It must be apparent to all of us that the British have truly embraced the whole notion of Halloween. Our own Guy Fawkes night is taking a back seat in many households and instead an orgy of spooky costumes, themed decorations, repellent foods and illuminated pumpkins is everywhere in evidence.

You might well be energised and excited by the Halloween iconography of skulls, spider’s webs, jellied eyeballs, bleeding axe wounds, ghouls, witches and vampires and love the whole idea of a themed celebration. But, as with all communal festivities, there will always be people who resist expectations and refuse to follow the crowd, and often they have perfectly good reasons for being reluctant to join in.

Unwelcome Visitors

We should never assume that all small children are titillated by scary ghost stories, thrilled by ghoulish costumes or delighted by the prospect of being scared half to death. Some children find the whole Halloween horror show too hot to handle, and nobody should force them to wander the streets in the dark, being assailed by the walking dead, or ambushed by frightening witches and ghosts. As adults, we know that whole event is an enjoyable frolic, an extravaganza of make-believe, but some children can be very susceptible and take the horrors on display literally.

At the other end of the spectrum, some older people may find the event disruptive and alarming. They are dependent on well-established routines and used to the peace and security of their homes, especially as the autumn nights draw in, and may be disorientated and distressed by the goings on outside. Unexpected knocks on the door at night, people in costumes and loud noises can all be disruptive and cause agitation and anxiety.

Small children, accompanied by adults, knocking on neighbours’ doors in pursuit of sweets and a suitably terrified reaction to their costumes is at the inoffensive end of the Halloween spectrum. But as the night wears on, the atmosphere can turn more febrile and tense. Older teenagers can sometimes take the ‘trick’ aspect of the evening too far and a seemingly innocent bit of theatre can turn into threatening anti-social behaviour. Trick or treating in the UK is not against the law, but when behaviour turns disruptive, the police have the authority to arrest individuals who have been involved in harassment, vandalism or threatening conduct. It is quite understandable that anyone who has experienced this type of behaviour may feel extremely wary of the whole Halloween horror show.

Over the Top Costumes

The more dexterous and ingenious amongst us are no doubt well equipped to knock up striking Halloween costumes, but for most of us this time of year means can mean extra expense, and often stress. We browse supermarket aisles and shop online for gruesome accessories for our children, and some adults also invest in expensive outfits with a spooky twist.

The obligation not to let our children down can lead to a very tense run-up to Halloween, especially for parents who are not naturally creative when it comes to devising imaginative costumes. There is inevitably an element of rivalry amongst children, so an abject failure to shine can be crushing for the child and piles on extra pressure on parents.

Even adults are feeling compelled to look the part and wow their friends on social media, making the whole Halloween season increasingly completive. This is fine if you love creative styling and staged photoshoots, but it is not so much fun if you’re a Halloween refusenik.

Don’t allow yourself to feel pressurised by all the dressing up antics and, if it really isn’t your thing, have the courage of your convictions and explain politely that you’re not really a fan of Halloween, or a devotee of fancy dress. Remember you can always offset any feelings of negativity by being warm and enthusiastic about the efforts made by your friends. If you like their photographs on social media, maybe picking out certain details for special approbation, you will soon find that your withdrawal from festivities is not causing offence.

Some workplaces embrace the whole Halloween horror show with enthusiasm, and it can feel very oppressive if you’re a non-participant. Anyone who is dreaming up Halloween-themed events in an office should ensure that nobody feels coerced into celebrations, and there should never be any reproaches or pressure. If you really don’t like the whole atmosphere, try and work from home or set up meetings outside the office – sometimes quietly withdrawing from the whole scene is the most tactful gesture.

Escaping Halloween

•Lie Low
If you turn off any outside lights and draw your curtains, you will probably find that you are not disturbed by trick or treaters. Nowadays, people who want to encourage Halloween visitors tend to advertise their welcome with jack-o-lanterns and seasonal decorations, so a dark house speaks for itself.

•Create your own traditions
Autumn is a great time of year for celebrating and socialising before the winter really sets in. Rather than focussing on darkness and death you might want to celebrate the Harvest cornucopia – for example, you could invite round some like-minded friends and serve an autumnal feast of pumpkin soup, bangers and mash and apple pie, washed down with mulled cider, and make this event an annual tradition.

If you’ve got young children, you will probably find their captivated by the traditional, and very seasonal, game of apple-bobbing. This innocent pastime requires you to fill a tub of water with seasonal apples, which bob to the surface. Players must keep their arms behind their back (sometimes they are tied) and attempt to lift the apples with their teeth.

•Enjoy an Anti-Halloween Evening
Treat yourself, and your friends, and hunker down to a self-indulgent evening, replete with comfort food, favourite movies (nothing Halloween-themed), and convivial conversation, and forget about the whole extravaganza.

•Downplay your role
If you’re a Halloween refusenik and your kids are driving you mad with spooky requests, try and team up with another parent who is less conflicted about the whole extravaganza.  Maybe they could take your children trick or treating while you concoct a delicious feast (with a modicum of themed Halloween delicacies), for you to all enjoy when the Halloween adventurers return. As long as you reciprocate for this kind of favour, you might be able to minimise your involvement.