# An early Trick or Treat rant. **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [October 28, 2012, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-early-trick-or-treat-rant/639087 "2012-10-28T00:52:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Cheshire\_Human](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Cheshire\_Human](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheshire_Human)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2012, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-early-trick-or-treat-rant/639087/21 "2012-10-29T01:57:55Z")
> [@Boggette](#): > > I’ve had ‘kids’ (teens) show up for candy with no costumes! No costume, no candy. And I don’t wish to open my door (or didn’t in the past - now I live way too far out for anyone to ever come to this door) to packs of 30+ teenagers. Nope nope nope. It’s a contest. How many rounds does your shotgun hold? ---
**Author:** ![Szlater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/90ced4/32.png) [@Szlater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Szlater)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2012, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-early-trick-or-treat-rant/639087/22 "2012-10-29T02:04:36Z")
> [@PaulParkhead](#): > > I guess so, although I was aiming for “lighted end first”. Sideways. ---
**Author:** ![PaulParkhead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ea924/32.png) [@PaulParkhead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PaulParkhead)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2012, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-early-trick-or-treat-rant/639087/23 "2012-10-29T02:29:08Z")
> [@Szlater](#): > > Sideways. And inserted using a pneumatic drill. ---
**Author:** ![Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a183cd/32.png) [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barkis_is_Willin)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2012, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-early-trick-or-treat-rant/639087/24 "2012-10-29T02:36:15Z")
> [@Merneith](#): > > What pisses me off is the trick or treating while it’s still daylight. I don’t care what day it is, as long as the neighborhood has all agreed, but my light doesn’t go on until it’s dark enough to tell the difference. If that’s too scary, then you can just sit at home and wait for the Easter Bunny. I read (maybe here?) that candy companies lobbied for delaying the time change until after Halloween because more kids are allowed to trick or treat in daylight, hence, more candy. ---
**Author:** ![fumster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e9c0ed/32.png) [@fumster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fumster)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2012, 5:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-early-trick-or-treat-rant/639087/25 "2012-10-29T05:22:36Z")
> [@spotthegerbil](#): > > I > 4. Isn’t dressing up as a stereotypical witch a bit un-PC these days? The last witch I knew tended to wear jeans and a baggy sweatshirt. Come here again and your weight will be tested against a duck. Kids dressed up as hags with brooms? That’s cute. Adults who think they are witches? Lame. I’m sorry, there is no such thing as witchcraft, your silly spells, charms and pentagrams don’t actually do anything magical because there is no such thing as magic and chances are those pagan traditions you believe in are not actually historically accurate and even if they were it’s still all pretty silly anyway. ---
**Author:** ![NDP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ndp/32/55_2.png) [@NDP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NDP)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2012, 7:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-early-trick-or-treat-rant/639087/26 "2012-10-29T07:35:58Z")
> [@spotthegerbil](#): > > 1. Trick or Treat? I don’t think so. This is Scotland, it’s called Guising. Let’s try to keep our own tradition going. For that matter, where’s your tumshie lamp?\* > > … > > \*tumshie=turnip. the neaps part of haggis, neaps and tatties. I know turnips were originally used for jack o’ lanterns rather than pumpkins but turnips are a real pain carve. Also, unless they’re a lot bigger in the UK than the ones in the US, turnips are too small. Once you get one hollowed out, you don’t even have enough room for a birthday cake candle for lighting. ---
**Author:** ![Crazyhorse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crazyhorse/32/31_2.png) [@Crazyhorse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crazyhorse)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2012, 8:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-early-trick-or-treat-rant/639087/27 "2012-10-29T08:23:10Z")
> [@NDP](#): > > I know turnips were originally used for jack o’ lanterns rather than pumpkins but turnips are a real pain carve. Also, unless they’re a lot bigger in the UK than the ones in the US, turnips are too small. Once you get one hollowed out, you don’t even have enough room for a birthday cake candle for lighting. A turnip lamp: [http://i.ytimg.com/vi/rE7nVrb4rAc/0.jpg](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/rE7nVrb4rAc/0.jpg) I think they soak them in sheep guts or something to make them expand. Doesn’t matter anyway - what self respecting kid is going to carry one of these, and put on a fucking skit no less, just so some asshole can feel important about being in charge of the big decision of whether or not they deserve a lousy piece of candy? That’s not the way we roll in the US - One night per year kids beg for candy and if you refuse they have a widely recognized license to vandalize your house. No turnips involved and nobody gets hurt as long as there’s candy and cooperation. ---
**Author:** ![spotthegerbil](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/439d5e/32.png) [@spotthegerbil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spotthegerbil)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2012, 9:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-early-trick-or-treat-rant/639087/28 "2012-10-29T09:36:33Z")
> [@MeanOldLady](#): > > Scots seem cranky. Perhaps I’ll move there. > [@elbows](#): > > This Scot seems somewhat righteously cranky, if you ask me. We’re cranky by nature. > [@Crazyhorse](#): > > A turnip lamp: [http://i.ytimg.com/vi/rE7nVrb4rAc/0.jpg](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/rE7nVrb4rAc/0.jpg) > > I think they soak them in sheep guts or something to make them expand. It’s the soaking in sheep guts that just adds to the cranky nature. > [@Crazyhorse](#): > > That’s not the way we roll in the US - One night per year kids beg for candy and if you refuse they have a widely recognized license to vandalize your house. No turnips involved and nobody gets hurt as long as there’s candy and cooperation. Vandalize the house? So it’s not just begging, it’s aggresive begging? Will let you know if the tradition evolves that far. If I’d known they were going to turn up this early I would have slipped an appropriate Chick Tract into their bag. No little visitors on Sunday night. We shall see what the rest of the week brings. I may just get some sweets and stuff in for the wee folk down the street, as long as they visit on the 31st. ---
**Author:** ![Crazyhorse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crazyhorse/32/31_2.png) [@Crazyhorse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crazyhorse)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2012, 10:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-early-trick-or-treat-rant/639087/29 "2012-10-29T10:01:55Z")
> [@spotthegerbil](#): > > Vandalize the house? So it’s not just begging, it’s aggresive begging? Will let you know if the tradition evolves that far. It’s sort of a primary education in self-entitlement and understanding the value of revenge. Then at the end of the evening they spread out their loot and eat about 20 of the 350 pieces of candy they just coerced from strangers and the rest get shoved to a reject pile and forgotten. In this way they learn both begging and overindulgence, hoarding and wastefulness all at the same time. It’s really a multifaceted holiday with rich tradition. And there’s something about a harvest, or a witch, or something like that in there too. ---
**Author:** ![Szlater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/90ced4/32.png) [@Szlater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Szlater)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2012, 10:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-early-trick-or-treat-rant/639087/30 "2012-10-29T10:36:35Z")
> [@PaulParkhead](#): > > And inserted using a pneumatic drill. With a wide chisel bit. ---
**Author:** ![TokyoBayer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tokyobayer/32/13989_2.png) [@TokyoBayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TokyoBayer)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2012, 12:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-early-trick-or-treat-rant/639087/31 "2012-10-29T12:38:54Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > Well, we used to go on Standard Time before Oct 31, so it was dark about 5:30PM. Now, it doesn’t get dark until about 6:30PM, so I have some sympathy for the pre-schools set. I’m with whoever said above that anyone who can’t be out after dark shouldn’t be going. Bedtimes are not meant for Halloween, even for toddlers. ---
**Author:** ![Slithy\_Tove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slithy_tove/32/18248_2.png) [@Slithy\_Tove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slithy_Tove)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2012, 1:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-early-trick-or-treat-rant/639087/32 "2012-10-29T13:05:34Z")
> [@Boggette](#): > > I’ve had ‘kids’ (teens) show up for candy with no costumes! No costume, no candy. And I don’t wish to open my door (or didn’t in the past - now I live way too far out for anyone to ever come to this door) to packs of 30+ teenagers. Nope nope nope. [Relevant Curb Your Enthusiasm reference](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8AQPOoTlIlA) ---
**Author:** ![Astroboy14](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/df705f/32.png) [@Astroboy14](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Astroboy14)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2012, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-early-trick-or-treat-rant/639087/33 "2012-10-29T14:42:09Z")
> [@spotthegerbil](#): > > Vandalize the house? Well, yes. Thus the “trick or treat” part… ---
**Author:** ![Damuri\_Ajashi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/898d66/32.png) [@Damuri\_Ajashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Damuri_Ajashi)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2012, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-early-trick-or-treat-rant/639087/34 "2012-10-29T15:35:05Z")
Our community moved our trick or treat day to the 27th because of the impending hurricane. It worked out very well. I think they should change Halloween to the 4th Saturday in October, it is a LOT more convenient. Unless they are going to make it a national holiday in which case it should be the 4th Friday. ---
**Author:** ![An\_Gadai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@An\_Gadai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Gadai)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2012, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-early-trick-or-treat-rant/639087/35 "2012-10-29T15:44:12Z")
We don’t get off-day trick-or-treating but the bangers/fireworks for Hallowe’en usually start going off in September and stop around about December. Although the recession seems to have put paid to the worst excesses of loud noise making young shitheads. A customer told me that the Hallowe’en bonfire in her area usually goes on every night this week! ---
**Author:** ![Kimballkid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b5a626/32.png) [@Kimballkid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimballkid)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2012, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-early-trick-or-treat-rant/639087/36 "2012-10-29T15:44:50Z")
There was some kid in a Winnie the Pooh costume and their mother wandering around the neighborhood on Saturday afternoon. Didn’t see them go to any houses or anything. Couldn’t really figure out what they were doing. Weird. ---
**Author:** ![Sicks\_Ate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Sicks\_Ate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sicks_Ate)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2012, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-early-trick-or-treat-rant/639087/37 "2012-10-29T15:51:34Z")
> [@Kimballkid](#): > > There was some kid in a Winnie the Pooh costume and their mother wandering around the neighborhood on Saturday afternoon. Didn’t see them go to any houses or anything. Couldn’t really figure out what they were doing. Weird. Don’t try to assign meaning to it; sometimes kids just want to wear Winnie the Pooh costumes. ---
**Author:** ![thursday\_next](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8797f3/32.png) [@thursday\_next](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thursday_next)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2012, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-early-trick-or-treat-rant/639087/38 "2012-10-29T15:57:04Z")
> [@Sicks\_Ate](#): > > Don’t try to assign meaning to it; sometimes kids just want to wear Winnie the Pooh costumes. What are you doing in my head? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2012, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-early-trick-or-treat-rant/639087/39 "2012-10-29T16:53:50Z")
> [@fumster](#): > > Kids dressed up as hags with brooms? That’s cute. Adults who think they are witches? Lame. I’m sorry, there is no such thing as witchcraft, your silly spells, charms and pentagrams don’t actually do anything magical because there is no such thing as magic and chances are those pagan traditions you believe in are not actually historically accurate and even if they were it’s still all pretty silly anyway. You must be a _hoot_ at parties! ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2012, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-early-trick-or-treat-rant/639087/40 "2012-10-29T17:36:38Z")
> [@Crazyhorse](#): > > A turnip lamp: [http://i.ytimg.com/vi/rE7nVrb4rAc/0.jpg](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/rE7nVrb4rAc/0.jpg) :eek: In Scotland, do you deep-fry the candy bars before handing them out? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-early-trick-or-treat-rant/639087.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-early-trick-or-treat-rant/639087.md?page=3)