Halloween

[OceanPrincess]

I'm curious. Did you do anything for it? Why/why not?

I'm pretty anti-Halloween so we did nothing.

[chody47]

No. I'm anti-Halloween too. I didn't even get my class to do anything for it.......

[Arcadia]

Nothing. I kind of like the pumpkin lantern ideas, but the rest is too scary for my littlies just yet.

[Doing my best]

I used to give to the local kids but haven't for the last few years as my kids are freaked by the drab costumes (am sure they would be fine with the bright colourful ones), but considering I couldn't even get them in the supermarket past the displays without hysteria, a sign went on the door again this year, apologising, but please don't knock.

[Kazzo]

We don't do anthing. I have better things to be spending my money on. Last night was the fist time we have ever had kids come and knock, it was the worst time possible. Plus I don't keep any sort of lollies in the house so I had nothing to give them, not even a pack of chips as we had been away and only got pack today and my pantry is empty.
DD1 actually got a little scared too by the costumes. For her, getting dressed up is fairies and princesses and Glinda the good witch.

DH is in America at the moment and he said it is pretty amazing over there though, I think it would be nice to see it where everyone gets involved and goes all out.

[boomba]

Going against the grain but I love it! My kids love it! We had a bucket of treats for anyone who came to our gate....finally after a few hours they arrived....it was a nice way to meet some locals.

We usually go to my cousins street who send out a letter and an orange ballon and if you want to participate you put the orange balloon up. The kids love dressing up.

I just think its fun :-)

[Heaven]

Nah, we're not into it. The costumes would be too scary for my girls anyway. We had about 6 lots of kids knock on the door and had nothing to give them, the last being at 8.30 when we were trying to put the kids to bed. So then Mr Grouchy put a sign on the door, LOL.

[~ Zarava Flutterby ~]

We took the girls, they had a ball dressing up, walking around with their friends and meeting people.
DD1 told anyone who would listen that she's 4 now.

All the kids in our group had brilliant manners which was so nice to see.

I've just posted on FB, I know it's an 'American' holiday but if we are being technical Easter & Christmas are not 'Australian' - here it's all just a bit of fun and my girls loved it!

[boomba]

Nah, we're not into it. The costumes would be too scary for my girls anyway. We had about 6 lots of kids knock on the door and had nothing to give them, the last being at 8.30 when we were trying to put the kids to bed. So then Mr Grouchy put a sign on the door, LOL.

So that's why you are not coming to floobuckles party eh lol

[Phteven]

No. Not into it.
My SIL celebrates it as Samhain but since it is an Autumn harvest festival it seems out of place in our warm Spring.

Really if there was any genuine religious belief or cultural tradition behind celebrating it in Australia I wouldn't care but it's just another festival of consumption engineered by advertisers.

I guess it must be nice for Scots and North Americans that it's suddenly become so popular.

If we're randomly going to adopt holidays that have no meaning for us I would prefer that we adopt the colour throwing one from India or the baby jumping one from Spain or the water one from Thailand.

[Rouge]

Love it. Have trick or treated and celebrated since I was DS's age. I love that its becoming more popular commercially too! The kids trick or treated and got a cute lite stash. A lot of the families they visit are American. We would love to provide to trick or treaters but each year we don't really get any.

Also the notion that all Halloween costumes are meant to be scary is incorrect. DS dressed up as Darth Vader

[Amaunet]

My DH saw it as a good excuse to buy DS1 a Jedi costume and DS2 a Yoda costume we only went next door and to my parents to "trick or treat" but I had lollies ready for local kids who knocked

[Tinks]

TBH, I'm not into it but the kids are. Halloween is my DD's birthday so last night we had a Halloween birthday party for her then after the guests left, the kids went trick or treating with my sister.

[Khaleesi]

I love it & my girls love, we had a heap of trick or treaters last night, The girls loved giving out the candy

[nothing2lose]

Hate it. I'm a Halloween Humbugger.

If said it before and I'll say it again, if you want a lollie, go pester your own parents for one. Leave me alone.

The local teens thought it would be a great excuse to egg houses and cars and the school.

[Cass72]

DH was disappointed last night....no one came to the door. Probably because last year we were smack bang in suburbia and this year we are on acreage

Personally, I love it. I think it's a fun thing. I'm quite sick of the whole "it's American" let's not celebrate it. It is actually a very ancient tradition that began around 2,000 years ago with the Celts. With a lot of Irish/English settling in the Americas all those years ago it's hardly surprising that they took these traditions with them and adopted them and turned them into something else.

Google it...it is actually quite interesting.

With regards to the lollies, we ran out of them last year and started handing out apples - would you believe the kids were actually thrilled. Kind of funny (sad!) that a wee little poppit runs up to her parents and yells excitedly - I GOT AN APPLE!!

I think it's quite sad that people are forgetting traditions of old. I think it is time we embraced them again. One of the girls I work with refuses to celebrate Mothers Day and Fathers Day, because "it's American". Um, actually, no, in our house it's a day to sit back and spoil that special person and show them how much we appreciate them. It doesn't mean loads of presents, it means breakfast in bed, a nice lunch, no housework....

[Rouge]

DH was disappointed last night....no one came to the door. Probably because last year we were smack bang in suburbia and this year we are on acreage

Personally, I love it. I think it's a fun thing. I'm quite sick of the whole "it's American" let's not celebrate it. It is actually a very ancient tradition that began around 2,000 years ago with the Celts. With a lot of Irish/English settling in the Americas all those years ago it's hardly surprising that they took these traditions with them and adopted them and turned them into something else.

Google it...it is actually quite interesting.

With regards to the lollies, we ran out of them last year and started handing out apples - would you believe the kids were actually thrilled. Kind of funny (sad!) that a wee little poppit runs up to her parents and yells excitedly - I GOT AN APPLE!!

I think it's quite sad that people are forgetting traditions of old. I think it is time we embraced them again. One of the girls I work with refuses to celebrate Mothers Day and Fathers Day, because "it's American". Um, actually, no, in our house it's a day to sit back and spoil that special person and show them how much we appreciate them. It doesn't mean loads of presents, it means breakfast in bed, a nice lunch, no housework....

i totally agree! It will always be my favourite holiday and I hope it gets bigger and bigger every year!

[nothing2lose]

Halloween has its roots in ancient paganism and Christianity, sure. But the modern day lolly grab/schlock horror fest has
become far removed from its origins.

We didn't celebrate it here 20-30 years ago. It's genesis here is both retail-driven and a result of the all pervasiveness of American culture in Australian society.

I wouldn't let my kid go up to a stranger in a park and ask for a treat. Why would I let them go to a stranger's house and ask for one?