Have a happy, safe Halloween

Halloween has always been one of the most fun holidays (even though — technically — it’s not a holiday) for me as a youngster.

I have fond memories of making decorations in elementary school involving vast amounts of black and orange construction paper which were held together by that glue resembling liquid honey that globs up in the red rubber applicator. This would be brought home (the artwork not the “now useless” glue bottle) to be proudly displayed in the living room window prior to the evening trip around the neighbourhood dressed as a pirate, homemade wooden cutlass in one hand, treat bag in another yelling “Trick or Treat”. And when the person at the door replied with, “Trick”, you left feeling somewhat confused... didn’t actually come with a plan “B”.

Fun times.

Halloween’s European origins were anything but fun or so I think. It is believed to have started as a Celtic ritual marking the end of harvest season and the beginning of a new year when spirits of the after life would make contact with the physical world. Giant sacred bonfires were lit and crops and animals burned as sacrifice to pagan deities. Revelers would go door to door looking for handouts, some reportedly wearing medieval Celtic costumes. With the large fires, spirits zooming overhead and “spirits” being served out the front door, safety must not have been much of a concern back then.

But safety and fun, in that order, is important for a successful and enjoyable All Hallow’s Eve and with the event falling on a Saturday this year, even more vigilance may be in order as party goers and trick-or-treaters meet in the streets.

With food safety we have always been wary of treats that weren’t pre-packaged or commercially wrapped candy seemingly tampered with. Now there are even more concerns such as unfamiliar candy that could contain melamine, choking hazards, allergy sensitivities and even checking juices at parties to ensure it has been pasteurized. Information on this is available at the Canadian Food Inspection Agency web site at http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/fssa/concen/tipcon/hallowe.shtml.

As for other safety tips involving trick or treating and costumes, you have no doubt heard that non-toxic make up is better than masks, avoid loose fitting clothing and costumes, keep children away from open flames, wear reflective materials, carry flashlights and glow sticks and walk on one side of the road, facing traffic, then cross safely at street corners and so on. You can find more safety tips at the Health Canada web site: http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/hl-vs/securit/season-saison/hal/index-eng.php

I wonder now if Halloween would have been more enjoyable 2000 years ago if the Druids published safety tips on websites (or fusspot columnists).

And drivers, please watch for the little ones and if you are partying, it’s been said before... many, many times but bears repeating... DON’T DRINK AND DRIVE! (That won’t be one of the “Village People” asking you to step out of the vehicle).

Too many sweets can be hazardous to your health; doctors and dentists alike will tell you that. I’m speaking to the adults here facing down a large steel bowl full of little Mars bars because, as always, you may have overestimated your actual candy bar needs by a few metric tonnes. The candy does not have little voices calling out to you. That’s all in your head.

Now back to the fun. If you are looking for last minute costume ideas (coming from a guy who usually dresses up as a pirate—this year perhaps as Johnny Depp’s stunt double—Michael Jackson is hot this year as are Transformers, Disney princesses, vampires, Star Wars characters and Mr. Spock. My pick for the SAFEST Halloween costume this year: try going as a roll of reflective tape.