A Beginner’s Guide to Halloween
By: Meaghan Flokstra
Published on: November 18th, 2024
During October in Canada, you might see some frightening sights around your neighbourhood: gravestones decorating people’s lawns, cobwebs strung across windows, and skeletons dangling from tree branches. Your local grocery store has pumpkins and candy on display, and more horror movies are playing at the theatre than usual. All of these are signs that Halloween is on its way.
Though it’s not considered a public holiday, Halloween is one of the most beloved celebrations in Canada. Halloween is on October 31 of every year, but festivities take place throughout the whole month of October. In general, the purpose of Halloween is to have fun with all things spooky and scary. However, there’s also lots of exciting activities for those who prefer not to be frightened, including young children.
If you’re eager to participate in Halloween, your local community will most likely have events and other festivities to explore. GTA residents can find a list of annual events to check out here. For those who aren’t sure what to expect from this frightening but fun holiday, a list of typical Halloween activities is provided below.
Trick-or-Treating
On the evening of Halloween, many children participate in an activity called trick-or-treating. Kids will dress up in costumes, knock on doors around their neighbourhood, and yell the phrase “trick or treat!” In response, residents then open their door and give out some sort of treat, such as candy or chips. Treats are typically only handed out to younger children, but teens and older adults are free to dress up as well and accompany them from house to house.
If you want trick-or-treaters to come to your door, leaving out Halloween decorations and turning on any outdoor lights is a great way to signal that you have treats to give out. If you aren’t planning on handing out treats, you can show this by closing your blinds or curtains and turning off your lights for the evening.
For your first Halloween in a new neighbourhood, knowing how many treats to buy can be a bit tricky. Consider how many kids live in your neighbourhood, and prepare enough treats for a few more kids than you expect. You can also reach out to a neighbour for advice about what previous years have been like.
Costumes
As mentioned earlier, costumes are customary for children going trick-or-treating. However, many teens and adults choose to dress up too! In October, there are lots of parties and festivities that encourage people to participate by wearing a costume.
While spookiness is the general theme of Halloween, costumes don’t always have to be scary. Many people choose costumes that are cute or funny. Some popular costume ideas are vampires, black cats, or fictional characters from TV or movies. However, you can feel free to be as creative as you like!
Costumes don’t have to empty your wallet either. Buying a premade costume is quick and convenient, but making your own at home can be just as great. If you plan on being outdoors in your costume, check the weather forecast and, if necessary, put together a costume that will keep you warm and dry.
Carving pumpkins
Pumpkins are popular in autumn for both eating and decorating. A common Halloween activity is to carve designs into pumpkins. This is done by cutting off the top of a pumpkin, scooping out the insides, and carving an image into its side. A carved pumpkin is also called a jack-o’-lantern.
Once you’ve carved a pumpkin, you can roast the seeds to make a tasty snack. The first step is to wash and dry the seeds. Next, toss them in a bowl with some oil, salt, and any spices you like. Lastly, spread them on a tray and pop them in the oven at 350°F for 15 minutes.
In October, you can find pumpkins at most grocery stores. However, going to a pumpkin patch and choosing a pumpkin from the field makes a fun day trip. Many pumpkin patches also have other exciting activities, such as wagon rides and corn mazes.