This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/magazine/7067804.stm

The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
The Japanese knotweed of festivals The Japanese knotweed of festivals
(10 minutes later)
FAMILY ROOM By Sean Coughlan BBC News Approaching strangers. Making demands with menaces. Sugar bingeing. Trick or treating is against every rule in the parent handbook, and in a new monthly column on family life, one writer says the biggest fright is what kids expect of Halloween today.FAMILY ROOM By Sean Coughlan BBC News Approaching strangers. Making demands with menaces. Sugar bingeing. Trick or treating is against every rule in the parent handbook, and in a new monthly column on family life, one writer says the biggest fright is what kids expect of Halloween today.
Dressing up in a scary costume and cadging chocolate and money is an irresistible business proposition for any child.Dressing up in a scary costume and cadging chocolate and money is an irresistible business proposition for any child.
HALLOWEEN HISTORY Derived from Eve of All Hallows' Day Roots go back to Celtic pagan festival of Samhain Trick or treat first mentioned in Chicago Tribune in 1934A 1986 Bernard Levin column in The Times describes trick or treating arriving in England Warning over trick or treating But should we be encouraging them? Is it harmless fun or an irritating excuse to annoy the neighbours?HALLOWEEN HISTORY Derived from Eve of All Hallows' Day Roots go back to Celtic pagan festival of Samhain Trick or treat first mentioned in Chicago Tribune in 1934A 1986 Bernard Levin column in The Times describes trick or treating arriving in England Warning over trick or treating But should we be encouraging them? Is it harmless fun or an irritating excuse to annoy the neighbours?
The rest of the year we warn children about the dangers of strangers - and then under the guise of trick or treating, encourage youngsters to dress in masks and knock on doors, demanding money.The rest of the year we warn children about the dangers of strangers - and then under the guise of trick or treating, encourage youngsters to dress in masks and knock on doors, demanding money.
Every autumn, after the first volleys of bootleg fireworks have flown across the night sky, the ritual begins.Every autumn, after the first volleys of bootleg fireworks have flown across the night sky, the ritual begins.
There's a tap on the door and standing in the streetlight, silhouetted by the neighbour's security light, is a gaggle of young teenagers. One wears a broken plastic horror movie mask. Another has the script.There's a tap on the door and standing in the streetlight, silhouetted by the neighbour's security light, is a gaggle of young teenagers. One wears a broken plastic horror movie mask. Another has the script.
"Trick or treat." That's about the limit of the rich cultural fare on offer. They want money, they might put up with sweets. They're certainly not giving anything back in exchange."Trick or treat." That's about the limit of the rich cultural fare on offer. They want money, they might put up with sweets. They're certainly not giving anything back in exchange.
Begging
Like all respectable people, the obvious tactic is to make out that it's great fun and then pretend to be out when the next bunch call round.Like all respectable people, the obvious tactic is to make out that it's great fun and then pretend to be out when the next bunch call round.
Turn off the lights, duck under the windows and turn down the television - all to show that you're not a killjoy.Turn off the lights, duck under the windows and turn down the television - all to show that you're not a killjoy.
Spare change
Hold on, when did trick or treating become such a fixture?Hold on, when did trick or treating become such a fixture?
Just try offering apples these daysWhen John Noakes was the nation's uncle on Blue Peter in the 1970s, his seasonal advice at this time of year was to keep dogs indoors on Guy Fawkes Night. But Val, John and Peter never tapped up the neighbours for loose change. When John Noakes was the nation's uncle on Blue Peter in the 1970s, his seasonal advice at this time of year was to keep dogs indoors on Guy Fawkes Night. But Val, John and Peter never tapped up the neighbours for loose change.
Because trick or treat isn't a tradition. In the 80s it was still viewed as an exotic and not particularly welcome import, the Japanese knotweed of festivals.Because trick or treat isn't a tradition. In the 80s it was still viewed as an exotic and not particularly welcome import, the Japanese knotweed of festivals.
On Halloween in 1986, the House of Lords debated the "recently imported trick-or-treat custom of demanding money on threat of playing a nasty trick, now being used by youths to obtain money from old people and others".On Halloween in 1986, the House of Lords debated the "recently imported trick-or-treat custom of demanding money on threat of playing a nasty trick, now being used by youths to obtain money from old people and others".
Intimidation
Their lordships saw trick or treating not as a tradition, but as American for begging.Their lordships saw trick or treating not as a tradition, but as American for begging.
But today's children can't wait to don cobweb costumes and get spookifying with their witches hats, fake blood and plastic spiders.But today's children can't wait to don cobweb costumes and get spookifying with their witches hats, fake blood and plastic spiders.
A season for retailers to be jollyMaybe I'm being too harsh. This could be what daytime television calls a learning experience. There's even seasonal advice about how trick or treating can be more than a binge-fest. Just try offering apples these daysMaybe I'm being too harsh. This could be what daytime television calls a learning experience. There's even seasonal advice about how trick or treating can be more than a binge-fest.
"New Trick or Treating Traditions: Serve a healthy and nutritious dinner before your children set out for a night of candy-collecting. During the meal, take the opportunity to discuss trick or treat safety, as well as the importance of healthy diet and lifestyle choices.""New Trick or Treating Traditions: Serve a healthy and nutritious dinner before your children set out for a night of candy-collecting. During the meal, take the opportunity to discuss trick or treat safety, as well as the importance of healthy diet and lifestyle choices."
Yeah, right. Apart from the quibble over whether you can have "new traditions", who are these people who believe in this chat about healthy diets before ram-raiding for chocolate? It's the National Confectioners Association.Yeah, right. Apart from the quibble over whether you can have "new traditions", who are these people who believe in this chat about healthy diets before ram-raiding for chocolate? It's the National Confectioners Association.
It's like believing in the Filled Tooth Fairy.It's like believing in the Filled Tooth Fairy.
Fake teethFake teeth
For small children - accompanied of course by a responsible adult - who could argue with the excitement of a night-time fancy dress party.For small children - accompanied of course by a responsible adult - who could argue with the excitement of a night-time fancy dress party.
Coming to a doorstep near you...So why does it still rankle? Maybe it's the way that Halloween has been hijacked by trick or treating. Halloween is an authentically ancient festival, about the links between life and death, the struggle between light and dark. So why does it still rankle? Maybe it's the way that Halloween has been hijacked by trick or treating. Halloween is an authentically ancient festival, about the links between life and death, the struggle between light and dark.
Trick or treating is a consumer proposition. It's a sales pitch, not a festival. Spook-related spending in the UK has risen tenfold in a decade, up to £120m. In the US, Halloween is worth $5bn a year to retailers. Coming to a doorstep near you...Trick or treating is a consumer proposition. It's a sales pitch, not a festival. Spook-related spending in the UK has risen tenfold in a decade, up to £120m. In the US, Halloween is worth $5bn a year to retailers.
This clash between cash and culture is obvious when those teenagers arrive on the doorstep. There's no carol singing, no bob-a-jobbing, just a hand out for a handout.This clash between cash and culture is obvious when those teenagers arrive on the doorstep. There's no carol singing, no bob-a-jobbing, just a hand out for a handout.
With depressing predictability, Halloween has become a source of fear rather than fun. Residents are offered "No trick or treaters" posters to deter callers. And in north Wiltshire, the police are planning to wear "head-cams" to record evidence of intimidation or vandalism.With depressing predictability, Halloween has become a source of fear rather than fun. Residents are offered "No trick or treaters" posters to deter callers. And in north Wiltshire, the police are planning to wear "head-cams" to record evidence of intimidation or vandalism.
I'll be wearing a Mr Grumpy mask either way, as my small witches shout that it's time to take them trick or treating. But it pays never to mess with a witch wearing Velcro shoes and glue-glitter.I'll be wearing a Mr Grumpy mask either way, as my small witches shout that it's time to take them trick or treating. But it pays never to mess with a witch wearing Velcro shoes and glue-glitter.
Add your comments on this story, using the form below.Add your comments on this story, using the form below.
Name
 Name