[Familyofmonkeys]

I've never seen anything like it before. It's gone 9pm and it's like a street party outside, there are that many people dressed up. Across the road, the house has been done up like a grotto, complete with full size glow in the dark skeleton handing in the front door.

I have also been left a few 'presents' i.e. litter. I haven't been able to get to the front door while I was getting the kids to bed, and it seemed to be knocking every 5 minutes. When I did make it to the front door, I was a bit shocked to find such a mess, especially as it was still quite early and most of the kids trick or treating, were supervised by parents :o

[kiwidebs]

Wow, sounds busy down your neck of the woods. We've only seen two lots trick or treating - but then, we do live down a long driveway.
Gemma had fun at the Halloween party she went to this evening - came home with a bag full of sweets, and she was obviously full of sugar and bouncing around the place :laugh .

[jubjub]

We didnt have anyone, think the "beware of the dog" sign and the fact we are a main road helped! Next door came round to show me their family outfits, and got me to agree to make a chocolate cake, well they did look scary!

[gil]

Quiet as the grave here :laugh:laugh
Kids went trick or treating at about 5.30-6, still light and they came back with HEAPS of lollies. (Kiwi enough, everyone?) but no-one knocked our door...

Gil

[Marie P]

We had tonnes of kids knocking here ,the majority with a parent lurking in the background.

I enjoyed it too as I got to meet a few more neighbours.

Marie x

[Lupin]

A couple of kids at school mentioned it was Halloween and we saw some TorTers in town on our way to Guides, but on the whole no-one seems to do anything Halloweenish here, which is a good thing as I don't 'get' Halloween at all really!

[Leccy-Lee]

Wow, its halloween? lol
Seriously havent seen anything today, no kids or anything.

And it sooo doesnt feel like halloween to me :( it should be cold dark and wet for halloween! With glowing pumpkins outside from 4pm, really doesnt work in daylight. No hope for me at this rate, christmas in summer will be a killer!

[jubjub]

And it sooo doesnt feel like halloween to me :( it should be cold dark and wet for halloween! With glowing pumpkins outside from 4pm, really doesnt work in daylight. No hope for me at this rate, christmas in summer will be a killer!

Welcome to "opposite" land Lee! You do get used to it, although I am still looking for fireworks and bonfire night kinda stuff in April when its dark early ;) . Its all part of the fun!

[Leccy-Lee]

I'll drink to that :cheers

[Kim39]

Excuse the pun, but its been dead around here in TA, and that's how i like it :nice1


Kim

[Tia Maria]

Our roads were leafleted and all the local children & parents met up for a picnic at the park, then set off down the road to trick or treat. The leaflets explained to people there would be children knocking and just to put up a 'no trick or treat' sign. But to be honest only the houses with full Halloween decoration were visited and everyone else left alone.

It was a really good vibe, you kept bumping into loads of people you knew and various parents volunteered their houses for drinks afterwards.

We put up a sign after 8pm, explaining 'no more trick or treats as young children were asleep' and no one else knocked.

I was surprised at how good it was! Now off to sneak a few of those chocolates out of their bags. :D

Cheers

Tia

[BkyMonster]

I always love Halloween around here. No matter how aloof your neighbors are the rest of the year you get to see everyone out traipsing around knocking on strange doors and being given candy. Feels more like a close community on Halloween than the rest of the year. Funny that. :laugh

That is probably one thing I'll miss. I do love seeing the kiddies in their costumes. :D

[StevieD]

Always is Kim :laugh

But much the same here in Cambridge, only had 5 callers, couple of tots with the parents then a few older kids later on. Ended up eating most of the sweets ourselves!!

Thing that was bugging me though, strawberries on Halloween!! :laugh

Still did the apple bobbing though (with a few strawberries thrown in too) and decorated the house up a bit. Kieran nearly caused a heart attack when he jumped out from behind the door with a full size alien head mask on - poor kids nearly died :)

[jackie m]

We took our 2 to the library all dressed up (1 witch 1 giraffe) for scarey stories & pass the parcel which they really enjoyed. We we home by 7pm no treat or treaters :no . But like others have said we too have a long driveway:D
Jackie

[Moorf]

Not a dicky-bird or vampire here - shame, we had to eat all the sweeties :D

[Pip]

nothing here either!... guess Canterbury hasn't embraced Halloween like the rest of NZ!

[flatshoes]

Halloween in my area was confined to parties at school mostly, it seemed. A good many people I observed seemed to think it was an American import and were somewhat annoyed at the hype and being pressured to buy stuff for it. I think John Dolan made some humorous crack a few years ago about Kiwis being opposed to the idea of just giving stuff away to kids (instead of porridge of a stern stalking-to). But it seems to be mainly the foreign-ness and commercialism that turns some people off. Others enjoy getting into the spirit, sewing stuff and buying candy etc., just a different sort of fun for them. I used to think it was too close to one of the genuine (well, British-import) (Guy Fawkes) holidays for people to really jump on the bandwagon here...but then again once getting to know the culture better, I have found Kiwis to be very creative people who love an excuse to be creative (one of their most endearing traits) and Halloween is nothing if not an excuse to be creative. :)