In my Cape Town neighbourhood, it’s a somewhat- organized affair - everyone giving treats signs up to be involved, they’re all on the map app, some people whose kids are going round but who aren’t themselves giving candy donate some cash towards a replenishment fund and a couple people volunteer to dop off candy top-ups to any houses that run out.
We must have gotten 50-60 kids this year, we ran out just as it ended so didn’t need the top-up.
I’d say about 70% homemade costumes.
Only downside is that the whole thing happens during daylight (because Southern Hemisphere summer).
I heard people have gotten those with razor blades in them!
On my short street, those that partake sit in our driveways, Makes it easier than waiting for a doorbell, and safer for the worry-wort parents that supervise everything.
That’s so sad, like the suburb that doesn’t have any sort of main street and holds their 4th of July parade in the mall parking lot. As if we don’t already spend too much time in and around our cars.
I wish more people would remember the “true spirit” of Halloween, which is that “trick or treat” is a threat, i.e. I will vandalize your house unless you give me candy. Costumes protect their identity from the grumpy geezer whose front door they have to egg. I actually rather like that less-than-wholesome character about it. It gives kids some agency for one day a year and may help defuse some less savory tendencies. Sort of like those towns in Europe (Spain or Italy?) where they have a city-wide tomato fight once a year to get out everyone’s aggression.
Most of our visitors called trick or treat from a significant distance from the candy.
But one memorable one– dressed as a scarecrow, and traveling apparently by himself– Looked at us coolly and said “Trick or Treat” in a way that said this was a choice we got to make. We gave him one small (fun-sized, not mini) candy and sent him on his way, amused.
I remember when I was young and went out trick or treating. It was fun. Most houses were in on it—giving out candy, etc… but there was one little old lady at the end of the street who kids learned to avoid. Every year the same thing… you’d come up to her door, knock and she’d open up smiling, and each kid got exactly one ladleful of gravy. Fresh, hot, gravy. Lovingly poured on top of all your other treats.
(I may have told this one before. Alas it isn’t really true.)
It’s worth remembering that when a kid comes to your door with a half-ass costume or none at all, you don’t know what’s going on in their life. Do they have money to buy a costume? Do they have a parent willing to put in some time to help them? Did they have to sneak out without a costume because their parent would make fun of them?
Is it really so bad if a kid like that gets to join in on the fun and get some free candy, even if it means a few undeserving kids also get candy? It’s so much more fun to just give candy to any kid who comes, and not worry if they’re too old for trick or treating, or if they put in sufficient effort.
Also, before Halloween I saw a long FB post begging people to not require kids say “trick or treat” to get a treat because they might be autistic. And I learned that blue bags/containers are to indicate that the child is autistic. I don’t know how common that knowledge is, I live in a rural area on a long private driveway and never get trick or treaters at all so I don’t have to give much thought to current protocols.
From me, the fun in giving out candy is to see the neighbors and do something nice, but very easy, for their kids. I don’t care much about the costumes – unless there is a really cool one. It’s not like we are all waiting breathless for the Styles of Halloween 2025.
I was a shy kid and I remember the first few houses were always awkward until I got into the groove. My first few ‘trick or treats’ were probably inaudible.
I’m in a suburban environment, and even here door-to-door is on the wane. We have a lot for them here at school. I’d say at least 90% of our kids and 75% of our staff were in costume, and the 25% consisted mostly of office staff and special services people. Teachers were in costume across the board. So, between dressing up, having classroom parties, and general celebration, what we had here was probably better than just walking door-to-door with a bag.
The occasion downunder has grown in scale and the local rules better established over the past couple of decades. When it first become a bit of a thing it was just a teenager sugar grab with menaces.
Halloween in the southern hemisphere is a daylight event as (with daylight saving) sunset is about 7:30pm. Temperatures can still be in the 30Cs. It’s not uncommon to see ghouls and other nocturnal forms walking around the streets with sunglasses. The event is typically finished about sunset.
Homes that wish to participate show their colours and deck out their houses/front yards with the seasonal paraphernalia. Homes who don’t are rarely disturbed by visitors. Kids, almost exclusively now are primary school age. They get costumed up and are almost always accompanied by a couple of parents. Teenagers are now few and those who show up in their school uniform typically shunned. So yes, we are better educated about the festival.
I played along while my kids were of that age, but no longer.
Nobody knocked on my door.
