Do you BOO people in your neighborhood?

**eldo** · 10-14-2003, 11:09 AM

This is a fun activity popular around here for about the past 10 years. I was wondering how prevalent it is throughout the country.

This is how it works:

You secretly and anonymously (after dark!) leave a "boo" on 2 neighbors' porches. What is a "boo"? It consists of 3 things:

(1) a small bag or basket of Halloween candy, stickers, pencils, etc., geared toward the age of the recipient.

(2) a boo sign (can be simply a piece of printer paper with a ghost drawn on it and the word BOO in big letters). If you or your kids want to color it, go ahead and be more creative;

(3) instructions to the person being boo'ed saying "You've been BOO'ed!" Advise them to enjoy their treats, hang the boo sign they've just received on their door, make 2 photcopies of the boo sign and the instruction sheet, and deliver it along with some treats to 2 neighbors within 24 hours;

The idea is that the 2 people you "boo" will "boo" 2 more people and so on and so on. It's fun to see how far it spreads during the time leading up to Halloween. You know who to boo and who's already been boo'ed because they'll have their boo sign taped on their front door.

My kids have had so much fun surprising their friends this way. Since it's done anonymously, they have fun keeping their friends guessing as to who boo'ed whom! We have fun going by the houses we boo'ed, and seeing the treat bag gone and the boo sign on their door. Really gets everyone in the Halloween spirit!

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**pandybat** · 10-14-2003, 11:34 AM

What a neat idea! Sounds like fun! Unfortunately, I don't think any of my neighbors would keep it going. I live around a bunch of older people or people that I wouldn't even want to go in their yards, let alone tape a sign on their doors...lol They live too far up the road for me to enjoy it or to be "booed" back. I sometimes wished I lived in a neighborhood with lots of moms and kids. But then again, I kinda like the peace and quiet out here. I don't even decorate my house for holidays or give out candy on Halloween. We just live too far away from the road.

**AndersonGal** · 10-14-2003, 12:30 PM

Sounds cute but I don't think New Englanders would be ready for that.

**sblme28** · 10-14-2003, 12:54 PM

LOL...I agree!

Originally posted by AndersonGal
Sounds cute but I don't think New Englanders would be ready for that.

**3tbear** · 10-14-2003, 02:13 PM

Originally posted by AndersonGal
Sounds cute but I don't think New Englanders would be ready for that.

Not in New England I'm afraid, it's not done here. Cute idea though. I think people in this state would be cautious if someone left candy on their doorstep, not too trusting about whether or not they could eat it. It's nice you can do that where you live.

**aprilgail** · 10-14-2003, 06:26 PM

Sounds fun but here in NY if you went sneaking up on your neighbors doorstep you are likely to be met with a shotgun pointing at you!

**cata5** · 10-14-2003, 08:27 PM

We do it! It is called being "ghosted". We were just talking about starting it since noone has yet. It is really fun for younger kids and fun to see all the ghosts on the doors up and down the street.

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**eldo** · 10-15-2003, 12:28 PM

Originally posted by cata5
[B]We do it! It is called being "ghosted". We were just talking about starting it since noone has yet. It is really fun for younger kids and fun to see all the ghosts on the doors up and down the street.

cata, glad someone knows what I'm talking about! You're right, it's so much fun for the kids. I usually let my son and daughter each pick one friend to "boo", but one year we had two new families move in nearby so we "booed" them too!

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**bradedit** · 10-15-2003, 01:16 PM

Well down here I have seen Youth Groups do something where they put a sign in your yard saying "You've been flocked" and a bunch of pink flamingo yard ornaments, you then Give a small donation so they can be removed.

I love the idea of the boo. although it would be over pretty quick because I think we only have about 12 houses on my street and 6 houses on the street behind us and then nothing for about a mile or so.

**cata5** · 10-15-2003, 01:26 PM

The fun part is that it is carried out over time. We were ghosted and then we had to copy the flyers and buy some candy for our "victims"lol. So the kids didn't ghost other people until the next night...and so on...Every day when they walked to the bus they could see more flyers in the doorways and they knew the process was continuing.

BTW, I don't have any decorations up yet. Not in the mood. I did get my boxes out and discovered the dozens of halloween pencils I bought last year on clearance. My kids hate when I give non candy items! LOL A pencil! Yuk!

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**buckeyemomma** · 10-15-2003, 01:39 PM

there are only 6 houses in my block

but this sounds like a good idea for the kids!

**dlabrie708** · 10-15-2003, 02:04 PM

Originally posted by AndersonGal
Sounds cute but I don't think New Englanders would be ready for that.

Okay, Stinky, we need to meet...lol!

I'm in MA and it is done here, except it is called being "ghosted" as someone else mentioned. Unfortunately, I have never been ghosted....oh, woe is me...lol. My sister said it will probably start happening when my dd gets into grade school. That's when she was first ghosted. I just might have to start the tradition in my own neighborhood. Hmmmmmmm, who should I ghost first......this will be fun! Maybe you should start it in your neighborhood with someone you know well.

Andersongal, have you been to Salem yet? I believe we talked about it a couple of months back. Well, here it is October and I still haven't brought my dh. He has never been. It's a pretty fun time of year and the weather is just beautiful. Let's talk!!!

Lori

**freesurfer** · 10-15-2003, 06:35 PM

Yeah I "boo" them all!!

Oh you meant something else!!!

**jsalba** · 10-16-2003, 04:38 AM

I've never heard of such a thing!

It sounds great!! Many of my neighbors are elderly or filthy rich and above these things.. unfortunately.. or else I would have a blast doing it.

**AndersonGal** · 10-16-2003, 04:50 AM

Dlabrie~ You could BOO me.

I'm spending Oct 25th in Salem as an *All Day Trip*.
Still don't know if my friend is going.
:raising one eyebrow and giving someone a look: lol
Do you want to go too?

Hey eldo!
Maybe we just need a *Grown Up* version of this for people like Jeff & I that don't have many kids around.

We could leave a Bottle of Vampire Blood (wine) or Ghost plasma (vodka) or something like that.

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