EXCUSE me for coming over all grumpy again after my comments about the joys of Firework Month, but what exactly is the point of Halloween?
I keep being told it’s a celebration or holiday but I can’t see too many people out there – beyond retailers and millions of Americans – who will be celebrating much tonight.
Granted, there will be some youngsters, especially the youngest ones, who will derive a great deal of fun from dressing up and being taken to neighbours’ houses trick or treating or attending Halloween parties.
But there will be a lot of people, many of them elderly or vulnerable, for whom the thought of groups of people standing on their doorstep can be extremely intimidating.
And while I am sure the majority of those trick or treaters will act with their customary jolliness tonight, there will be the few who want to make mischief or, more likely, a bit of money instead of the traditional sweets.
On Tuesday this week, we printed a large colour sign, via Dorset Police, that could be placed in the window of your home if you felt uncomfortable about being visited tonight.
It simply read: “No calls from trick or treaters. Thank you.”
Hopefully, those people who do use the sign will be untroubled and I’m sure visitors will heed the request.
I just think it’s sad that we have to do it in the first place.
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