Trick or Treat

[meriad]

do you participate or do you close windows, curtains and doors and pretend you're not home?

I actually don't mind small kids knocking on the door and do usually have some sweets in stock, but now with three cats that aren't allowed out the front door ever I'm tempted to be the Halloween Grinch and hide out in the dining room, park my car around the corner and pretend I'm not home, because trying to make sure the cats don't escape is going to me a mission.

Alternatively I could leave a small tub with some sweets by the front door so kids can help themselves and when they're gone they're gone?

[Workingman]

Small children, primary school age, from my neighbours, the ones I see on most days, I do not mind. It is the packs of total stranger children, often pre or early teens, who I cannot be doing with.

I'll be the Halloween Grinch Mk2, lights out, pretending not to be in.

[saundra]

i dont like halloween
so i dont answer the door

[Ally]

Halloween is great over here.

The mums and dads go out all dressed up witchy and wizardy with their children and only knock on the doors of their surrounding neighbours.

There's always a party somewhere very close with boozy punch for the adults, sweets and games for the children and a fun filled night is had by all.

We've got our school all decorated Halloweeny..will take some pics tomorrow.

I've got sweets and goodies to hand out when they come knocking.

[TheOstrich]

I'll be putting the usual warning sign up on the door to discourage callers, and we will not be answering the door.

This year's competition winner (from a survey of six police force websites) is the Wessex FM / Dorset Police poster .... the one marked Halloween A4(a), bottom right on the link.
http://www.wessexfm.com/halloween-posters.php

Personally, I'm in favour of strong police action against trick or treaters, and would welcome a curfew on the night. Last year, a car was turned on its side in our neighbourhood and in a second incident, a district nurse's car window was smashed by yobs with a tree trunk ..... Halloween isn't a nice, soppy festival - it's an excuse for intimidation and vandalism.

[JoM]

Halloween is actually quite nice around here, at our old house though I didn't answer the door as it was usually teenagers expecting money.
If I could find the blinkin' decorations I'd decorate the house I've bought loads of sweets though this morning. I went into the 99p Store and picked up a large pack of Haribo mini bags at the till thinking they'd do for a start and the woman said it was 3 of the large packs for 99p so that was an excellent bargain!

[Gal]

Littlies with an adult at the end of the path are given a bowl with sweeties in to choose....older kids get nothing, sometimes I don't even bother getting up to answer the door

This year I expect to be about to leave the house at about the time they'll be calling so no need for sweeties

[tonicha]

Grinch mark 3 and 4 here

In fact, I haven't seen any pumkins on doorsteps yet - which is unusual.

Then again, we have a huge contingent of gypsies staying locally and as they pinch water and anything else they can lay their hands on, perhaps people aren't bothering this year.

If the door bell rings once I've shut the shutters, I don't open the door.

[Kaz]

I will buy some sweets, but if it's anything last last year they won't be much needed! It was very quiet here, much quieter than in the old house

[miasmum]

Another one here that doesn't open the door