Celebrate Halloween thoughtfully
In this time of global chaos, when our own government can’t get along enough to work together, things can seem dark and catastrophic. And, most folks who follow the news know things have a long way to go before there is calm in the world. Makes it a bit difficult to write about being green or recycling or caring about our environment… or is it? We are approximately 6,230 miles from Tel Aviv, and 5,240 miles from Kiev, Ukraine; unless you can financially support aide organizations and continue to pray for help and guidance, personally there’s not a whole lot you can do. But what you can do is be present here in your home community, find organizations to volunteer with that make a difference in our home and find joy and happiness in our location.
Halloween is right around the corner, and it should be celebrated for our kids for all the reasons we adults loved this holiday when we were children. Dressing up in a costume, going door-to-door in your neighborhood and yelling “Trick or Treat,” receiving free candy from neighbors… how can that be bad? As our communities have changed, though, many folks don’t go door-to-door, but maybe attend a “Trunk or Treat” or a Halloween festival. Either way, the kids get to dress up and have a fun time and a change from their daily routines. You can make this “greener” by making costumes right at home with poster board, paper bags, old sheets, flannel shirts or a multitude of things you have around the house. There are lots of great ideas on the internet… you really don’t have to be too creative, just a good copycat! (Allow me to digress: to those adults who also adore Halloween and are planning your own celebrations, please do so in a responsible and green fashion: recycle your drinkware, use reusable plates and if possible, find and consume local foods like pumpkin, butternut squash and sweet potatoes!) It is also still early enough to quiz friends and family for costumes that may be stored in a closet and do a costume swap. I appreciate not all of us have the time to make a costume, but swaps work for all parties.
This is also a time to decorate for the fall season. Local pumpkins are all around. You can support local churches that host pumpkin patches or find them in garden centers or even grocery stores. If we are fortunate enough to have cooler weather, it is possible to salvage your uncut pumpkin, garnering both the seeds and pulp for future use. This is a good reason to paint your pumpkin, rather that carve.
And consider alternatives to all of the candy as a “trick or treat” treat. There are lots of kids with peanut allergies or have issue with sugar. This is a good time to find little stickers, crayon packs or even chalk to hand out to your visitors.
If you will be visiting neighborhoods door to door, parents, make sure you have plenty of glow-in-the-dark tape or flashlights or fun glow sticks to keep the walk safe. And, as an extra added bonus, parents can carry a plastic trash bag, and you can be picking up litter along the way. Why not get some exercise and clean up the street at the same time? Kids get treats and exercise; parents get to relive the joy of Halloween, get some extra steps for your daily count, and clean up the neighborhood. I’d say that’s a win-win-win. Hope your Halloween holiday is as good as it can be; be spooky, be a kid, have some down time to have fun.
Nan Kirlin is the recycling coordinator for Gaston County.
This article originally appeared on The Gaston Gazette: Celebrate Halloween thoughtfully
