Why am I not allowed to hate trick or treating?
Last night I posted a status on my personal Facebook page
And to be fair I was shocked at just how many folks feel the same way as me about a festival that is shrouded in Pagan rituals and dark and menacing traditions.
Many folks above and beyond the ones that openly commented inboxed me to say they couldn’t agree more that they didn’t like it but felt they had to take part and it left me shocked and partly horrified.
My hatred for this one night of the year steams from the over commercialised aspect of a holiday that was mainly practiced in America.
I don’t mind seeing pictures of littlies dressed up or adults in all they scary get ups on the way to a party or family gathering as these are not happening in my house. I personally would not object to going to a party or getting my kids dressed and we do in fact carve pumpkins but what I hate is the expectation from others that I will be taking part in trick or treating or I am wrong if I don’t.
So why do I personally hate trick or treating?
There are several aspects to trick or treating I disagree with, the first and foremost is the expectation from others to give treats….
The first issue for me being that some families are not financially in a position to provide treats to others, they may in fact be struggling to put meals on the table that week never mind give someone else’s child treats.
Next is the fact that even on the Facebook thread the general consensus is that if houses don’t have decorations on the front then they don’t knock on … however that is not the case for everybody and that seems unfair to me. My home is my home and it is in fact my castle it’s my safe place and unless I invite people I should not have strangers knocking on my door … most people spend all year being peeved at the unsolicited door knockers so why is it ok on October 31st?
I personally (note the personally aspect again) I don’t think allowing my children to knock on the doors of strangers for one night of the year expecting to be given something but yet expecting them to follow the ‘stranger danger’ code the other 364 days works well, but again this is my choice and my opinions.
But what really does aggrieve me more than anything else?
That by me choosing not to take part or to not take my child trick or treating its seems other people feel they have to convince me of how safe it is or how nice it is …..
Honestly if you choose to take your children trick or treating ….. That is your choice …. I don’t look down my nose or think what you do is wrong … but please don’t expect everyone else to feel the same for many this festival is a little like Marmite you either love it or hate it.
So why is it I am in the wrong? Or folks need to convince me of why I should be taking part?
I don’t tell anyone else they should not be doing it …. I only say it’s not for us so don’t presume or expect things from us …. Why is that so wrong?