Halloween is one of the most exciting times of the year for children and many adults as well.
According to old Celtic beliefs, spirits and the dead can cross over into the world on the night of October 31. These spirits could harm the living or take them back to the underworld. To avoid this, people started dressing up as ghosts and spirits if they left their homes that night, in the hopes that this would confuse the ghosts and spirits.
In 2013, the most popular costumes are inspired by pop culture. Based on the most popular Google search terms in October, Miley Cyrus’s twerking outfit and the little yellow minions from Despicable Me were the most popular costumes.
Halloween has become the second highest grossing commercial holiday after Christmas. Between decorative lights and lawn ornaments, elaborate costumes, tonnes of candy and fireworks, the average Canadian spends a pretty penny on the holiday.
According to a Scotiabank poll, just over half of Canadians (54 per cent) celebrate Halloween. The average amount spent for costumes, parties and candy is around $70. However, BC residents spend $82, the most for Halloween. Revellers in Atlantic Canada spend $51.
Last October, Halloween sales in Canada hit $360 million on candy and confectionary alone, up $80 million over average monthly sales. BMO Capital Markets estimates overall retail sales for this month to be up about two per cent from last year for a total of $40.5 billion.
A new Halloween trend is dressing up pets. Since people are having fewer children, dogs and cats are considered part of the family. Owners are dressing up their pets as everything from superheroes to rock stars.
Tomorrow, when children throughout the community will be knocking on doors, there will most likely be a range of outfits, including traditional ghosts, vampires and witches.
Here are some Halloween safety tips to keep in mind: wear costumes that are easily seen and appropriate for weather conditions; drive cautiously and slowly; stick to pedestrian crossings when on foot; make sure that all candy and treats are inspected before being eaten; do not enter a stranger’s house or vehicle; only visit houses that are well lit; and be aware of the route your child plans on following and make sure they stick to it.
For pet owners, the advice is to keep pets indoors on Halloween, to protect them from hazards and to prevent them from being aggressive to visitors, even if they are dressed up as Darth Vader.
