Witches, ghouls and the walking dead…or so the story goes. Many people believe Halloween to be an American holiday, but it was only Americanized in 1927, when the phrase, ‘trick-or-treat’ originated. It actually began as the Celtic Samhain festival practiced in Ireland over 2,000 years ago, during which fires were lit and faces painted black to ward off and confuse spirits wishing to cause harm. It’s not just a pagan festival as it was adopted into the Christian traditions as celebrations of All Saint’s Day, which falls on 1st November.
Dressing up, trick-or-treating and lighting bonfires is now practiced globally, and while it’s great fun, we mustn’t forget about safety.
Avoiding modern day horrors on this spooky night.
Now you see me
Make sure kids can be seen at night, glow sticks are a great accessory for costumes and double as safety lights.
All for one and one for all
Adults, join in the fun and keep an eye on your kids at the same time, or ensure your child is not alone.
Costume calamities
Most costumes are flammable and extra care needs to be taken around open flames. It’’s also important that masks fit well so the kids can see, as well as not being too long to avoid nasty falls.
Unwelcome guests
Not everyone’s into Halloween, and a dark house is a good sign to stay away. If there ARE no Halloween decorations, keep waking.
Tainted treats
As tempting as it may be to let your kids eat the sweets as you go along, it’s best to wait till you get home and check them out. Loose candy, broken or open wrappers are not safe to eat, throw those out!
Practice safe fun this year and if you’re not taking part, then be mindful of those that are. The most popular time for trick-or-treating is between 5.30 and 9.30pm, so if you’re driving be extra vigilant for kids on the road.
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