10 safety tips for trick-or-treating this Halloween
It’s that time of the year again, the leaves are turning, there’s a chill in the air, and the nights are drawing in. But also, for many, October is synonymous with Halloween. Love it or hate it, if you have kids you will probably be getting involved in ‘Spooky Season’ in some way or another.
Whether you decorate every inch of your house and garden with witches, ghosts, graves and cobwebs or just have a few tasteful pumpkins adorning your porch, there’s no escaping this popular event.
Children love the exhilaration of the darker nights – a great excuse to dress up in scary costumes, go mad with some face paint and enjoy getting creative with some pumpkins.
We love Halloween but safety must come first, and at this time there are a lot of potential hazards, from naked flames which can cause flammable material to catch fire, to busy streets. In this article we are going to cover some top tips for getting spooky safely.
How did Halloween begin?
The earliest origins of Halloween can be traced to Samhain, an ancient Celtic festival observed around November 1. Samhain marked the end of the harvest season and the beginning of winter, a time associated with death.
The Celts believed that on the night before Samhain, the boundary between the living and the dead blurred. On October 31, spirits of the dead were thought to return to earth, causing mischief, damaging crops, and even possessing the living.
Pope Boniface IV created All Saints’ Day (also known as All Hallows’ Day) on May 13 to honour Christian martyrs and saints. Pope Gregory III then moved it to November 1, probably to replace Samhain and absorb some of its traditions.
The night before All Saints’ Day, October 31, became known as All Hallows’ Eve, which eventually shortened to “Halloween.”
Ultimately, Halloween has been inspired by a number of ancient festivals and traditions, evolving into the fun, social and community-based event it is today.
Why do we ‘trick-or-treat’ at Halloween?
Of course, one of the biggest Halloween activities is trick-or-treating. This tradition, which sees groups of children put on their most frightening costumes and visit friendly neighbours for treats, is a great chance for kids to get involved in Halloween and replenish their stocks of sweets.
How did it all start? In the early Christian era, during All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day poor people would go door-to-door offering prayers for the dead in exchange for food. This practice, known as souling, is seen as one of the direct ancestors of modern trick-or-treating. Instead of sweets, children would ask for soul cakes.
In the Middle Ages, the practice of guising (wearing costumes) and begging for treats continued in Scotland and Ireland. Children and the poor would dress up and go door-to-door performing songs, reciting verses, or telling jokes in exchange for food or coins. This practice was sometimes known as “mumming” or “guising.”
These days, the practice has evolved, and certainly here in the UK we no longer encourage any tricks if a request for sweets is refused! Children enjoy the camaraderie of getting dressed in Halloween costumes and respectfully visiting friendly neighbours to see what goodies are on offer.
How to have a safe Halloween
But of course, it’s important to stay safe while enjoying the sugary treats, so we’ve compiled our top tips so you and your children can enjoy a safe Halloween. It goes without saying that young children should always trick-or-treat accompanied by an adult, with older children always sticking together in groups of three or four.
1. Stay visible:
Have your kids wear bright or reflective clothing while trick-or-treating, even if it’s not fully dark when you’re going out. You want to make sure you’re all fully visible! We know children won’t want to ruin the effect of their Halloween costumes, so why not use reflective tape or stickers or glow sticks to provide a more subtle but impactful effect.
2. Only knock on Halloween-friendly homes:
It’s important to only visit houses that are happy to welcome trick-or-treaters. Homes that are well-lit, have pumpkins and Halloween decorations will no doubt have bags of sweets ready for little visitors, but other homes should be left alone.
3. Be fire aware:
Torches, glow sticks and lanterns are great to not only enable you to see where you’re going but add extra atmosphere. Always opt for battery powered lanterns and tealights to reduce any risk of fire as fancy dress costumes are highly flammable – check costume labels to make sure they carry a UKCA or CE mark to show that they meet safety standards. Ultimately, make sure children stay clear of pumpkins with naked flames.
It’s advisable for children to wear a layer of clothing underneath their costume in case the worst does happen and they catch fire. Teach children to ‘stop, drop and roll’ in this instance rather than acting on instinct and fleeing. Read more here.
4. Be extra cautious of road safety:
Halloween will see lots of people out and about and crossing roads, and cars may not be able to see those trick-or-treating very well. Teach children to take extra care around parked cars, try not to cross the road in between them and always walk, don’t run.
5. Ensure fancy dress costumes don’t compromise safety:
Opt for face paints over masks to make sure little ones can see and hear cars and fellow trick-or-treaters properly. Stay safe by staying alert around roads in the dark.
6. Teach children to stay outside:
Never go inside a stranger’s home, but politely stay on the doorstep, no matter how tempting an offer may be or how impressive their decorations.
7. Stay local:
It’s best to stick to the streets around your own home, walking down well-lit, well-populated streets are ideal.
8. Once home, check your child’s bags of sweets:
Make sure younger children aren’t given hard sweets that can be a choking risk. Check Halloween treats are fully sealed and don’t accept ‘home-made’ goodies.
9. Plan your route:
The dark can make streets seem unfamiliar and even disorientate us, so make sure you know exactly where you’re going, and which houses you’ll knock at. Keep the route short so little legs don’t get worn out!
10. Be a careful driver:
If you’re out and about in the car during Halloween, anticipate high numbers of people walking around town trick-or-treating. Slow right down and be especially vigilant at junctions and crossings.
We hope you have a fun, safe and spook-tastic time trick-or-treating this Halloween! For additional, free safety resources, please check out ROSPA.
