Halloween: What was once a single night of chilling celebration now seems to last all month.
Spooky season has grown, and I must admit, I love it.
October in Jasper is also the Dark Sky Festival - a time to appreciate and explore the wonders and mysteries of our dark sky preserve, and beyond.
And what better way for the two to end the month together than the Hunter’s Blue Moon coming our way on Oct. 31. This is the first Halloween full moon since 1944. (See pages 8-9 of this week’s Fitzhugh)
“All Hallow’s Eve and the moon is round!” howls Bette Midler as Winifred Sanderson in the now-Halloween classic Hocus Pocus (reviewed on page 14 by Kevin Lazzari).
It will be a hair-raising night to remember.
And besides the spooky moon, this Halloween will be different to usual with the pandemic restricting parties and trick-or-treating.
The Government of Alberta has released some tips on how to celebrate the night without fear of spreading COVID-19.
Officials say not to trick-or-treat or hand out candy if you are feeling ill, even if symptoms are minor.
Trick-or-treaters should be wearing masks and minimize contact with others. They should wash hands and disinfect packages before eating candy, and avoid touching doorbells or railings - instead calling “trick or treat” from two metres away.
If you’re handing out candy, find creative ways to do it. You could set up a table or desk to keep yourself distanced, or build a candy slide or catapult. Use tongs to hand out pre-packaged candy, hand out treats from your driveway or lawn, or make candy bags and space them out on a table or blanket rather than leaving out self-serve bows of bulk candy.
Printable posters letting trick-or-treaters know if you’re partaking this year are available online at www.alberta.ca/halloween-during-covid19.aspx.
Keep safe and stay spooky!
We would love to see your Halloween photos. Email them to [email protected].
Fuchsia Dragon
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