As the sun sets across the country on Friday night, children will flood the streets in their carefully crafted costumes to participate in the age-old tradition of trick or treating.
Since the British colonies formed in the United States, Halloween has been a holiday that represents the blending of cultures and communities coming together. The colonists brought traditions from various European backgrounds and combined them with those of Indigenous people to create a celebration unique to America. Over the years, the holiday has developed as more immigrants, specifically the Irish, arrived. By the 20th century, Halloween as we know it today emerged and quickly solidified itself as a classic American holiday. The blending of cultures and the history behind the holiday are why it is imperative that the celebrations continue the spread of culture and history. While there may be growing concerns about the safety of Halloween, the holiday is not too dangerous and should continue to be celebrated by dressing up and trick-or-treating.
Parents should do everything in their power to ensure that Halloween remains a safe and memorable holiday for children. Halloween represents the sole definition of childhood. It allows children to dress up and become whoever they want to be. The holiday plays a significant role in bringing communities together, encouraging socialization between children and connecting neighbors. While it may be statistically more dangerous for children on Halloween, the benefits for children far outweigh the negatives.
Children are 10 times more likely to be involved in a car-related injury on Halloween. One reason this number is so high is because parents are paying less attention due to alcohol consumption and partying. As long as parents attentively watch their children, they will stay safe and be able to enjoy their night. It is the responsibility of parents to ensure the safety of their children and that task does elevate on Halloween. Parents should be aware of the elevated risks and should be more alert because of it.
The tradition of dressing up and trick-or-treating should be maintained as a way to preserve culture and pass down history. Halloween is a holiday that has been celebrated for centuries by many different groups of people. What is known to Americans as Halloween has been developed from the blending of many cultures including European, Irish, Native American and many more. These traditions should be upheld as a way to celebrate the history and blending of cultures that is seen throughout America.
Halloween traditions have been passed down for generations and they connect the country. No matter where a person is from or what their socioeconomic status is, most people can recall a fond memory centered around Halloween. When interviewing Fordham students, many reported having fond memories of dressing up and going trick-or-treating and affirmed that the tradition should continue to be upheld. Many students accounted for having fond memories of Halloween even as they got older. Julia Sleszynska, GSB ’29, explained, “I love Halloween. I would always hang out with my friends and take their little siblings trick-or-treating.” The shared connection between age groups and the memories made from trick-or-treating is a vital part of childhood and should not be lost.
It is imperative now more so than ever that children continue to go trick-or-treating. It has been five years since the COVID-19 pandemic. Children who were raised during and after the pandemic are currently in their prime years of trick-or-treating. About 45% of parents report their children lacking standard social skills after the pandemic. Halloween is a prime time for children to engage with their communities and develop the social skills they are lacking. They get to meet others within their neighborhoods and develop connections through costumes, finding like-minded interests and sparking conversation easily. Allowing for these interactions to take place is vital to resocialization especially for younger children who were in their primary development stages during the pandemic. Communities should take full advantage of the benefits of Halloween and use them to develop and deepen connections. Halloween is a social holiday that has been connecting people for centuries; these traditions should be maintained to foster a community that is based on connections.
Wynter Veber, FCRH ’29, is a history major from Portland, Oregon.
