Trick or treat: Should Halloween be banned?

The Witching Hour is nearly here - when we see the return of ghosts, ghouls, witches and wizards all running amok in a street near you.

The traditionally Pagan festival of Halloween may be a time of great excitement and devilish fun for youngsters but it's also a time of great concern for many adults and pensioners alike.

Many people are concerned that Halloween encourages children to approach strangers, ask for "protection" against evil spirits and some even go as far as to say that it encourages threatening behaviour, especially to the elderly or infirm.

Is this taking the whole thing far too seriously - is Halloween just a bit of harmless fun. Or is there a more sinister element?

Is it time to ban Halloween?

Caron from the UK suggested this Talking Point:
We teach our children not to approach strangers, talk to them or take sweets from them. We also teach them that to threaten other people, take bribes or ask for protection money is wrong. Then on Halloween we allow them to knock on strangers doors and demand treats or else they will play a trick.

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This debate is now closed. Read a selection of your comments below.

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Your reaction

I quite enjoy watching it all for one night each year

Duncan, UK

Maybe I'm just particularly lucky, but I've never had any trouble from trick-or-treaters and I don't know anyone who has. As long as it's all done in good humour, then good luck to them. I quite enjoy watching it all for one night each year, and when they're a bit older my children will be joining in too.
Duncan, UK

We have a similar festival in some parts of Holland but it's strictly for little kids - up to the age of 10. Perhaps discouraging older kids, except as chaperones for their siblings, would help in keeping the festival fun for the little ones. Teenagers in general do not like to be seen doing "kids" things. But ban it? No, definitely not.
Victor D, Amsterdam, Netherlands

As a Scot, Halloween was always celebrated for as long as I can remember but not as an American festival. As a child we dressed up to go guising (not trick or treating), which involved knocking on our neighbours' doors and then singing a song, telling jokes or reciting a poem in return for a handful of sweets or nuts. And we made our lanterns in the traditional way, out of turnips (called swedes if you're English). Pumpkin lanterns are a much more recent invention!! Halloween was enormous fun, and I'm sure it still is for the vast majority of kids, even if some of its rich history has been undermined by its adoption as a US festival.
Hannah, Scotland

It is not a case of banning Halloween, it's one of exercising parental control. At the moment we have fireworks going off at all hours of the day and night. Why don't the parents of the children responsible do something about it?
Ian Thomas, England

It would help if we knew what was meant by a "trick" or a "treat". This practice did not exist a few years ago. What annoys me even more is the constant fireworks going off from mid October to early January. We used to have them once on November 5th and we knew the reason why.
Peter J, Yorkshire, UK

Hallowe'en is a great opportunity to teach your kids about generosity, neighborliness and good manners!

J, USA

My 3-year old has been practising Trick-or-Treating for weeks, and I know that what he learns from looking adults in the eye, saying "Thank you" and then going home to help me hand out candy to our neighbors will make the costume sewing and the walking in the rain worthwhile. Halloween is a great opportunity to teach your kids about generosity, neighborliness and good manners!
J, USA

Halloween couldn't be banned anyway, it's not possible. How would they stop people? And anyway, people that think it should be banned should get a life, or ignore it at least.
Joe, England

I always thought that "trick or treat" was American, and the original British (Scottish?) version, guising, did not involve the trick part at all.
FN, UK

You can't ban it, but why encourage it? Why not celebrate goodness rather than darkness? Its one import from the States we can well do without.
Richard Hobbs, UK

Don't ban halloween, ban the little brats who pester homeowners. One year I'd love to throw eggs and flower all over them and see how they like cleaning it off the next day!
Roger, UK

The vast majority of children that come to our door leave quietly and without disturbance

David, Scotland

The notion that Hallowe'en should be banned is laughable. Obviously there will always be the risk of children knocking on doors behind which they could come to harm, but if they stay in their own neighbourhood where is everyone is reasonably farmiliar with each other there should be no problem. To the point of the youngsters playing 'tricks', the vast majority of children that come to our door leave quietly and without disturbance if they are told there are no sweets. As for the notion of stirring up evil spirits, in this day and age I find it laughable that this is even an issue.
David, Scotland

"Scary Night" is my families second favorite event. We don't have trouble with kids knocking down the door. The area children, including teenagers, and parents come around and enjoy the night's goulish activites. If you are having trouble with some kids behaviour, then call the cops.
Rick, USA

I remember a certain Halloween at secondary school where thirty kids dressed in balaclavas equipped themselves with eggs, spray paint and powerful French 'bangers' and about as much mischief as we... I mean they... could muster. Innumerable amounts of people were terrorised and subsequently many were suspended and expelled from school. And people want to BAN Halloween?? Why? It was so much fun!
Matt, UK

The only time of year when I feel truly like a child - even more than at Christmas, truth be told.
Robert del Valle, USA

Hmmm, seems like the most pressing issue right now. The US has had a solution to those who don't want to participate for years. If you have candy leave your porch light on, if you don't then turn it off. Seems simple enough.
Kyle, Denver, US

We can never know what evil forces might be unleashed

Patrick, Acton, England

As a Christian I am concerned about anything that encourages people to dabble with the occult. People might think it's just harmless fun but we can never know what evil forces might be unleashed. The Bible clearly states that we should have nothing to do with the practice of magic, witchcraft, divination, fortune telling, raising dead spirits etc.
Patrick, Acton, England

In reply to Patrick, Acton: kids who go around asking for treats don't really have magic powers, honest. And raising the dead is not one of the tricks I have seen them do, I promise. Still worry not, with a bit of luck it will be bucketing down and the whole debate will be academic.
Gisela, Colchester, UK

I don't think it should be banned, but like everything else it needs to be done with some consideration. Teenagers should be discouraged from going door-to-door. Parents should accompany their younger children, especially if not familiar with all their neighbours - it's also a good way to meet the neighbours. Or have the teenagers take the little ones - it can be far less intimidating for the elderly.
Elizabeth, USA

I will be taking the afternoon off work tomorrow so that I can be home and enjoy seeing all the kids who come to my door dressed in their costumes. I never did Trick or Treating when I was growing up in the UK so this is fun for me. Just one thing though, please parents, teach your kids to say thank you and not just hold their bags out and run away. It is such bad manners. Thanks and have a happy and safe Halloween everyone.
Pauline, UK/USA

Let the kids enjoy themselves

Jim, USA

Ban Halloween huh? Who's the genius to think of such an idea? You complain about out-of-control teens vandalising your property and you blame it on kids who don't get any candy for Halloween? Get a better scapegoat. Stop being a grinch and let the kids enjoy themselves.
Jim, USA

Banning Halloween is a logical first step. But why stop there? Let's form a federal commission to go from village to village holding witch trials. Then, of course, we'll want to burn them at the stake. What a brilliant, 21st century idea!
Shane, USA

If you want to ban Halloween because of the potential for nuisance callers trying to get something, e.g. money, then they should also make door-to-door selling/collecting illegal. I am fed up with people throughout the year, knocking on my door trying to sell me stuff that I don't want/need or forcing me to donate to some 'good' cause or other. Having witnessed some of these 'salesmen' I would imagine that they too would scare old people.
Cameron, Scotland

This pathetic event should be made illegal

Mick, UK

This pathetic event should be made illegal. The last thing we want is thuggish teenagers looking for a financial 'treat', kicking down our doors because they were only given a chocolate bar. It's scary for elderly people and they shouldn't be subjected to this.
Mick, UK

It's harmless fun for the kids, there's no point in taking it away from them
Gemma, Avon

My view is that Halloween, like Easter, Mother's day, father's day etc is becoming more popular as they are commercially exploited by greetings card sellers, sweet manufacturers and kids' toy shops etc. It's a disgrace.
John Royle, Eccles, UK

Halloween banned? Yes it should, if you no longer want your children to have imagination and fun. Who would think of a pathetic thing like this to ban Halloween night? Obviously some boring, pathetic person who wishes to depress others to suicidal tendencies!
Sam, UK

I wouldn't go so far as to ban the Halloween festival but I think parents need to exercise caution when they let their kids go Trick or Treating. Most of the time youngsters are allowed out unaccompanied, which could leave them vulnerable. There are also some children who seem to use this as an excuse to extort money; one of my neighbours had his front door pelted with eggs because he was slow to answer the door. Is this a sign of the times or have we Brits corrupted an otherwise harmless American tradition?
Jenni, Bristol, England

Don't ban Halloween - it's a great excuse to dress up and have a party. When was the last time people let their hair down and dressed up for a laugh? Halloween is the perfect excuse. I had never really dressed up since I was 10, till I went to a works Halloween party the other day and it was great. I'm now 24 and never enjoyed myself so much at a works do before.
Tony B, N.Ireland

I can cope, but I would not like to think I was a lone pensioner in a rough council estate

Mark, England

I was accosted by a scruffy bunch of 12 to 14 year olds yesterday outside a DIY store begging for money (Penny for the Guy). My doorbell will not stop ringing on the 31st when youngsters beg for sweets or money. Does that sound like 21st century Britain? I can cope, but I would not like to think I was a lone pensioner in a rough council estate. My Grandmother used to get lighted boxes of matches through her letterbox, and that was in the 70's. I dread to think what the same estate is like now!

However you can't ban it, it's too late - it would be like trying to ban Christmas. Go round any shop at the moment and they are full to the brim with Chinese-made American novelties. My advice is to have a party for your kids to keep them off the streets.
Mark, England

It's not a question of 'banning Halloween' altogether, just banning extortion dressed up as childish fun. The message trick or treat gives to children is utterly appalling - give me something or I'll play a trick on you. Most people I know refuse to answer their doors at this time of year, and no one should be put in that position. It's time our culture stopped over-indulging children and swung the balance back a little towards respect for others and discipline.
Carolyn Carteris, UK

There is no problem marking pagan festivals with celebrations. The day on which Easter falls is decided by pagan methods after all (lunar pattern). If people want me to embrace new practices to the UK such as Trick or Treat, the same people should also embrace the modern practices of me asking for ID, and suing them for criminal damage should anything untoward happen on my property.
Paul, UK

For younger children it is just a piece of fun - a commodity in short supply these days

Geoff Wilkes, North Wales

Banning Halloween does seem a little over the top. It depends on the age of the trick-or-treaters. I do agree that older children can be worrying for the elderly and should be discouraged, but for the younger children it is just a piece of fun - a commodity that is in short supply these days.
Geoff Wilkes, North Wales

Arrest the little bleeders and send them to Afghanistan to throw eggs, wrap toilet paper around everything, and be verbally abusive. The Taliban will give up Bin Laden in no time.
Nick, USA

Whilst I have every respect for the Pagan origins of Halloween, I think it has all become too commercialised - and very frightening when kids knock on old people's doors, and upset people's animals etc!
Rob, England

Get a grip and let the kids have their fun

Melanie Torrance, Scotland

You cannot be serious! Ban Halloween? I suppose it'll be all the good Christians of the UK who will be wanting it banned, because it's a Pagan festival? Never mind the fact that they themselves believe in the Holy Ghost! Get a grip and let the kids have their fun.
Melanie Torrance, Scotland

Of course Halloween is just a bit of fun. Kids these days are statistically in no greater danger than they were a generation ago, regardless of what the tabloid press would have us believe. What will be next, abolishing Xmas?
Shaun, Teignmouth, UK

Essentially, Halloween is an excuse to go out and beg - or demand money with menaces i.e. if you don't give me something, I'm going to pelt your car with eggs and cause as much damage as I can. In days gone by, parents used to go out with big groups of kids to keep an eye on them. If they still did that, maybe we wouldn't have the problems we have today - and less risk of abduction.
Sandra, UK

When I was young, we went out guising at Halloween, were usually accompanied by a parent and put considerable effort into our costumes. You only called on people you knew and in order to get any sweets or anything you had to tell a joke or funny story or sing a song or something. It seemed like quite harmless fun. Now though kids hardly put any effort in at all and think they can turn up at any door and demand sweets, they can also be quite malicious in how they approach people and it can be quite threatening. Halloween has had it's day and should be banned, apart form anything else, anything which encourages interest in the occult can never be a good thing.
Stuart, UK

When the occasion is used by groups of teenagers as an excuse for petty vandalism and intimidation then I'm all for Halloween being banned

James Crosby, England

Young kids going round to the houses of people that they know, under the watchful gaze of say a parent is fine. However, as seems to be more often the case, when the occasion is used by groups of teenagers as an excuse for petty vandalism and intimidation then I'm all for Halloween being banned.
James Crosby, England

Prohibition didn't eliminate alcoholism; banning Halloween won't eliminate juvenile delinquency. Perhaps the British law enforcement community should take a page from Rudy Giuliani's term as Mayor of NYC: Enforce the laws you have instead of passing ones you'll never keep.
T.J. Cassidy, USA

Yes, ban it. It's about time we nipped this 'fun' lark in the bud before it gets out of control.
I also support a ban on children's television, climbing frames, amusement parks, chocolate, sweets, toys and most definitely laughter.
Dean, UK

I remember when asking for a trick resulted in being shown a trick they'd learnt. Nowadays I'm likely to get my car windows smashed or a firework pushed through my letterbox if I don't promptly give a treat. Ban it.
Martin, England

It has to be dealt with by each parent themselves, you can't make legislation about it.

Jenny Radcliffe, UK

You can't "ban" Halloween - the 31st October will always be Halloween to people. And you can't ban trick-or-treating, either, though I wish you could. I usually sit at the back of the house and try to make it as dark as possible, for fear that older "children" will do nasty things. I agree that parents are right to be concerned about it - but it has to be dealt with by each parent themselves, you can't make legislation about it.
Jenny Radcliffe, Durham, UK

If you like Halloween then join the fun. If don't like it ignore it. If the kids threatens you call the police. Banning Halloween, that's PC gone crazy. What's next, ban Christmas because kids forces parents to buy stuff?
K Endo, UK