How to 'Boo' Someone for Halloween
You can certainly include candy, but don't be afraid to get creative.
Published: Sep 30, 2025 | Modified: Sep 25, 2026
Halloween is nearly here, and ghosts and ghouls might already be appearing around the neighborhood. Which means it's time to get booing.
No, not the type of booing heard at sports events. Booing for Halloween means secretly leaving a bag or box of treats on a friend's or neighbor's porch with a "You've Been Booed" note and asking them to pass the surprise along to others. Below, we explain exactly what it entails.
What is 'booing'?
Halloween booing dates back to the 1980s in the United States. It's also been called other names over the years, including ghosting and hobgoblining, as its popularity has grown.
Booing starts with a small, anonymous gesture and spreads as the recipients keep the chain going. Here's the quick version:
- Fill a bag or box with goodies.
- Attach a "You've Been Booed" note, without your name. In the note, ask the recipient to pass a boo along to at least two other people.
- Sneak the parcel onto a friend's or neighbor's porch, ring the bell, and disappear.
Whether you include homemade treats, store-bought sweets, or other surprises, including instructions to keep the chain going is essential.
Kendra Montante, author of Booing: A Halloween Tradition, says such small acts of kindness help build community. While the practice may differ slightly by region, there is no wrong way to do it, as long as the intent is to be kind.
In the Detroit suburbs, where Montante lives, "we tend to pack two bags of treats, sneak out at night, and take them to the neighbors' or friends' houses, put them on the porch, ring the doorbell, and run and hide. That's being booed!" she said. "Still, it happens so much and it's so widespread that it takes on different forms all throughout the country."
Some people might fill entire driveways with candies and treats, she said. Others take a 21-plus approach and leave beer, wine, or liquor as a surprise.
What to put in a boo bag
To start, prepare the packages you will leave. You can use candy, but feel free to get creative. Consider adding a mix of items:
- Wrapped chocolates and other candy
Cheryl's Halloween cookies that are ready to gift right out of the box, no assembly required
- Halloween-themed crafts and printables
- Small toys and family games
- Other seasonal goodies
Top treats for boo bags
Booing is more fun when the treats feel special. These picks make a boo bag or box that neighbors will remember:
For more ideas, see our companion guide to boo bags for trick-or-treaters.
Write your "You've Been Booed" note
Every good boo needs a note. Keep it playful and anonymous, and include instructions that keep the chain alive. A simple version might read: "You've Been Booed! Enjoy these treats, then boo two more friends within two days. Happy Halloween!"
Deliver the goods
Now comes the time to be sneaky. After dark, go to your neighbors' or friends' homes, leave the treats on the porch, ring the doorbell, and leave quickly. If you wish, you can stay nearby and watch their reaction.
Spread the boo
A boo may spread on its own, but you can help by telling friends and neighbors about the idea so that more people join in.
Booing etiquette
A few simple etiquette tips keep the fun going:
- Stay anonymous so that the mystery remains.
- Be inclusive and try to reach neighbors who may not have been booed yet.
- Keep it low-pressure, since the goal is to spread cheer, not obligation
What does it mean to boo someone for Halloween?
Booing means secretly leaving a bag or box of Halloween treats on someone's porch with a "You've Been Booed" note, then asking them to pass the surprise along. It's a friendly, community-building tradition.
What should I put in a boo bag?
Fill your boo bag with wrapped candy, decorated cookies, Halloween crafts and printables, small toys, family games, and other seasonal goodies. Getting creative makes the surprise more fun.
When should you boo someone?
Booing usually starts in the weeks leading up to Halloween, giving recipients time to boo several more people before the big day.
How do you start a boo chain in your neighborhood?
Prepare two boo bags, drop them secretly on two porches, and include a note in each asking the recipient to boo two more households. Sharing the idea with friends and neighbors helps the chain spread.
Is there a wrong way to boo someone?
There is no wrong way to boo, as long as the intent is to be kind. Booing varies by region, from porch-and-run drop-offs to driveway fills, so feel free to adapt it.
AUTHOR
Beginning her writing career as a print journalist, Hanna Marcus worked as a beat reporter and general assignment reporter in newsrooms throughout Florida including The Tampa Bay Times, The Orlando Sentinel, The Naples Daily News, and The Gainesville Sun. Now a full-time freelance writer, she writes for clients such as Hot Topic, New Balance, BoxLunch, and others.
