JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-Randolph, Texas – Do you know the history of Halloween? While it has become a time of scary celebrations and treats, it can be an unsafe time as well.
Halloween, or All Hallows’ Eve, represents the night before the Western Christian holiday of All Saints day and begins a three-day holiday to include All Souls’ Day. According to Encyclopedia Britannica, Halloween originated with the Celtic holiday of Samhain (pronounced “sow-win”) on Nov. 1, which marked the new year and the beginning of winter. During Samhain, Celts believed dead souls would come to visit the living in their homes. Masks and costumes were worn to hide from the spirits.
Today, Halloween is a holiday for children to dress up and go trick-or-treating, collecting candy door-to-door, and to participate in fun activities, like bobbing for apples. Halloween and harvest festivals are fun for families, but they can also present serious safety risks. For example, kids are twice as likely to be hit by a car on Halloween as on any other night of the year.
Here are some tips to keep in mind while trick-or-treating with your kiddos:
1. Ensure costumes and accessories are fire-resistant.
2. Avoid masks that can obstruct vision.
3. If children are allowed out after dark, fasten reflective tape to their costumes and bags, or give them glow sticks.
4. When buying Halloween makeup, make sure it is nontoxic and always test it in a small area first.
5. Remove all makeup before children go to bed to prevent skin and eye irritation.
Decorating for Halloween can also pose fire risks. Some tips to follow are:
1. Use battery-operated candles or glow sticks instead of candles in jack-o’-lanterns.
2. Keep all decorations away from open flames and other heat sources, like light bulbs or heaters.
3. Teach children to avoid open flames and make sure they know how to "stop, drop, and roll."
4. Make sure all smoke alarms are working.
5. Keep exits clear of decorations, so nothing blocks escape routes.
According to the National Fire Protection Association, decorations of all kinds are the first things to ignite in the more than 900 reported home fires each year.
These safety tips can help ensure your Halloween is filled with fun treats, rather than unsafe tricks.