Halloween is on Wednesday, so we asked our Email Jury if the holiday had changed since they were youngsters
Lots of these celebrations seem to last far too long. Christmas will probably start on Thursday.
Ronald James, Angus
There was no “Trick or treat?” in our day, it was “penny for the guy?”.
John Grant, Oxford
When I was wee my late father carved a turnip for me, and it was hard going! Now Halloween merchandise spans two aisles of some supermarkets.
Judi Martin, Aberdeenshire
Halloween, like Christmas, Easter and Guy Fawkes, is too commercialised.
David Hillerby, Durham
When I was young we went around our neighbours’ houses singing, reciting, telling jokes or otherwise entertaining in return for fruit and sweets. Trick or treat is just demanding money or goods!
Liz Kelly, Glasgow
Bobbing for apples is a far cry from the various must-haves on offer today. All the modern symbolism is far more reminiscent of Hollywood horror films or Latin America’s Day of the Dead.
Lorna Smith, North Yorkshire
Children aren’t allowed to wander the streets as we were at Halloween, but is that such a bad thing? Just enjoy it and let the children enjoy it. I still make them tell a joke, sing a song or say a poem.
Margaret Gibb, Fife
I like the idea of it, but not the American version . Here in some parts you put a pumpkin out if you want to participate and homes without a pumpkin are not visited.
Elizabeth O’regan, Lincoln
I miss the smell of the neep lanterns with a candle inside, but the pumpkins are much easier to carve. It’s a great festival which young bairns enjoy.
Stephen Calder, Peterhead