Celebrating Halloween

Posted by Wei Yin Wong Oct 27, 2008

Halloween isn't a big thing in Australia. Sure, supermarkets and some shops do sell Halloween wares but really, it's nowhere close to what it's like in the US. At the time of writing, there are more Christmas ornaments and decor displayed in shopping malls than Halloween stuff and Christmas is eight weeks away!

Still, there are kids here who love to dress up on Halloween and go trick-or-treating. Last year, a group of children I'd never seen before actually went door-to-door in my neighbourhood. I wasn't prepared for the little visitors but was glad I had lots of candy in the fridge to offer them.

This year, my son's school is having an informal Halloween gathering at a park near the school on that evening. Kids and their families are encouraged to show up dressed in their spookiest Halloween outfit and they would probably go trick-or-treating too.

My children and I have never done trick-or-treating before, having migrated from Malaysia to Australia just two years ago. We are, however, familiar with the Chinese Ghost Festival, which takes place in the seventh month of the Lunar Calendar each year. It's all serious matters, though. The Chinese believe the gates of Hell are open for 30 days during this period and spirits of the dead will wander among the living on Earth. So all kinds of offerings are given to appease these spirits, many of which are evil.

In addition to these offerings, the Chinese take extra care whenever they are out and about, especially at night. Children are discouraged from leaving the house after sunset and night time travellers try to reduce the hours spent outside.

In contrast, on Halloween, children roam the streets, asking for treats. It certainly is more fun than the Chinese Ghost Festival, which is all gloom and doom. But it also means these children may be exposed to risks they normally wouldn't be exposed to had they stayed home that evening. Hence the importance of doing trick-or-treat rounds safely, ensuring Halloween is safe for food-allergic kids, wearing safe and comfortable costumes and setting up spooky yet safe yard haunts for visitors.

I'm not sure how our evening of Halloween will go. The weatherman has predicted a wet afternoon. Hopefully, the rain stops before the little ghouls make their way to the park.

To those celebrating, have a safe and happy Halloween!