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Based in an ancient Celtic New Year’s tradition that took place on Halloween and involved remembering those who had passed, the day melded with the invading Romans’ late October festival that both honored the dead and celebrated the apple harvest. The latter part of the event may be where today’s “bobbing for apples” may have originated. When Christianity became the religion of Rome and spread across Europe, November 1 became All Saints’ Day (also called All-hallows) honoring saints and martyrs and, in countries like England, featuring parades where the poor received soul cakes in exchange for promises to pray for the giver’s deceased relatives. Children began “going-a-souling,” visiting homes for food, money and ale. Because Europeans believed that on Halloween ghosts returned to earth, they wore costumes to trick ghosts into mistaking them for fellow phantoms. Citizens left bowls of food outside their homes to placate ghosts and keep them from entering the house.
Today, Halloween is no beggar’s holiday. A 2005 report by Worthington, Ohio-based BIGresearch revealed that consumers spent an estimated $3.29 billion on Halloween goods, and in 2006 the firm predicted consumer spending would reach $4.96 billion. Most of these billions were spent on disposable costumes, cards, candy, decorations and other items that compromise our environment. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, plastics occupy one-quarter of landfill space. At least six states in the U.S. have fewer than five years of remaining landfill capacity, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.
The Go Green Initiative Association (GGIA), based in Pleasanton, Calif., is dedicated to creating a culture of environmental responsibility for kids and contributed tips for an eco-friendly holiday. GGIA founder and executive director Jill Buck e-mailed canvas with advice for a green Halloween.
Decorating and Party Planning
Save decorations every year, storing them alongside those for Thanksgiving, Christmas or Hanukkah; you’ll have fewer worries when planning and you’ll save on waste. “If you are decorating your house for Halloween or for a party, avoid single-use items,” Buck recommends. “Rather, look for items you can reuse year after year. Fresh, fall-colored flowers and plants make great decorations for both Halloween and Thanksgiving alike. If you don’t have a green thumb and the plants don’t make it through both holidays, you can compost them…nature’s way of recycling!”
Halloween get-togethers are a great option. “If you’d like an alternative to trick-or-treating, have a neighborhood block party where kids and adults can still dress up in costumes, celebrate and enjoy healthy food and treats,” Buck says.
Stop Global Warming, based in Pacific Palisades, Calif., is an organization committed to halting environmental destruction, and suggests serving with reusable rather than disposable plasticware, plates, napkins and tablecloths. It also recommends sending out e-mail party invites and greeting cards rather than using snail mail. Evite (www.evite.com) is free and convenient, and the green living organization, Care 2 (www.care2.com) headquartered in Redwood City, Calif., also offers free, fun e-greetings.
Eco-friendly Costumes
The scariest part about Halloween face paint may just be potential ill health effects. “Avoid oil-based face paint. Oil-based usually means it is a petroleum product, a natural resource best preserved for energy use,” Buck explains.
“Try to create costumes that are made from old clothes or items you already have around the house, instead of buying one-time-use costumes from a store. Make it fun! Trade clothing items with other members of the family to create wild and wacky—and maybe a little spooky—costumes,” Buck suggests.
For the trick-or-treater who can’t resist a store-bought costume, Buck says, “Consider donating it [after use] to organizations that serve needy children—they are always grateful for costumes, and then the costume can be reused.”
Green Trick-or-Treating
Consider alternatives to sugary candy, and refrain from making homemade treats. “Due to food safety concerns, most parents will not let their children consume homemade goodies from strangers, so consider giving out something that doesn’t create waste or contribute to unhealthy eating habits, like pencils, crayons and other inexpensive, useful items,” Buck suggests.
For die-hard candy fans, Care 2 recommends passing out eco-friendly, organic candies that use recycled wrappers and minimal packaging. Brands include Tropical Source Endangered Species Chocolate, Newman’s Organic Chocolate and Cloud Nine.
When making the evening rounds, see the light: “If you’ll be trick-or-treating, use rechargeable versus disposable batteries in your flashlight. If you will be leaving the porch light on to welcome trick-or-treaters, make sure you illuminate the porch with a CFL [compact fluorescent lightbulb] versus a standard bulb,” Buck advises.
Avoid using plastic or paper loot bags. Care 2 suggests creating a bag out of an old pillowcase, or sewing one out of old fabric. Use objects from around the house, like extra fabric cut into Halloween shapes, to make a bag that can be reused next year.
Remember, creating eco-friendly holiday habits sets the standard for green living every day of the year.
Child Safety
Cars, followed by unsafe candy, are the biggest Halloween threats to kids. Children are four times more likely to be hit and killed by an automobile on Halloween than any other night of the year, according to the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta.
- Attach reflective tape to costumes and have each child carry a flashlight.
- Make sure masks and other accessories don’t inhibit kids’ sight, including peripheral vision.
- Instruct kids to exit the car on the curbside.
- Even the best-behaved kids forget themselves and dash about when excited. Warn them of the dangers of not paying attention to what’s around them.
- For candy safety, check for allergens, and that pieces aren’t a choking hazard. To prevent tears, keep safe candy on hand to trade for confiscated items.
Source: Aetna Intelihealth I
Pet Safety
- Like kids, our pets need protection during Halloween too.
- Loud trick-or-treaters can frighten animals. Keep your pets in a closed, quiet room or keep them away from the front door so that they don’t bite strangers or dart out into the street.
- When you walk your dog this Halloween, keep him on a shorter leash, as excited kids may provoke him.
- Cute costumes may not feel cute to your dog or cat. Ensure that he feels comfortable, especially around his neck area if you insist on dressing him up.
- Hide candy from pets, and tell children not to share. Candy, especially chocolate, turns toxic in an animal’s system, could sicken him and may cause death.
- Eerie touches—lit pumpkins or candles—pose a danger to pets. Keep animals away from these items, or put them in another part of the house.
Source: Care 2
