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Have a safe, happy Halloween By
Traci Woolsey It is the time for goblins and devils, angels and princesses. It's Halloween, one of the oldest traditions celebrated worldwide. How did Halloween end up being such a celebration? Halloween started as the night that the veil between our world and the world of spirits came together, allowing the dead to join the living. It was a day to recognize the unseen world and accept death as a natural part of life. The name Halloween comes from the Catholic Church, which honored its saints on All Hallows Day, Nov. 1. Mexico celebrates its Day of the Dead on Nov. 2. They clean up their cemeteries and offer food to their dead loved ones. German pagan tradition was the collection of taxes and debts. The Celts honored it as the end of the year. Trick-or-treating was started with European "souling." Christians would walk around asking for "soul cakes," small squares of bread with currants, to bless their dead relatives. The United States' traditions come from everywhere, but mostly from the British Isles. This is where parties and nighttime mischief started. In the 1800s, Halloween parties were active with acting, costumes and fortune telling. People bobbed for apples and ate donuts suspended in the air. The 1900s became a way for mobs and other angry groups to relieve their anger with pranks and mischief. Vandalism went from tipping outhouses and changing signs to destruction of property and violence. They had the excuse that the vandalism was the spirits' destruction, not the peoples'. The Ku Klux Klan became horrid on these nights. For more information on the history of halloween, go to http://wilstar.com/holidays/hallown.htm. By the 1930s, communities and local clubs came together to make it safe for Halloween-goers. They encouraged children to go trick-or-treating to keep them from causing trouble. This introduced the jack-o-lanterns, pumpkins and other Halloween decorations we still use. America was a country that loved to get "spooked." Homemade candy was given out and children could run around without supervision. By the 1960s, society was diminishing. Rumors of cookies and brownies with marijuana and LSD or candy filled with pins or razors brought fear to parents. Today, these fears still thrive. Crime is rampant on Halloween night. Many parents are afraid to let their children out at night. Pets are locked up and everyone is cautious. There are a variety of choices to celebrate Halloween. Many people have parties to keep the children off the street. Here in Logan, there are activities for all ages.
Local Halloween fun The Cache Valley Mall opens its doors to little ghosts and pumpkins every year on Halloween. It allows children a safe place to trick-or-treat where they can have fun and the parents don't have to worry. This year it begins at 5 p.m. and goes until 7 p.m. or until the candy is gone. "It's a tradition we want to continue," said Kelly Lindsey, marketing director for the Cache Valley Mall. There were rumors this year of the tradition being stopped for safety precautions when General Group Properties bought the mall this year. Lindsey says mall traffic last year for this celebration was between 2,500 and 4,000 kids. The stores went through 1,400 pounds of candy. The Howl at Utah State University is a renowned tradition for college students. Schools from surrounding regions attend. Logan also offers the pumpkin walk, corn mazes and ballets to celebrate Halloween. For more information, see the community calendar An alternative to trick-or-treating is now being practiced in the rural areas surrounding Logan. It's called trick-or-trunk. Neighborhoods gather together in a large parking lot and open their car trunks, full of candy, to the local children. "I like this a lot better. You don't have to walk around all the neighborhoods. It's safer and well-lit," said Brad Woolsey, a parent. But there is always the question of leaving neighbors out. Local community and religious groups often organize trick-or-trunk. When asked if he felt certain people were left out, Woolsey replied "No." He explained that everyone in his neighborhood has always been invited and welcome. Vanessa Ambrose, a local student, said she feels trick-or-trunk is a good alternative. "It's not as fun, but it's an enclosed area, and safer." When asked how things had changed since she was young Ambrose said, "It's a lot scarier, neighborhoods are a lot scarier and parents are more protective." All the people interviewed believed that Logan was still a safe place for trick-or-treaters. But, there are always precautions to increase safety. Here is a list of ideas for a safe Halloween for children, parents and homeowners: Children -- Carry a flashlight Parents -- Explain to children appropriate behavior for Halloween Homeowners --Eliminate any hazards on your walkway and the paths the child will
take to reach your door Have a Happy Halloween!!
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