Q&A for How to Avoid Having Anything to Do with Halloween

You might enjoy watching "When Harry Met Sally," "Autumn in New York," "Dead Poets Society," "Remember the Titans," or "Good Will Hunting" in the fall.

It's very unlikely you will convince your whole neighborhood to skip Halloween. If you don't want to participate, turn your porch light off. But just because you believe something is wrong doesn't mean everybody should have to go out of their way to accommodate you.

Put up a note politely asking people to not come to your house. If they still do, turn off all lights at the front of the house, or just go to bed. If the doorbell disturbs you, consider using earphones/earplugs.

If you like giving candy to trick-or-treaters, consider teaming up with a friend or family member so you can help give out candy at their house.

Let them do Halloween stuff without you.

Put up a paper sign with the words "SORRY! NO CANDY!" and tape it to your front door. If someone repeatedly knocks, just ignore it, but if it gets totally out of hand, call the police. That's not likely to happen, since it's not worth knocking on someone's door if they have no candy. If they see you aren't giving out candy, they'll probably just skip your house.

Maybe they just don't like Halloween.

Yes! That's a very good thing to pass the time on Halloween! Read your favorite book, or go to the library, bookstore, or online store and find some books you like! If you don't want to celebrate Halloween, maybe you should stay clear of spooky topics!

Park your vehicles somewhere else that's safe.

If you aren't giving out candy to trick-or-treaters, just eat it like any other day.

It's possible, but if the TV is not near or in view of the window, it won't likely be visible. It doesn't really matter anyway. A single light being on in the house is not a big deal. If you don't want trick-or-treaters, you can just turn your porch lights off, or put up a sign saying you have no candy. You don't need to pretend you're not home.

If a child rings your doorbell on Halloween and you don't celebrate, you can either ignore it or answer the door and politely explain that you're not participating and won't be giving out candy. The child can then move on to the next house.

Not necessarily. Some people might choose not to decorate because of budget constraints, a preference for spending on candy or costumes, or yard limitations. Halloween decorations can attract trick-or-treaters, but the main indicator of participation is typically a lit front porch light. If the porch light is on, there's a good chance they are giving out candy.

You don't need to pretend you're not home, as the article suggests ways to deter trick-or-treaters. However, if you prefer, turn off all the lights in your house, park your vehicles inside or away from your property, and avoid playing loud music.

Keep the exterior of your house discreet and quiet. Avoid playing loud music or displaying flashy yard decorations. Turn off any lights visible from outside, making it appear as though no one is home. A clear sign on your front door stating you are not giving out candy can also help deter trick-or-treaters.

Politely explain to your kids that you don't like Halloween and ask if they would like to do something else instead.

No, it shouldn't be a problem. If you keep your porch or garage lights off, you're less likely to attract trick-or-treaters. If someone does come, you can put up a sign saying you're not giving out candy or leave a bowl with a 'Please take one' sign for those who come by.

People might not celebrate Halloween due to religious beliefs, budget constraints, or personal preferences. Additionally, some might avoid it because of early work commitments requiring an early bedtime.