Saturday October 31, 2020 | GREATER VICTORIA [Updated 7:55 pm]
by Kiley Verbowski for Island Social Trends | Mary Brooke, editor
As we now experience Halloween this evening and realize how much we have changed in this one tradition due to the COVID-19 pandemic, some thoughts.
Island Social Trends interviewed a few families mid-October as they were revising their Halloween plans and approach.
Old Traditions
Some families are planning to carry on the yearly tradition of trick-or-treating in costumes, but most plans have restrictions this year.
Some will only be visiting houses in their cul-de-sac or on their block, while others have a driving plan in place to only visit friends and family that are already in their bubble.
For families who have a long seasonal tradition of picking pumpkins and getting lost in the corn maze at Galey Farms, being able to visit the farm has brought a source of normalcy in an up-turned world.
Darcy, who is 5¾, tells Island Social Trends that he is hoping to win a costume contest this year. He says that it’s a character from Star Wars, and hints that it’s someone from the “dark side,” but won’t give it away. His family plans to trick-or-treat in their neighbourhood of Oak Bay, and to leave a bowl of candy at the end of their driveway.
For many kids, the excitement lays in getting dressed up and eating candy, no matter how it happens or who they’re with.
New Trends
Many families who have expressed concerns over going door-to-door this year are trying something new: a backyard scavenger hunt. Similar to an Easter egg hunt, parents are planning to hide sweet treats and play spooky music while the kids in their bubble go hunting. Setting up black lights, or using flashlights to find hidden treasures will aid the Halloween spirit.
Parents have also expressed that they’re rethinking how they will hand out candy this year, if they do at all. Bowls at the end of driveways, or separated bags of goodies spaced out on the lawn may be more commonplace this year.
The BC Centre for Disease Control has recommended using tongs to hand out treats, and some families have come up with delivery chutes and other ways to hand out candy in real-time with physical distance as part of the package.
Lots of families told IST that they were still on the fence about trick-or-treating this year, but were planning to get dressed up anyways. Deciding whether to leave the house on Halloween night is still up in the air for some.
Provincial Health Officer Dr Bonnie Henry says stay close to home.
The usual community gatherings like bonfires at fire halls are not happening this year. This year Colwood cancelled both their daytime family event and their annual bonfire. Langford will do their pumpkin smash on November 7 to help provide a final home for tired jack o lanterns.
Some municipalities have, instead, organized drive-throughs for children to pick up candy at a safe distance; that includes Metchosin, View Royal and Esquimalt. In Sooke they’re doing a drive-in movie. [See more details on our Events page.]
Some parents are already thinking ahead to the end of the night, when the candy is collected and ready to be eaten. Sanitizing wipes and soapy dishcloths will be on hand to wipe down wrappers before kids (and adults) dig in. One doctor on national TV says just let the packaged candy ‘quarantine’ for three days.
This will be a Halloween to remember, and some new ways of celebrating this ‘day off’ from the normal routine may just stick as new traditions for next year and beyond.
Events and Halloween drive-throughs are posted on our Events page.
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Here are some of the Halloween news and stories we have posted this month:
- Halloween trends and a bit about the gnome at Galey Farms! (October 31, 2020)
- Halloween creativity at homes around town – photo tour (October 30, 2020)
- Another 272 COVID cases – do Halloween safely, says Dr Bonnie Henry (October 30, 2020)
- A chance to jump ship for the night – astrology of Halloween (October 28, 2002)
- Halloween retail adapts during COVID pandemic (October 26, 2020)
- Ramping up to Halloween: the COVID mask (October 24, 2020)
- Colwood Community Halloween on pause in 2020 (October 23, 2020)
- COVID-Halloween in BC: no parties, wear mask, sanitize doorbell | includes link to BC CDC Halloween safety protocols (October 5, 2020)
- COVID-Halloween in BC: revising national recommendations for our local communities (October 2, 2020) | Halloween will be different this year, says Dr Henry (October 1, 2020)
- Insights: Halloween of a different flavour in 2020 (September 12, 2020)
