There’s more to Halloween than simply wearing a costume or trick-or-treating activities. Halloween, the spookiest holiday, can offer fun for everyone. Historically, people would celebrate Halloween at the end of harvest time, marking the arrival of winter, a time when death loomed largely. Bonfires and scary costumes were thought to frighten away spirits from the underworld. Today, people decorate their homes, workplaces, and even the streets with spiderwebs, skeletons, carved pumpkins, and other scary decorations. They start collecting ideas for costumes to wear while children get increasingly more excited about trick or treating.
The Origin of Halloween
Halloween is celebrated on the 31st of October each year. The tradition originated with the ancient Celtic Festival of Samhain, celebrating successful harvests and the beginning of the winter season. During this celebration, the Celts (the group of people who lived in the area now known as Ireland, the United Kingdom, and northern France) would light bonfires and wear diverse costumes to keep evil spirits away. Pope Gregory III consecrated November 1 as All Saint’s Day during the eighth century to commemorate all the Saints. This was then merged with the Samhain tradition, giving birth to All Hallows Eve, or Halloween as we currently know it. From that moment on, Halloween has been celebrated in various ways, including trick-or-treating, carving pumpkins, festive parties, and wearing different costumes.
But before we go wild this Halloween, let’s look at some different healthy ways to celebrate.
Making your Halloween Spooktacular in the Healthiest Way
Most holiday celebrations are an excellent opportunity to indulge in unhealthy habits, extra sugar and calories, and some environmentally poor choices. Halloween is no exception. Thankfully, we are here to share ideas for enjoying Halloween more healthily and sustainably!
1. Skip the Plastics
It may seem effortless to buy the jack-o-lantern and Frankenstein candy-collecting buckets that are popular yearly. It is also easy to overlook that these single-use plastics likely end up in the trash. So, skip the plastics this year! Why not use a pillowcase, a recyclable grocery bag, or another lightweight household object? You can frighten up this spooky sack by adding creepy decorations and go trick-or-treating. After all, what you put into it matters more.
2. Create a DIY Costume
Rather than purchasing an expensive Halloween costume, you will likely wear just once, why not make your own? This is often an inexpensive way to customize your costume to your liking! This is also a fun event for both children and adults.
3. Multi-Purpose Your Pumpkins
Creating a jack-o-lantern masterpiece is just the beginning! Pumpkins are abundant in Vitamins A, C, Potassium, and Fiber. You can use the leftovers in various recipes, including roasting the pumpkin seeds or adding the pumpkin “gut” to your at-home compost.
4. Health First
Before you or your kids go trick-or-treating, try consuming a protein-packed meal. This can give your kids energy for the evening and make you less likely to over-indulge in sugary, calorie-rich treats.
5. Create a Plan for Trick-or-Treating
Make a map of your neighborhood and identify which houses you want to visit for trick-or-treating. This way, you will only collect as much candy as you can eat over the next few weeks, and it won’t pile up as trash.
6. Mix in Some Not-so-Sweet Treats
Rather than giving out full-size treats containing processed sugars and other unhealthy ingredients, consider passing out low-sugar candy varieties in small quantities. This helps minimize sugar and calorie intake for healthier alternatives. There are numerous low-sugar treats in stores now, and this small act can make a big health difference.
Let’s also take a look at how Halloween is celebrated in different countries around the world.
Mexico City, Mexico
The day of the Dead celebration d celebration has people dressed as skeletons swarming the streets to create an element of spookiness. However, Día de Los Muertos is an uplifting, colorful occasion that honors deceased loved ones by celebrating their life. It’s even been recognized by UNESCO and named a World Heritage Event. Mexico City has arguably the most vibrant parades, full of traditional dancers and incredible giant puppets.
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Canada has an award-winning annual festival known as Pumpkinferno. The Pumpkinferno festival has thousands of bright orange pumpkins aglow from candlelight displayed along a historic, kilometer-long promenade. There aren’t only sinister faces cut into these pumpkins. Expect to find sea creatures, sports players, dragons, and vehicles, among many other fantastic, creative installations. Open throughout October. This outdoor exhibit is worth the visit.
Derry-Londonderry, Northern Ireland
Ireland is the birthplace of the Halloween concept, inspired by the Celtic Festival of Samhain, a religious celebration with spiritual traditions. Derry Halloween in Northern Ireland is the biggest celebration of Halloween in Europe. Visiting the city during this event allows you to experience the spookified Walled City over four days, where ghouls and ghosts come to life. You can experience fireworks, feasting, folklore, and plenty of creepy costumes. The event’s highlight has to be its Carnival Parade, where hundreds of performers from the local community march through the city and alongside the River Foyle, putting on a show of live music, dancing, fire, and lights.
New York City, New York, USA
New York City has the biggest Halloween parade in the world, with thousands of spectators and participants gathering in mass to be a part of the NYC Village Halloween Parade. The event has been running for nearly 50 years, with people from everywhere invited to join and lift the spirits – but only if you wear a costume and a mask! Each year, the procession has a different theme and is always wildly entertaining, with hundreds of giant puppets, marching bands, and various dancers and artists.
Chicago, Illinois, USA
The Halloween celebration in Chicago, Halloweek, is celebrated with two fantastic parades throughout the city. The Upside Down Parade is a weeklong festival with performances from musicians, dancers, acrobats, sports mascots, and the audiences wearing their finest Halloween costumes. The Arts in the Dark Parade is an evening occasion and the grand finale of Chicago’s Halloweek. Artists from all fields participate in the spectacular State Street production, featuring floats, puppets, and creative performances. The magical procession is truly a celebration of the immersive arts with a Halloween twist!
Across the world, celebrating Halloween is a fun tradition for many. However, it’s far too easy to get caught up in the excitement of the holiday and forget about your health. Make sure to keep yourself healthy throughout the holiday, from the foods you eat to the activities you participate in.
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