Trick or Treat
The History of placing foodstuffs on one’s front doorstep to ward off spirits and ghosts on All Hallows Eve is a tradition that goes back hundreds of years. It was this placing of the food and drink by the front door that first prompted people to dress up and go out and enjoy a free meal. Today, the expected idea of setting food out is represented as a giant bowl full of candy of every make and flavor imaginable and the spirits and ghost that come to raid are usually little children out for an evening of family fun.
Halloween has become the second largest commercial holiday only behind Christmas and I’m sure it will only be a matter of time before retailers figure out how to equal or surpass the dollars they can squeeze from Americans like they do at the yule time. Once upon a time, Halloween was a night to be feared as people believed it was the night of the year that spirits roamed the earth, the deceased coming back to visit their relatives and friends. Now Halloween is typically a family friendly affair that allows communities to engage in several different activities that bring people together and to wear costumes of every sort. The most popular of these activities is the annual Trick or Treat night when all the kids (and some adults) dress up in their costumes and go door to door seeking candy or other treats. And over the years, some individuals derive some sick and twisted pleasure from tampering with the candy or treats that can cause serious consequences.
Some general tips for having a safe and fun Trick or Treat are simple and easy to follow. As a general rule of thumb in my household, we don’t eat homemade goodies like cookies or rice crispy treats unless we know the family that gave them to us. It is too easy for someone to get ill from homemade treats that might have a trick hidden inside (stories of brownies and laxatives was a big one when I was a kid). We inspect every piece of candy that is given to our children, if there is even the smallest of holes in the packaging, we toss it in the trash. Again, why tempt fate when there are stories of candy tampering that seem to crop in the news every year? We also try and visit neighborhoods that we are familiar with as to lessen the possibilities that we will get something that has been tampered with. Being late in the fall as it is, we also carry some sort of light like a flashlight so we can see where we are going and we try to stay to the walkways because who wants a twisted ankle on Halloween? For as much fun as Halloween can be for families, it is also the time of year when some really twisted people come out of the woodwork to make mischief that can cause some real harm and damage. I hope everyone takes time and plays it safe tonight for Halloween, it’s a night that is supposed to be fun and not dangerous. As always, thanks for reading, I hope everyone has a great Halloween tonight as well as a safe Halloween tonight. Take care of each yourself and each other, remember, we’re all in this together!
Wm Reid
Best Home Care Services
325 N Eastern Ave
Connersville, IN 47331
765-827-9833
wmreid@bhcshealth.com