual, probably because of the mild weather. I gave them a choice from a big bowl of apples and chocolate biscuits and was impressed by how many chose apples.

I think it was encouraged a few years ago as a safer alternative to 'Penny for the Guy' and fireworks let off in the streets by youngsters with no sense of 'What if ...'.

(Presumably openly begging was considered less acceptable than demanding with menaces.)

Subject: RE: Any tricks-or-treats your way?
From: Rumncoke
Date: 01 Nov 14 - 07:08 PM

The white chocolate cake with strawberry bits was a real winner this year, but only about a dozen visitors, some unsure if they were fairies or witches. Almost all sub teens.

After the visitations there were fireworks as a combined celebration of the 5th and Halloween.

Subject: RE: Any tricks-or-treats your way?
From: LadyJean
Date: 01 Nov 14 - 09:38 PM

When I moved to my present address 10 years ago, I had a small horde, and enjoyed it, because I love kids. Now I think I had 5. Don't know how much of it was the weather, and how much of it was the malls.

Subject: RE: Any tricks-or-treats your way?
From: GUEST,Allan Conn
Date: 02 Nov 14 - 03:26 AM

One or two suggestions that the event has been imported from the US to the UK in recent decades. Isn't so. In Scotland there has only really been a change in what was an existing thing. As kids in the early to mid 60s we called it 'guising' as my parents did before us. Since about the time that E.T came out kids tend to often call it trick or treating but it remains the same thing. They get dressed up, go round some doors, tell a joke or recite a poem etc, then get a treat. We used to use turnips where pumpkins are used now. Not so much dooking for apples etc as there used to be but still goes on here in the Borders anyway.

We got none this year but our kids are 17 and 19 now. Small groups of kids will often tend to pick the doors where one of them knows someone. Often because in earlier years it was one of the doors where their mum or dad would take them when they were too wee to go themselves. In other words they'll often knock on the doors where they know they are going to be welcomed.

Subject: RE: Any tricks-or-treats your way?
From: Musket
Date: 02 Nov 14 - 04:02 AM

Nice to see Allan refer to Scotland as The UK.....

😄

Subject: RE: Any tricks-or-treats your way?
From: Nigel Paterson
Date: 02 Nov 14 - 06:42 AM

With the 31st falling on a Friday, there was a chance of 'overspill' into Saturday. Thus far, Friday & Saturday have remained 'knock-free'. I'll be very surprised if we're disturbed tonight.

Subject: RE: Any tricks-or-treats your way?
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 02 Nov 14 - 07:19 AM

But, Nigel -- there is only one All Hallows Eve. Tricking on All Saints Day just would not count. Why, any witch or warlock who arrived on the Brocken the day after Walpurgisnacht & tried to throw any Wiccan necromantics, any curse or conjuration, any hex or malison about would have been turned into a ready-dissected frog as soon as spitting!

Just as there is only one Lionel Messi — so there is only one Halloween!

Abrobarboristissimus!!

☠☠☠☠☠☠☠☠☠☠☠☠☠

Subject: RE: Any tricks-or-treats your way?
From: Musket
Date: 02 Nov 14 - 07:57 AM

Beginning of the month. That's alright then. Medication review time anyway.

Subject: RE: Any tricks-or-treats your way?
From: bubblyrat
Date: 02 Nov 14 - 12:16 PM

We missed it,coming back to Cheltenham from Heathrow at 2235 , although the streets were still a bit lively .I don't recall anything to do with " Halloween" per se in my childhood at Cowdray House or indeed in Henley-on-Thames , where November 5th and letting off fireworks provided lots of entertainment ,especially home made ones utilising black powder from "Standard" blockbusters,smokeless powder from 12g cartridges and TVO Tractor -starters !!A bang too far sometimes !

Subject: RE: Any tricks-or-treats your way?
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 02 Nov 14 - 02:00 PM

We had no callers at all, so we eat the sweets!!

Subject: RE: Any tricks-or-treats your way?
From: GUEST,Rahere
Date: 02 Nov 14 - 02:46 PM

The protocol round here is that if there's something halloweenish in the porch, visitors welcome. The kids are so well indoctrinated with Health & Safety they don't chance the creeps.

You may have a thought about people building their own fireworks - there's enough Greeks and Maltese around here they may well be building their own. Some of the crumps this year suggest they're well into the earthquake zone. My daughter reports someone letting them off in the middle of the North Circular (urban motorway) sufficiently strong to blow cars off their track on both sides of the road.

The answer is undoubtedly to add the glycerine sweets to the mix.

Subject: RE: Any tricks-or-treats your way?
From: Ed T
Date: 02 Nov 14 - 03:28 PM

While we gave the majority of our "treats" to the all scary folks at the door-the good news was we purchased more for ourselves yesterday, at half price. Not that we saved that much-but who does not like getting a discounted price once and awhile?

Subject: RE: Any tricks-or-treats your way?
From: GUEST
Date: 02 Nov 14 - 04:46 PM

One does get tempted to reverse the tables by adulterating some with a mild laxative...