Halloween, 31st October, is falling out of favour with some parents who say it has become too commercial and ‘Americanized’. But, as Catherine Lynch of education experts PlanBee says, there are some great traditional entertainments to mark the occasion.

What’s it all about?
The tradition originated with the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, an ancient Celtic pagan religious festival that marks the end of the harvest and the start of winter. The celebrations included people lighting bonfires and wearing costumes to ward off ghosts. This festival is thought to date back to neolithic times, pre 2500 BC.

In the eighth century, Pope Gregory III decided 1st November should be a time to honour all saints. The evening before All Saints Day was known as All Hallows’ Eve, and later Halloween. All Hallows’ Eve, is a Christian religious observance that includes going to church and lighting candles on the graves of the dead. Traditionally Christians didn’t eat meat on this day and Potato Pancakes were a popular choice of food.

Over time, Halloween became the more commercial and secular celebration we have today that includes trick-or-treating, carving pumpkins, wearing costumes and eating treats.

Covid’s still lurking
With Covid infection rates rising once again, we should be mindful that some adults, especially elderly people and those with underlying health conditions, may not be enthusiastic about children calling on them for Trick or Treat.

Why not organise a Halloween trail instead?. Rather than knocking door to door, why not take your children on a trail, too? If you’d like to take part in one, or organise your own, you could put this spooky picture in your window.

Take your children on walks around your local area and see how many Halloween pictures you can spot. You could give your child the chance to pick a treat from your own selection each time they spot a picture on the Halloween treasure hunt.

Whatever you do, have fun!