No Trick or Treat signs?

Have got sweets ready, but forgotten the pumpkin, better get that out fast.

Ellan we tried turnips last year..I always had them as a kid..but it took forever! I might do apples and then hang them.up for the birds!

EllanVannin Agree 100percent.T

Local street knowledge amongst 3-11 & their parents is it is ok to knock if a house is acknowledging Halloween.eg.via a pumpkin lantern.

It has always been only visit those with pumpkins etc in our area.

In my former life as a teacher I opened my door to Trick-Treaters, and recognised the thinly-disguised local children. To test them out, I said "trick" not knowing what to expect. They looked completely deflated and said "oh, Miss, you're supposed to say "treat" ! I gave them treats anyway

Our two always enjoyed it, so I put a small-ish lit-up pumpkin in the window (usually gets turned into a Thai style soup next day) and we get a lot of mostly young children round. I have already stocked up with lots of mini packs of Smarties, and am hoping there'll be a few left over for me!

I know most of the local children who knock when I put out my lit pumpkin. I am pleased to note that 'trick or treat' is not mentioned these days. I now get a cheery 'happy hallowe'en'. I enjoy baking and buying treats including some healthy ones which are always left over at the end of the evening! I clock up about 50 children most years, starting with tiny tots and parents at about 5.30 and finishing around 8.30.

What became of duck-apple and the smelly old turnip lantern ?

Well the people who put pumpkins out love seeing the kids dressed up and would be disappointed if no one knocked so I don't know what anyone who doesn't join in has to object about.

I agree notnan that yours look like an invitation. I still think though that children should only knock on doors which make it clear they are welcome. I know I may be a killjoy but I just don't like the idea of children going asking for sweets at all.

Well that at least makes them clear.
The ones I shared are from the police's official facebook page. Maybe they should have given it more thought and shared the same ones as in your area

nota the ones you have seen are different to the ones we were offered. Ours are like a no entry sign with a red ring, no pumpkins.

In the dark at first glance..

When kids are told to only go to pumpkin houses... people who don't want trick or treaters shouldn't be using pumpkins for a no trick or treat sign!

Having seen the signs now I think its a massive own goal:

They are Halloween colours and have a big picture of a pumpkin on them???

So in the dark unless kid stop and read the words (which excited kids wont) it will look like a pumkin sign WELCOMING trick or treaters

I agree children should only knock at houses displaying trick or treat pumpkins ? ? ?‍♀️ ? .
It was called ‘tucking apple night in our house, all the kids came up from the downstairs flats and we would bob for apples in a tin bath, or try and catch apples hanging from the clothes airer that hung from the ceiling on pulleys. It was great fun but nothing sinister at all.

Yes I agree. It is opt in not opt out.

In a way opting out pre-emptively is a bit like RSVPing "no" to a party you havent been invited to yet

notnan thanks for recognising what I was trying (not very effectively) to get across. My post is about the signs and the message they are sending to children, not really about the activity, although it is interesting to read what others think about that. If the signs become the norm will children think they have the right to expect treats from any house which doesn't display one?

I loved Halloween as a child, although trick or treating hadn't caught on in our area in those days - it was an exotic, exciting performance that we saw in American films and TV. We confined ourselves to spending days gouging out a turnip for a lantern and playing apple bobbing and spooky games. Fast forward to when I had my own DC in the 80s and trick or treat (and pumpkins) had made their way over the Atlantic.
Our children loved getting dressed up and going trick or treating (with an adult hovering at the gateway). They were so excited when the homeowner pretended to be frightened and gave them treats. Since then I've accompanied my nephews and nieces and look forward to introducing my GC to the tradition soon.
Needless to say, we have a fully decorated porch and welcome all manner of witches, ghosts and ghouls!

And to be fair, the vast majority of kids around here honour that.
Well it makes sense..why waste your time at unlit houses if you can maximise your haul by making a beeline for the pumpkin houses which guarentee treats!

A few years ago a neighbour who was forced to admit that he had never actually been knocked at trick or treat went on an anti trick or treaters campaign in the neighbourhood.

These signs feel a bit like that. A bit "bah humbug" and unnecessary for most. I imagine the kind of people who would display this have noone calling anyway but want to have their objections noted..

As we always went out to trick or treat we didn't put pumpkins out ourselves and the parent that stayed in never got knocked.

Round here only the pumpkin houses get knocked.

Generally people dont want to see their kids disappointed so dont approach houses that dont look welcoming/enthusiastic

That's why no-one calls for the sweeties I've bought - I need to put a pumpkin outside!

When my children were small a group of mums arranged that we and the tiny ones could call at each other’s houses trick or treating, we didn’t go to other houses.
With my own DGC the eldest two daughters and kids don’t go trick or treating the youngest DD and partner do take DGS but only visit homes with lit pumpkins