After a stressful spring and summer, the world is looking towards a fall full of fun family events, but coronavirus will undoubtedly require some adaptation during the upcoming holiday season. Just because the holidays may look different this year, you can still make amazing memories. While following CDC and local law enforcement guidelines, families can still celebrate some of the best parts of Halloween in the age of COVID.
Traditions
What started as Samhain, the Celtic festival celebrating the harvest, the coming of winter, and the annual return of troublesome spirits, passed through Rome and the catholic church before becoming Halloween as we know it today. The first Halloween celebrations in America can be traced back to colonial America.
As the beliefs and customs of the Native Americans and European groups began to intertwine, fall festivities slowly morphed into one of America’s favorite holidays, and by the late 19th century, new immigrants helped popularize the celebration of Halloween on a national level! Today, Halloween is best known for costume parties and trick-or-treating, where children travel from door to door in costumes in hopes of picking up some tasty treats and goodies.
Guidelines
While spooks and scares are welcomed by many during a typical Halloween season, this year’s festivities add an extra layer of fright: the threat of the coronavirus pandemic. The CDC has released a full statement on its website that includes a list of which activities to partake in, which to be wary of, and which to avoid when possible.
Those activities to avoid include traditional trick-or-treating without appropriate social distancing and preventative measures, attending crowded parties, going to indoor haunted houses where one may not be able to keep six feet between you and other attendees, traveling outside one’s geographical area to attend festivals or events, and going on tractor rides or hayrides with people outside of one’s immediate family.
Though Halloween may look different this year, the holiday is far from being canceled. In fact, there are several ways that individuals can make their Halloween season stand out while remaining safe during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Suggestions
Halloween in the age of COVID doesn’t have to be boring; there are tons of fun activities to partake in alone or with loved ones!
The CDC recommends participating in low-risk activities this Halloween, like carving pumpkins with one’s family, decorating the house with spooky décor, hosting a virtual costume contest, or putting together a Halloween-themed scavenger hunt in one’s home or around the neighborhood.
The organization also lists some moderate risk activities, which should be carefully monitored and modified to maintain social distancing efforts. This list includes holding a traditional trick-or-treat celebration but preparing goodie bags and placing them away from the front door for families to grab as they pass by at a safe distance. The CDC also suggests being cautious when attending open-air haunted forest attractions, visiting pumpkin patches and orchards where many people may be touching the same produce or surfaces, and attending outdoor get-togethers.
Whatever you choose to do this Halloween, remember to stay safe and make some amazing memories with the people you love!
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