“It’s Halloween — everyone’s entitled to a good scare” reads a line from the 1978 hit movie Halloween. However, in the midst of a global pandemic, young trick-or-treaters are not granted this opportunity. In a household where Halloween is treated with the utmost passion and effort, this is particularly disappointing to me.

A holiday that originates in ancient Ireland some 2,000 years ago, Samhain, more commonly referred to as Halloween, was originally believed to mark the transition from the world of the living to that of the dead. October 31st marked the one day each year where the souls of those passed could return to the living. The holiday transferred from the Celtics to the Romans, and then migrated to the Americas, where it is the most widely celebrated. Though the reason for dressing up was never determined, it is by far the most iconic aspect of Halloween.

I could proudly say that many aspects of myself are shaped by this holiday: my favorite color is black, my favorite movie is The Nightmare Before Christmas, and my favorite time of the year is fall. Though I understand that most children cannot go trick-or-treating on physical doorsteps as it runs the risk of transmitting COVID-19, I strongly believe that there should be other alternatives present. 

As cases of COVID-19 continue to rise in Lake County, the already restricted Halloween has undergone more and more limitations. As of October 30th, no definitive announcements have been made regarding the cancelation of Halloween; however, the stigma still stands. Many concerned families in the Forest-Bluff area stressed their concerns through the local groups on the social media platform Facebook by posting various opinions on the risks of running a gathering during this time and how Halloween should be completely canceled to limit the potential spread. Despite this, it is inevitable that people will still gather. As much as I would love to be on the latter end, I agree with the decision to stay home, as the safety of our surrounding communities and their citizens matters above everything else. However, it is still disappointing to witness such a spook-tacular holiday being skipped. 

For those who still want to celebrate—and I don’t blame you—please refrain from going door to door for candy. Germs can reside on the candy wrappers and the contact between candy-givers and candy-receivers can lead to an exponential increase in cases. But, this should prevent you from settling in with your family and bingeing those classic Halloween movies such as Corpse Bride, Beetlejuice, and Hocus Pocus. In addition to this, don’t resist dressing up in your iconic Halloween costume and strutting down the halls of your house. Above all, for the good of yourself and of the community, please stay safe and indoors this Halloween.