If you aren’t from one of the ~10 countries that celebrate Halloween, you may find Halloween confusing. Even if your home country does celebrate Halloween, you may find American traditions confusing! This is especially true if you have school-age children who get excited about it with their friends. Many immigrant families would like to participate but may be unsure how to do so safely.
What Exactly is Halloween?
Every October 31, Americans celebrate the spooky side of life by dressing up in costumes and attending parties, events, or going trick-or-treat. Trick-or-treat is a tradition where children dress up in costumes and carry a bag or bucket to different houses and collect candy. Traditionally, they tell the homeowner “Trick or treat” which means if they do not receive a treat, they will play a trick on them. (The trick part is just for fun and people do not really play tricks anymore.) Some states have their own unique traditions. For example, children in Iowa are expected to have a joke prepared to tell the homeowner.
Homes that are participating in trick-or-treat usually have porch lights on or candy sitting out on their porch while houses that do not participate try to keep their porch dark.
Some communities have a set trick-or-treat night that may be October 29 or 30. Check your community Facebook page or call city hall to find out.
Costume Safety
The first step in Halloween celebration is choosing a costume. While not everyone participates, those who do love figuring this part out. For one night, you can be anyone or anything you want to be! For children who are too young to choose, many parents enjoy coming up with cute and creative ideas to show off their little one.
But not every costume is safe. For smaller children, make sure there are no parts that can be easily ripped off and choked on. If the costume includes makeup, try it on before Halloween to ensure the wearer is not allergic to it.
Some people make costumes and other people buy them. If you are buying one, bonus if the material is flame retardant. This information should be located on the tag.
Trick-or-Treat Safety
The most important way to stay safe on Halloween is to know the neighborhood. If you do not live in a good area, find an alternative to trick-or-treating. Many malls or Main Street shopping areas have trick-or-treat events around Halloween where your child can dress up and trick-or-treat the businesses, which tend to be safer than people’s houses. Churches or community centers may host Halloween parties or trunk-or-treat events, where kids trick-or-treat from people’s cars instead of their houses. These also tend to be more reputable.
If you do live in a good neighborhood with good trick-or-treating, check out the times on your community Facebook page or website. Most cities have set times for trick-or-treating, usually around 5pm-7pm. Watch for cars and bring a flashlight to use as it gets dark. Wear bright or reflective clothing to make yourself more visible. If you are driving, watch out for other children and families. Kids are unpredictable and the child who is on the sidewalk one minute may be on the street the next. If your child is the one on the sidewalk, make sure to watch them closely to keep them from darting into the road.
Once you have collected enough treats for the night, check the haul. If your child has food allergies, check the labels before allowing them to have the candy. Nut and dairy allergies are common and are also commonly found in Halloween treats. If your child has allergies or other special needs, many houses have a teal pumpkin in front of their door to signal they offer treats that are allergy-friendly or special needs-friendly. The Teal Pumpkin Project is relatively new and not everyone is familiar with it.
If your child is under three, then check their candy for choking hazards. Hard candies, small candies, or other toys may get lodged into their airway. Watch them closely while eating to ensure they do not choke.
Eating Healthy
After kids collect candy, they want to eat it. Make sure they stay healthy by filling up on healthier foods before trick-or-treating or attending a party unless the party includes a healthy dinner. Include plenty of water or milk in the meal before going out to help fill them up.
Halloween can be a ton of fun, but if you aren’t familiar with the culture, it can also be dangerous. Ask plenty of questions to your co-workers, American friends, other parents, or friends who have celebrated in the past to help you make healthy decisions specific to your local area.
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