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Trick or Treat
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Message 1.Ìý
Posted by Marmalade Drizzle (U2239190) on Thursday, 27th October 2005
Yes folks it's that time of year again when small children menace the streets with badly fitting masks in return for sackfuls of sweets that will keep them hyperactive until christmas.
Well the treats are easy, but what about the tricks? As we went begging at doors yelling 'Trick or treat' last year a couple of poeple said 'trick please' and then looked very smug when we didn't have one! So this year we are preparing a card trick that can be performed on a doorstep.
But what about the kids that come to our door? I have in the past made fake finger of fudges out of hardened playdough, and no-one chooses them out of my cauldron any more, so I have bought loads and loads of mini boxes of smarties and filled some of them with shirt buttons instead - so that the kid never knows if it has got a trick or treat until they open the box.
Now - what I have been getting around to asking is this...... Is this a good idea? or will i get sued if some kid chokes on a button?
Marms -
Message 2
Posted by martine (U2324011) on Thursday, 27th October 2005
You will get sued. On the other hand, Harrier Miers is now at a loose end and might be retained?
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Message 3
Posted by Helen (U1476131) on Thursday, 27th October 2005
Yes folks it's that time of year again when small children menace the streets with badly fitting masks in return for sackfuls of sweets that will keep them hyperactive until christmas.
Well the treats are easy, but what about the tricks? ......
²Ñ²¹°ù³¾²õÌý
Marms, I've decided to trick the entire trick-or-treating population of Chelmsford by going to the health club and spending the entire evening in the gym, pool, steam room, sauna and finally restaurant and bar. That way there's nobody at home to answer the door to the horrors. O/h told me yesterday he's working yet another late shift in the wind tunnel testcell on Monday, and I'm not brave enough to stay at home and face them on my own. I am still intending to bring in my car aerial and doorbell push button for the night, before I go!
I hate the licenced begging, the unaccompanied small children being encouraged to knock on strangers' doors, and the whole Americanization of a festival I don't think we ever used to celebrate. -
Message 4
Posted by Rebecca Terrier (U2331526) on Thursday, 27th October 2005
A relation of Michael Myers, I assume? -
Message 5
Posted by Low Flyer (U2221553) on Thursday, 27th October 2005
Thu, 27 Oct 2005 14:26:41 GMT, In reply to: Helen [
We certainly used to go out when I were but a lad. This was a very long time ago, though, so it wasn't considered quite so dangerous as now.
In Scotland we called it guising (I may have spelled that wrongly), and we had to do a party piece before we got the treats. Mind you the treats tended to consist of things like tangerines or a handful of nuts which always seemed a bit on the healthy side to me...
Oh, and we made our lanterns out of a big suede turnip - that certainly separated the men from the boys!
Nostalgic of Amsterdam
LF -
Message 6
Posted by Low Flyer (U2221553) on Thursday, 27th October 2005
Thu, 27 Oct 2005 14:26:41 GMT, In reply to: Helen [
We certainly used to go out when I were but a lad. This was a very long time ago, though, so it wasn't considered quite so dangerous as now.
In Scotland we called it guising (I may have spelled that wrongly), and we had to do a party piece before we got the treats. Mind you the treats tended to consist of things like tangerines or a handful of nuts which always seemed a bit on the healthy side to me...
Oh, and we made our lanterns out of a big suede turnip - that certainly separated the men from the boys!
Nostalgic of Amsterdam
LF
(6 attempts to post) -
Message 7
Posted by Low Flyer (U2221553) on Thursday, 27th October 2005
Thu, 27 Oct 2005 14:31:32 GMT, In reply to: Marmalade Drizzle [
Oh, hello marms - you did make it here after all. O haven't come across you in this wonderful new system before.
mvg,
LF -
Message 8
Posted by La Sharpissima (U1476061) on Thursday, 27th October 2005
Marms
Just the person I wanted. Nothing to do with Hallowe'en or trick or treating (nasty import) at all, but have you changed your email address? I have had a couple of emails bounce back and was wondering if I should change my deodorant ore something?
S x -
Message 9
Posted by Rog (U832960) on Thursday, 27th October 2005
Vile business. Any kid that knocks here will get very short shrift - unless they seem to know which is my car outside, in which case I'll be very nice to them.
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Message 10
Posted by Alex Hebden (U1474957) on Thursday, 27th October 2005
Marms, when I was being stung for the must-fit-in-with-the-Conservation-Area new railings last summer (bluddy railings-for-Spitfires drive con) as the whole shebang was costing so much anyway I opted for the lockable gate at 'only' £125 extra; partially with next Monday in mind. Thus I am tempted to tempt the door-muggers with some suitable decoration outside and sit back and relax.
Smug Alex. -
Message 11
Posted by Rebecca Terrier (U2331526) on Thursday, 27th October 2005
Cool. But a tad expensive? -
Message 12
Posted by Go away historians of the future (U1484964) on Thursday, 27th October 2005
> a big suede turnip <
Want one! -
Message 13
Posted by Go away historians of the future (U1484964) on Thursday, 27th October 2005
> a big suede turnip <
Want one!
(posted after 6 attempts) -
Message 14
Posted by fionafrend (U1478397) on Thursday, 27th October 2005
Thu, 27 Oct 2005 14:28:48 GMT, In reply to: Low Flyer [
Snap Low Flyer!
I was just about to post about guising but you beat me to it! Fancy dress (I remember a pirate costume) and a poem/ song to be learned by heart. At parties there were toffee apples and ducking for apples or eating doughnuts on string. Loved your image of a 'suede' turnip - we called them neep lanterns.
Perhaps the American festival is a mixture of Scottish guising and other European customs?
Annie -
Message 15
Posted by La Sharpissima (U1476061) on Thursday, 27th October 2005
Marms, when I was being stung for the must-fit-in-with-the-Conservation-Area new railings last summer (bluddy railings-for-Spitfires drive con) as the whole shebang was costing so much anyway I opted for the lockable gate at 'only' £125 extra; partially with next Monday in mind. Thus I am tempted to tempt the door-muggers with some suitable decoration outside and sit back and relax.
Smug Alex.Ìý
The joy of a door entryphone system on the front door of the building - we don't get them at all, and no kids in our building either.
Even smugger Sarah -
Message 16
Posted by Low Flyer (U2221553) on Thursday, 27th October 2005
Thu, 27 Oct 2005 14:42:23 GMT, In reply to: Annie Blue [
Well, how do you spell suede when you mean a type of turnip then?
The highlight of parties at the cubs was trying to eat a treacle scone on string (the scone was liberally covered in more treacle). That's the sort of thing that small boys liked in those days.
Toffee apples always seemed to me like a thinly disguised attempt to make us eat fruit - the layer of toffee was about one molecule thick and the rest was just apple!
And talking of treacle, why does Delia make a treacle sponge with syrup?
LF -
Message 17
Posted by Bucephalus Evo (U2223022) on Thursday, 27th October 2005
There was a block of flats (possibly Peabody Trust) walking distance of where I used to work in St Katherine's Dock that was the other way around - railings were made from 1939/45 metal air raid stretchers welded to uprights. Must go back with my camera and see if they're still there . . .
Halloween is a nightmare night for police duty. "Nuisance kids" complaints in our area will go up from average 20-a-night by a considerable multiple. Glad I'm not working! -
Message 18
Posted by Once-a-Ginge (U1486077) on Thursday, 27th October 2005
Hi Marms
Glad you decided to join us here.
I have to admit to being one of those who asks for a treat when the little dears (most of whom I've never seen before in my life) knock on the door. But I got my own back a few years ago. I have a passing resemblance (OK I could have doubled for) a certain television presenter of middle years known for dressing in black and insulting people on an afternoon quiz show. Or I did until she went for botox and the rest and died her hair blonde. As I approached the front door the group of skeletons and devils squealed "Oh! It's Anne Robinson!" and ran away.
T -
Message 19
Posted by Once-a-Ginge (U1486077) on Thursday, 27th October 2005
Thu, 27 Oct 2005 14:42:23 GMT, In reply to: Annie Blue [
Well, how do you spell suede when you mean a type of turnip then?
³¢¹óÌý
Swede. -
Message 20
Posted by Ross_S (U1484728) on Thursday, 27th October 2005
I hate the licenced begging, the unaccompanied small children being encouraged to knock on strangers' doors, and the whole Americanization of a festival I don't think we ever used to celebrate. Ìý
Helen,
speak for yourself - apart from the scottish 'Guisers' the Manx have "Hop Tu Naa":-
"Historically Hop tu naa has been considered to be the Celtic New Year, marking the end of the summer and the beginning of winter. It was a time when people could celebrate the fact that the harvest had been safely gathered in and all the preparations had been made for the winter ahead.
Manx Government website
‘Hop tu Naa’, the children’s custom of singing around the houses on Oie Houney, is not derived from Hallowe’en or any other curious foreign festival. It is the sole remainder of the ancient Celtic ‘Oie Houney’ festival. The modern words used are very corrupted. The phrase ‘Hop tu naa’ comes from ‘Shogh ta’n Oie’, or ‘This is the Night’. In Scotland, after the reformation, the tradition was moved from the Celtic New Year on 1st November, to the secular New Year on 1st January, but the phrase ‘Shogh Ta’n Oie’ continued as ‘Hogmanay’.
The Manx celebrated the original New Year’s eve, on 31st October, ‘Oie Houney’,(pronounced ‘Ee Houna’ (‘ou’ as in sound)), the eve of the feat of Sauin (Gaelic ‘Samhain’), along with the whole Celtic world, as commented on by Julius Caesar in Gaul.
Feegan's Lounge website
If you are happy to have "visitors" then you place a turnip lantern in a downstairs window - no lantern, no visits.
Take care,
Ross -
Message 21
Posted by Helen (U1476131) on Thursday, 27th October 2005
Replying to Annie Blue and Low Flyer:
Yes, I recall going guising with Scottish friends when we all lived abroad. That was the one and only time I've been allowed to do anything for Halloween, and my parents really didn't like the idea because they'd never heard of guising before, and thought it was the American trick or treating we were doing. In fact I had to learn a party piece to perform, and there was never any suggestion of soaping anyone's windows or throwing eggs or flour, or any of the other nasties that I've seen done as "tricks" since. -
Message 22
Posted by irene (U2220663) on Thursday, 27th October 2005
snorko rebecca!
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Message 23
Posted by Jo Bo (U1485540) on Thursday, 27th October 2005
In similar vein, the joy of living in the middle of nowhere, well, nowhere within walking distance of children/carol-singers/Jehovah's witnesses, etc.
Jo x -
Message 24
Posted by RosieT (U2224719) on Thursday, 27th October 2005
I have bought loads and loads of mini boxes of smarties and filled some of them with shirt buttons instead - so that the kid never knows if it has got a trick or treat until they open the box.
Now - what I have been getting around to asking is this...... Is this a good idea?
²Ñ²¹°ù³¾²õÌý
Well, next time you want a shirt button...
And if you're ask for a trick, tell them you're not that sort of woman. -
Message 25
Posted by Low Flyer (U2221553) on Thursday, 27th October 2005
Thu, 27 Oct 2005 14:42:23 GMT, In reply to: Annie Blue [
Well, how do you spell suede when you mean a type of turnip then?
³¢¹óÌý
³§·É±ð»å±ð.Ìý
Oops. Thanks Tabby - I Googled it because I was sure that Swede was someone from Sweden. I just did it again, and realised that the suede I'd found was on a French website.
Doh!
LF -
Message 26
Posted by Anne-Marie (U1474870) on Thursday, 27th October 2005
Perhaps you could tell them that it's a Trick/treat lucky dip - some contain (evil) Smarties & some contain (Kind) buttons - and that they should only eat evil items, it being Hallowe'en ... Best to provide some warning imho...
AMx -
Message 27
Posted by RosieT (U2224719) on Thursday, 27th October 2005
You could hide the golden button in one of the boxes.
But maybe a tour of Marmalade Towers isn't such a great treat as Willy Wonka's Factory, now the Butler has disappeared? -
Message 28
Posted by irene (U2220663) on Thursday, 27th October 2005
just be careful marms, and keep your mobile switcheon. you know it makes sense. if you dont want a good earbashing from me later.
-
Message 29
Posted by Dusty Substances (U1474929) on Thursday, 27th October 2005
Marms, when I was being stung for the must-fit-in-with-the-Conservation-Area new railings last summer (bluddy railings-for-Spitfires drive con) as the whole shebang was costing so much anyway I opted for the lockable gate at 'only' £125 extra; partially with next Monday in mind. Thus I am tempted to tempt the door-muggers with some suitable decoration outside and sit back and relax.
Smug Alex.Ìý
Being the local misery boots (whose children have never shown any signs of wanting to take part in trick or treating, not out of deference to my views but because it is apparently 'sad'), I have a poster from the Met saying that we do not participate which I put on the front door. I then refuse to go to the door if any illiterate teenagers chance it, on the assumption that smaller people will have parents who can read escorting them.
Anyone who truly needs me to open the door to them can ring me first. Dx -
Message 30
Posted by peter-francis (U1476305) on Thursday, 27th October 2005
<> But what better night for ghoulies, ghosties and superannuated butlers to put in an appearance, Rosie! You never know when or where, but I'll appear anywhere (for money, of course!) F
-
Message 31
Posted by Eilis (U1474217) on Thursday, 27th October 2005
Thu, 27 Oct 2005 17:09:46 GMT, In reply to: Ross_S [
Hello, Ross
Yes, we have this discussion in here every year. I grew up with Hallowe'en in Ireland. Mind you, no trick or treating, it was something we did at home with family. We bobbed for apples, wore false faces, ate barm brack, toffee apples and monkey nuts. Then my father let off a few old-fashioned fireworks in the back yard and we were allowed to hold a few sparklers.
Eilis -
Message 32
Posted by Moonflower (U2267264) on Thursday, 27th October 2005
Here (fairly rural Scotland) the kids get dressed up and go out guising - they do a party piece in return for a treat. Seems to work quite well - they only visit houses with lights on, pumpkin lanterns, skeletons in gardens etc. So if you don't want kids to visit you don't decorate your house. I NEVER let my kids go to strangers houses and have only just started letting them go out without me - although in a group. This year No one child is singing "deck the halls with gasoline" accompanied by number 2 child on the chanter. That should get them out of people's doors quickly enough. And although they do get treats there are a fair few apples and peanuts as well. Always done on 31st Oct, regardless of which day of the week it falls.
-
Message 33
Posted by Marmalade Drizzle (U2239190) on Thursday, 27th October 2005
Yes folks it's that time of year again when small children menace the streets with badly fitting masks in return for sackfuls of sweets that will keep them hyperactive until christmas.
Well the treats are easy, but what about the tricks? ......
²Ñ²¹°ù³¾²õÌý
Marms, I've decided to trick the entire trick-or-treating population of Chelmsford by going to the health club and spending the entire evening in the gym, pool, steam room, sauna and finally restaurant and bar. Ìý
I have a friend that does this every year! She jokes that it is the only reason that she has her gym membership!!
marms -
Message 34
Posted by Marmalade Drizzle (U2239190) on Thursday, 27th October 2005
Thu, 27 Oct 2005 14:31:32 GMT, In reply to: Marmalade Drizzle [
Oh, hello marms - you did make it here after all. O haven't come across you in this wonderful new system before.
mvg,
³¢¹óÌý
Hello Low Flyer
I am about! But have not completely got the hang of this yet!
Your halloween childhood sounds great! (do I mean that???) I was never allowed to do anything like this which is why i go to town for my children and the neighbourhood kids!!
marms -
Message 35
Posted by Marmalade Drizzle (U2239190) on Thursday, 27th October 2005
Well it most certainly is the night to get dressed up and scare the kids!!
marms -
Message 36
Posted by sunlitfern (U1481854) on Thursday, 27th October 2005
Marms
I used to be a go out to the gym type myself until I moved to my current house. It is a very frendly close with lots of children, the whole family comes to the door. Last year one family had the baby dressed as a pumpkin.
I did have one toerag of about 15 come round LAST Sunday at 9pm who was told to get lost in no uncertain terms (not a local boy).
Sunlit -
Message 37
Posted by Marmalade Drizzle (U2239190) on Thursday, 27th October 2005
Hello Sunlit
Marms
I used to be a go out to the gym type myself until I moved to my current house. It is a very frendly close with lots of children, the whole family comes to the door. Last year one family had the baby dressed as a pumpkinÌý
Aaahhh!
I suppose it depends on where one lives. Before we moved to our current location I used to sit inside in the dark in the hope that trick or treaters would think i was out!
Our current village used to have trouble with teens (eggs, flour etc etc) each Halloween (although probably not as bad as some towns) until a 'Halloween welcome' scheme was started. Each householder receives a sign which they display in their window if they don't mind trick or treaters - and it works! Those that don't show the sign are not disturbed as the kids are busy trying to get round all the houses that are displaying the sign as sweets are garenteed there! Also young couples join in by answering the door dressed up and the elderly who like to see the younger children dressing up take part and when they have had enough take the sign down.
The unexpected advantage has been that the teens who previously chucked the flour and eggs now stay home as Halloween is now seen as 'uncool' and childish! What a result!!
marms -
Message 38
Posted by Marmalade Drizzle (U2239190) on Thursday, 27th October 2005
just be careful marms, and keep your mobile switcheon. you know it makes sense. if you dont want a good earbashing from me later.Ìý
Don't you fret irene! Not only will I take my mobile and keep it switched on but I will make sure it has enough credit AND is charged up!
My ears are still ringing from the telling off i got the time i forgot!!
marms -
Message 39
Posted by Marmalade Drizzle (U2239190) on Thursday, 27th October 2005
<Perhaps you could tell them that it's a Trick/treat lucky dip - some contain (evil) Smarties & some contain (Kind) buttons - and that they should only eat evil items, it being Hallowe'en ... Best to provide some warning imho...
´¡²Ñ³æÌý
I think you are right Anne-Marie! But you and Rosie have given me a very good idea! I can put an assortment of things in the smartie boxes and one of them will contain a pound coin! That way they will check inside each box before they tip the sweets into their mouths!
Brilliant, brilliant, brilliant!
Now if you'll excuse me i need to eat some smarties*!!
marms
*Only so i can have some empty boxes you understand....... -
Message 40
Posted by Low Flyer (U2221553) on Thursday, 27th October 2005
Now if you'll excuse me i need to eat some smarties*!!
marms
*Only so i can have some empty boxes you understand.......Ìý
What a noble soul you are to be prepared to make such sacrifices for the sake of the enjoyment of the local children...
mvg,
LF -
Message 41
Posted by the quick brown fox (U2221867) on Thursday, 27th October 2005
They might equally well choke on one of your Smarties!
Two years ago, for the first time we had several groups of trick or treaters - it was a Friday evening I think. We had no treats in the house... only some very nice apples, and O/H gave them each one of those. They haven't been back. -
Message 42
Posted by Marmalade Drizzle (U2239190) on Thursday, 27th October 2005
Now if you'll excuse me i need to eat some smarties*!!
marms
*Only so i can have some empty boxes you understand.......Ìý
What a noble soul you are to be prepared to make such sacrifices for the sake of the enjoyment of the local children...
mvg,
³¢¹óÌý
mwamph mwad? -
Message 43
Posted by Marmalade Drizzle (U2239190) on Thursday, 27th October 2005
Now if you'll excuse me i need to eat some smarties*!!
marms
*Only so i can have some empty boxes you understand.......Ìý
What a noble soul you are to be prepared to make such sacrifices for the sake of the enjoyment of the local children...
mvg,
³¢¹óÌý
mwamph mwad?
Ìý
Sorry that was rude of me! And i was always told never to talk with my mouth full!
Yes I am prepared to put the delight on little childrens faces above all else!
I think I probably deserve something!!
marms -
Message 44
Posted by red field (U2337167) on Thursday, 27th October 2005
What a noble soul you are to be prepared to make such sacrifices for the sake of the enjoyment of the local children...
mvg,
LF</quote>
mwamph mwad?
</quote>
People get MBEs for less! -
Message 45
Posted by Marmalade Drizzle (U2239190) on Thursday, 27th October 2005
They might equally well choke on one of your Smarties! Ìý
that's true! But at least they would be expecting smarties!!
marms -
Message 46
Posted by Low Flyer (U2221553) on Thursday, 27th October 2005
I think I probably deserve something!!
marmsÌý
An Alka Seltzer?
LF -
Message 47
Posted by Marmalade Drizzle (U2239190) on Thursday, 27th October 2005
analkaseltzerwouldbelovelythankyouyouareverykind.
ohlookwhatsoverhereandwhereiseveryonehiding?
Oh dear! I think I am reacting to one of the e numbers!!
marms -
Message 48
Posted by NettoFabulous (U2259715) on Thursday, 27th October 2005
Hola Marms,
I like Hallowe'en a lot, personally... I hate though that some kids just do not make the effort. A 59p mask and Sheffield Wednesday away kit do NOT constitute an excitingly scary costume imho. And don't even get me started on the 'penny for the guy'ers. Last year one lot had a balloon with a face drawn on stuffed in a hoodie. If you're going to go begging in the streets, make an effort, people!!!
Gillo
[grumpy cos I don't like writing essays] -
Message 49
Posted by Marmalade Drizzle (U2239190) on Thursday, 27th October 2005
I know what you mean Gillo!
Turning up wearing a sulky expression and hands stuffed in pockets gets a request to return when the costume is ready!
A lot of folk round here though go to great lengths - they decorate windows and gardens and some people dress up to welcome trick or treaters.
2 years ago we got hold of a fake hand and Mr. D stuffed it up his sleeve so that when the children took the treat his hand came away! Severl girls squealed and yelled 'You're sick'! WHAT DID THEY EXPECT? Halloweens not just about the sweets!
My children have spent half term making their costumes, including using the sewing machine!!
Do you think it would be too much if i lept out of the shed in a scary outfit as they came into the garden?
marms -
Message 50
Posted by La Sharpissima (U1476061) on Thursday, 27th October 2005
analkaseltzerwouldbelovelythankyouyouareverykind.
ohlookwhatsoverhereandwhereiseveryonehiding?
Oh dear! I think I am reacting to one of the e numbers!!
marmsÌý
Gawd Marms, you are scary without the space bar.
Here have a BS & T to dilute the effect of the e numbers. I have put an extra lemon slice in it so it is two of your five portions.
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