Celebrate Halloween 2020 with 5 Alternatives to Trick-or-Treating
The spookiest time of the year will look different during the COVID-19 pandemic. Many traditional Halloween activities are considered high-risk for spreading or being exposed to the virus. Public health institutes and local governments across the world have advised against attending indoor costume parties and door-to-door trick-or-treating. As a result, many people plan to celebrate the spooky holiday by watching a scary movie and carving pumpkins with their family or participating in a virtual costume contest.
As many countries across the globe are issuing tighter restrictions to slow the second wave of coronavirus infections, this year real life seems more sinister than any horror movie. Fear of contagion and widespread anxiety about an increasingly uncertain future are affecting the ways people celebrate holidays and major events. Many are adapting their traditions and celebrations to the new reality. As Halloween approaches, many parents are getting creative in finding safer and alternative ways for their kids to celebrate the spookiest day of the year.
The Ancient Origins of Halloween
Celebrating Halloween at home is also a chance to explore the rich and fascinating history of this popular holiday and rediscover its ancient meaning. Some scholars claim that the earliest traces of Halloween can be detected in the Roman festival in honor of the dead, Parentalia, or the feast of Pomona, the Roman goddess of fruits. However, it is generally accepted that the origins of this spooky holiday date back to the Celtic festival of Samhain, a Gaelic word meaning “end of summer”. During this festival, people lit bonfires to celebrate the end of the harvest and prepare for winter. People also believed that on Samhain, the spirits of the departed and supernatural entities were able to cross the threshold separating the realms of the living and the dead. On this day, the druids, ancient religious leaders, would communicate with the dead to ensure a short and mild winter.
Though the roots of Halloween can be traced back to the Celtic festival, the actual practices and rituals of Samhain remain largely unknown. Indeed, most modern traditions associated with Halloween have their origins in the medieval Christian feast of All Hallows’ Day, which commemorated all saints and martyrs. This holiday was established during the 7th century, when Pope Boniface IV converted the Pantheon in Rome, a Roman temple dedicated to all the pagan gods, into a church on May 13th. In the following century, Pope Gregory III moved the celebration to November 1st. The evening before All Hallows’ Day became All Hallows’ Eve, the origin of modern Halloween.
Halloween Traditions and Meaning Through the Ages
It has been suggested that modern trick-or-treating on Halloween evolved from the 15th century British custom of “souling”. During the festivities to commemorate the dead, the poor, often children, would go door-to-door asking for “soul cakes” and offering in exchange prayers for the givers’ departed friends and relatives. There is also record of people dressed as supernatural beings going house-to-house, singing, or reciting verses in exchange for sweets and drinks.
Originally a European holiday, Halloween arrived in the U.S. in the 19th century, brought by Irish and Scottish immigrants. The following century the holiday started to gain popularity outside immigrant communities, and was then gradually assimilated into mainstream culture and society. Today Halloween is one of the biggest and most popular holidays in the United Sates. Kids and young adults enjoy wearing costumes, visiting haunted houses, and watching scary movies. For young adults in particular, Halloween is a chance to escape reality, be creative, explore their identities, and face their deepest fears.
Behind the candies and the macabre movies, Halloween has always been about humanity’s deepest, darkest fear: death. From its ancient origins, Halloween has forced people to deal with the impermanence of life and their own mortality. In the past, people feared the vengeful spirits and demonic entities that were said to walk the earth on Halloween night and wore masks and other disguises in order to avoid being recognized. However, not all visitors from the realm of the dead were malignant. People believed that on Halloween the souls of their deceased loved ones returned to earth to visit their former homes. Families often set places at their dinner tables and left treats on the doorsteps to welcome these friendly spirits.
5 Halloween Alternatives to Trick-or-Treating
Trick-or-treating and costume parties aren’t the only ways that your kids can have fun on Halloween. Instead of going out, your family can have lots of fun enjoying these surprisingly fun alternatives to trick-or-treating. Furthermore, they can still include getting to enjoy your favorite Halloween candy and treats!
1. Create a Scavenger Hunt
Even if your kids don’t get to make the rounds in the neighborhood trick-or-treating, they can still put their trick-or-treating bags to use with a Halloween scavenger hunt. For example, you can hide candy and prizes around your home. Then, make a set of clues for your kids to follow to find their treats. Make sure that your kids dress up in their costumes to make it more fun.
2. Make Halloween Treats
One reason that most kids love Halloween parties is because of all the yummy treats they get to enjoy! Well, just because they might not get to attend a party, doesn’t mean they can’t enjoy their favorite treats. In fact, you can even use their favorite Halloween candies to decorate treats with. For instance, you could bake some cookies and then spend the evening decorating them together.
3. Make Halloween Crafts
Halloween doesn’t have to be completely about treats, especially if your children really enjoy making things. For example, you could have them make Halloween crafts instead. There are lots of creative ideas on Pinterest, as well as crafting sites. You could also have your kids make their own costumes.
4. Carve Pumpkins
Halloween wouldn’t be “Halloween” without carving pumpkins! In fact, you can make carving jack-o’-lanterns a fun family night. Buy several pumpkins and then set up a pumpkin carving station for your kids on Halloween night. You can also buy a pumpkin carving kit and stencils. Let your kids get creative and see what all they can come up with for jack-o’-lanterns. Don’t forget to help set the mood by playing some spooky music.
5. Eat Halloween Candy
Lastly, while most kids enjoy trick-or-treating, what they really love is eating their candy afterwards! Even if they don’t get to go trick-or-treating, it doesn’t mean that they can’t enjoy their favorite Halloween candy. You could let your kids go shopping for candy with you. However, depending on your children’s ages, that might be a little too stressful for you. Therefore, you could also have them make a list of all of their favorite candies – and then surprise them on Halloween.
In short, if your kids don’t get to enjoy costume parties at school or go trick-or-treating, it doesn’t mean that you have to cancel Halloween at home. Your kids can still enjoy their favorite candy and treats, as well as wearing their costumes for fun! They can enjoy a night of carving jack-o’-lanterns, making crafts, and doing a scavenger hunt.
Happy Halloween Everyone!
