DH is afraid of trick or treaters

[NMAmy]

Every Halloween, I have to laugh at DH. He's from England and when he was a child, he never experienced the joys of trick or treating. (Help me out, UK DIS'ers, is trick or treating done over there now?) He feels that it's just "organized begging." To which I replied, "Well, what the heck is wrong with organized begging?"

Last night, he managed to work late and avoid most of the hubbub and "avoid the confrontation at the front door." He seriously freaks out if I have to leave my post and go to the bathroom. He's not sure how much candy to give each child--I told him that is not an exact science, if a kid is really cute, give him two or three! He'll yell at me, "Hurry up, I can see kids coming up the sidewalk!"

I'm not sure why I'm sharing this--it just always cracks me up that a 6 foot tall, 53 year old man is so terrified of a bunch of little children! I keep telling him that I KNOW he could take 'em if it came to a rumble.

Do you know anyone who is frightened of small children dressed like superheros?

 

[mtblujeans]

....He feels that it's just "organized begging." To which I replied, "Well, what the heck is wrong with organized begging?" ....

Ain't this country great!??

 

[Miss Jasmine]

My DH, who is from this country, calles the TOTers "Little Beggars" and I am the one in charge of handing the candy out. However, he is always curious about the costumes and after I close the door each time he would ask, "so what were they dressed up as?"

 

[jenny2]

He feels that it's just "organized begging."

ROFLMAO!! You know what... he's right!

 

[NMAmy]

ROFLMAO!! You know what... he's right!

Oh, for heaven's sake, jenny, don't tell HIM that!

You know, I heard a little clip from That 70's Show on the radio yesterday. They were explaining trick or treating to Fez who was just amazed. "They just give you candy? It doesn't matter what country you're from? They GIVE you candy?" It reminded me of DH. He's lived in this country for at least 20 years now, you'd think this wouldn't be such a big surprise to him every October!

 

[sadeeyore]

That's just too funny .
I think everywhere here does trick and treating now. So we have "organized begging" too . Actually I wish we had more kids come round last night as I had candy left over and I had to eat it .
I remember trick and treating when I was a teenager, about 20 years ago .

 

[Laugh O. Grams]

He feels that it's just "organized begging."

Organized begging or legalized extortion? No treats, than TRICKS!!!!

 

[NMAmy]

That's just too funny .
I think everywhere here does trick and treating now. So we have "organized begging" too . Actually I wish we had more kids come round last night as I had candy left over and I had to eat it .
I remember trick and treating when I was a teenager, about 20 years ago .

Oh, good, sadeeyore, I'll have to tell him! He's a bit older than you--it would have been about 40 years ago when he'd have been at the trick or treating age!

 

[Pooh_Friend#1]

Okay I admit it, that was me last night. I couldn't wait for the TOT to start but once the older kids came around I got nervous and made my boyfriend answer the door.

 

[CathrynRose]

Organized begging or legalized extortion? No treats, than TRICKS!!!!

No kidding!!!

 

[Huggles]

In Scotland we have guising ( pronounced guyz-ing) and the kids would say 'Penny for the guisers' although nowadays some kids are saying trick or treat. Over here they tend to 'do a turn' ie sing a wee song, tell a couple of jokes or recite a poem before they get their treat. In days gone by you'd go into the houses to do your party piece and would often also get a drink of juice whilst you were there. Mind you there was a concert party load of you doing the rounds at that time! Nowadays people don't tend to ask the kids in unless they are neighbours.

 

[NMAmy]

In Scotland we have guising ( pronounced guyz-ing) and the kids would say 'Penny for the guisers' although nowadays some kids are saying trick or treat. Over here they tend to 'do a turn' ie sing a wee song, tell a couple of jokes or recite a poem before they get their treat. In days gone by you'd go into the houses to do your party piece and would often also get a drink of juice whilst you were there. Mind you there was a concert party load of you doing the rounds at that time! Nowadays people don't tend to ask the kids in unless they are neighbours.

I'd love to have the kids entertain me for their treat! Maybe I'll see how many I can get to perform next year.

DH did tell me that for Guy Fawkes Day, they'd do the "Penny for the Guy" thing. Which seems like "organized begging" to me but he assures me that it's very different. Probably because HE was doing the begging.

 

[JennyMominRI]

Somebody on the Doctor Who forum I posted on was a bit upset..He called my kids greedy for beggning and said that people are forced to participate by threats of damage to their houses etc.. He's from the UK

 

[NMAmy]

Somebody on the Doctor Who forum I posted on was a bit upset..He called my kids greedy for beggning and said that people are forced to participate by threats of damage to their houses etc.. He's from the UK

Was his name Alex? I had no idea dh was posting to a Doctor Who forum!

 

[JennyMominRI]

Does trick or treat mean that the homeowner can give the kid either a trick or a treat or does it mean that if the ToTer doesn;t get a treat he will give the homowner a nasty treat..Someone I know from the UK thinks that people are forced to pass out candy pr else they will have rocks or g-d knows what thrown at their house. He really seems to think trick or treating is a horrible thing.I always though Trick or Treat meant that the person could give out one or the other.

 

[PneumaticTransit]

OMG, I thought my DH was the only one!

He wanted nothing to do with trick or treaters. He wouldn't sit in the living room (next to the entry door). He'd run in the other room every time the doorbell rang.

Dang sweetie, they're just kids.

 

[Carl]

No, Trick or Treat means give us a treat or we'll trick you. They used to throw eggs at your house or put soap on the screens, etc.

 

[jlaspoq]

When I was a kid we lived in Turkey for two years. My dad took me trick or treating in our apartment building and some nearby - supposedly to homes of Americans. However, I do remember knocking on one door and saying ToT - only to find out that this Turkish person was completely at a loss to what I was saying or what I meant. We tried to explain that it is an American custom to give candy..... they really wanted to get it right and make amends! But I was sooooooooo embarrassed!

 

[sadeeyore]

We like giving out candy for Halloween. All the kids we got last night said "trick or treat" and "thank you".
I've never felt like anything bad would happen if they didn't get candy. In the past we have run out of candy and just not answered the door, never had any nasty treats.

I have never asked "Penny for the guy", I know some kids still do, but I really don't like being asked. Guy Fawkes or Bonfire night is 5th November.

 

[NMAmy]

Does trick or treat mean that the homeowner can give the kid either a trick or a treat or does it mean that if the ToTer doesn;t get a treat he will give the homowner a nasty treat..Someone I know from the UK thinks that people are forced to pass out candy pr else they will have rocks or g-d knows what thrown at their house. He really seems to think trick or treating is a horrible thing.I always though Trick or Treat meant that the person could give out one or the other.

Ok, Jenny, I knew I saw this on the History Channel last night. It's from the Haunted History of Halloween.

Between 1920 and 1950, the centuries-old practice of trick-or-treating was also revived. Trick-or-treating was a relatively inexpensive way for an entire community to share the Halloween celebration. In theory, families could also prevent tricks being played on them by providing the neighborhood children with small treats. A new American tradition was born, and it has continued to grow. Today, Americans spend an estimated $6.9 billion annually on Halloween, making it the country's second largest commercial holiday.