Trick or treat disappointment

Im sure Im not alone in this issue. I was so disappointed last night when i took the kiddies trick or treating. I just got back from the usa and brought them really cool costumes. This is our 4th Halloween here so I knew not to expect too much with trick or treating but last night was the WORST! We took the kids to my SILs like we usually do. She went out with me. She took us to TWO houses and then back home. I told her "I spent a fortune on costumes for the kids and they are just very disappointed!" She said she doesnt know anyone else we can take the kids to. I said "well lets just go bang on the doors". We saw a lot of trick or treaters about by the way. She said nobody will open their doors because they are afraid of being attacked. Attacked by 2 year olds?? I was so pi$$ed off at her. I took the kids to my husbands friends neighborhood and nobody would open their doors. If they did open their doors they would just say "Thank you" and shut the door on the kids. The kids ended up with just a small handful of candy and some of it was that sticky, gummy, unwrapped stuff that you wouldnt let your kids eat anyway. The boys were very disappointed. i know trick or treating isnt as big here as it is in the usa but gimme a break! This has been the worst year ever. My eldest son went to a Halloween party at a schoolmates house and he didnt even come home with so much as a lollypop. Cheap skates!!!   

I am so sorry that it was diappointing for you! I have to admit we had a wonderful time last night. My husband who never likes to do things straightforward-- came up with the idea of offering children their choice of candy or a "lucky dip" which they could draw out of a bag without peeking. (young children we simply gave candy to and didn't offer the choice) In the lucky dip bag-- was some candy, some pop, some potatoes, toothpaste, uncooked pasta noodles and a variety of other things-- some good -- some not so good.

The look on the children's faces was priceless when they pulled out a potato. We did give some another chance-- but some of the older ones got such a kick out of it-- I think they enjoyed it more than candy!!

So next year-- come to Crewe and visit us! ;-)

I Posted on another thread that my seven year old was so sad last night.  He told me he was going back to the USA where "they do Halloween properly"!  I was shocked to hear that people really do some terrible things on Halloween and that is why people will not answer the door for trick or treat.  I spoke with a woman today at my son's school, who told me that Halloween was just a silly thing the Americans are pushing on the English.  I told her "Happy Late Halloween" and then I walked off.  Hmmmm, it was just sad to see my little boy so sad.

I was shocked to hear that people really do some terrible things on Halloween and that is why people will not answer the door for trick or treat.

Walking to work this morning down our high street  I was shocked at the eggs and rotten apples everywhere! If that's how it is, I wouldn't open my door either! Though having said that, I was prepared for kids and not one knocked.... 

aww, that makes me so sad.

no wonder i was feeling terribly homesick yesterday.

I'm sorry you had such a disappointing halloween!  Ours was the best so far (bar when we have TorT'd on the US bases). We even had to go out and buy more candy! I can't believe how many people were giving out candy and had really gone all out for halloween. We saw some awesome decorated houses, complete with spooky sounds, drives and doorways lined with jack-o-lanterns- one lady had a big bucket filled with candy and topped up with Jelly. The kids had to reach on and grab their candy. Eeeeew! (but she did provide babywipes too!)  It was so good, it reminded me of the states when I was a kid. Since it is probably our kids last TorTing year I'm glad it was so good. In our area Halloween is finally taking off.

Rosie

I know it's a little late for this year, but may I make a suggestion for next?

Host a Halloween party for your boys and thier friends.  Make custumes compulsory...those who do not show up in fancy dress will have to pick a costume out the a "grab bag" (loads of stuff provided from you).

Then, teach them the proper way to celebrate...you know, the American way.  Bob for apples, make carmel apples, popcorn balls and the like, then tell scary stories or rent scary movies (age appropriate, of course).

If the Brits won't bring Halloween to you...bring it to them.  Kelly8years had GREAT luck with introducing our way Halloween to her villiage, and I'm sure you will have the same luck with a little creativity.

Hi Pebs,

Sorry it was a let down.

Frances has some great ideas and is absolutely right about getting the ball rolling.  It's amazing how contagious enthusiasm can be.  I've had many really kind emails from my friends back in England over the last several days about Halloween.  Some of them are carrying on the tradition by having a party for the kids and others are making sure that they're stocking candy for the trick or treaters. 

They might be skeptical at first, but perserve!  Nobody can say no to some fun!

I can totally relate! I felt so tense on Halloween every time I knocked on a door...I just prayed that there would be someone nice on the other side...not for me, but for my innocent little 4 and 5 year olds, who were just so excited and happy! As a parent, you cant bear to see your child disappointed...

Most people were okay but you could tell no one was prepared by the things we ended up with and the fact they'd disappear back into their house for ages- like salt and vinegar crisps? EH???

I went through that with my kids when they were little.  And that was when no one trick or treated.  I made arrangements with friends to trick or treat at each other's houses and I forwarned my mother in law's neighbours.  And after a few years of perserverance, people get used to you.     The first fews years were half a bar of chocolate and some money, then a couple years with loads of kit-kats but the last few years there have been tons of kids on our road and they've gotten some good candy.  Stick with it.   

I commend you for even trying to go trick or treating.  It was one thing that I gave up on doing since it isn't celebrated here.  I am going to throw Halloween parties for my kids when they are older since it was my favourite holiday.

Hiya Kolc
Havent seen you on here in ages! Nice to see you on here again!
Pebs x

I have to say I can relate, this is the first year that my son could poke around on his own with his group of friends and do his own thing for halloween, and he so desperately was looking forward to getting loads of candy like ya do back in the states, he came in with a measley 5 pcs of candy and cursed the country and said he wanted to go home, I was amazed at his reaction, but I actually cried inside for him, I urged him to go out and try somewhere else, another street, another block, for more, pumped him up told him to overcome them and do what he could, so he did, he came out in the end with a little plastic bowl of candy, swore next year he was going home to trick or treat and that was the end of it, sad really that it has to be that way, why spend so much money on fireworks for the adults (to drink by and hoot at really) when the kids get such a thrill out of dressing up knocking on doors and showin off their costumes more than anything? and what's so bad with a little sweet at every stop as a reward for being so creative? URGH *prays to god next year isn't a flop*

I guess the thing to remember is that it isn't a tradition here.  It's a new thing, mainly started from watching movies and tv.  So, it's not that people don't do it right, it's just that it's not their tradition.  It's a little (okay, alot) like if your UK husband and children moved to the US and said 'what's this?  no fireworks on Bonfire night?  That's crap! Why don't they know how to do it?' 
Like I said previously, if it's something that's important to you then there are things that you can do to make it happen, but don't expect it to be like it is in the states.  It's a different country with different ways of doing things. 

yeah I know it's just sad to see them so upset and let down. Oh believe me I know it's a different country with diff way of doin things..LOL Hopefully he can adjust to the differences soon. He was in awe of bonfire night, thought it was sooo cool! So I suppose there is, if he can ever see it (while we point it out) there is a silver lining to every darker cloud