Halloween in Australia? since when? - wtd about neighbors

I've lived in Australia all my life and I don't recall any halloween celebrations going on around my area. I always thought it was an American holiday.

Last year some neighbors kids (not jewish) came to my door dressed up in scary costumes and scared the wits out of me!!! I was taken aback but had the presence of mind to rummage up some nosh for them. I was a rather miffed actually as I've never been subjected to that before, it's not my holiday, I'm not celebrating and I just don't get it! Coming to people's doors demanding treats? Someone want to explain it to me?

ok so this year they turned up a half hour before shabbos and my son went to the door saying "who is it" but not opening. They answered "trick or treat". He didn't understand and thought they said "choo choo train" so he answered them through the closed door "there are no choo choo trains here" and they left. He then opened the screen and saw some teens in costumes walking away.

Do you think I should ask the mother to ask her kids to skip over our house or should I just brace myself to face it each year and try and remember when Halloween is so I don't get caught by surprise?

Isn't it a pagan festival? I feel resentful about being forced into taking part in a pagan festival Evil or Very Mad

Posted: Sat, Nov 01 2008, 11:01 pm Post subject:

You can put a sign on the door "no candy"
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~Rebecca
NYM 6/11/2004 Music

LTR 6/25/2009 Lady

"Knowledge works best when shared"

Posted: Sat, Nov 01 2008, 11:25 pm Post subject:

Senior Member Joined: Mar 12 2008 Posts: 164

I'm an Aussie Mum too, and a couple of years ago I had a few trick and treaters. I wasn't even sure what they were there for.... Halloween is not a big deal at all in Australia (although the shops are certainly trying to change that!)
But after I figured it out, I found a couple of lollies and gave them some; I didn't want to spoil their fun, and it really wasn't a big deal.

Since then, I haven't seen any trick or treaters, and that's even better!

yeah but it's the idea of it being a pagan festival that's buggin me. Plus, I get frights easily and I still remember that fright I got last year when they came in their scary get-up.

This year they are sure lucky it wasn't ME who answered the door when they came a half hour before shabbos Evil or Very Mad