This content was originally published by the Longmont Observer and is licensed under a Creative Commons license.
Halloween is a tradition that has evolved over the last 2,000 years from the Celtic festival of Samhain. Traditionally, Samhain was celebrated from October 31-November 1, roughly marking the halfway mark between the autumn equinox and the winter solstice.
Many believe Samhain to have Celtic pagan origins and is seen as a time of year when the boundary of this world and the Otherworld can be crossed by 'spirits'. Because of this belief, offerings of food and drink were left out for these spirits.
The tradition also saw mummers and guisers, as a part of the festival, went door-to-door in costume reciting verses in exchange for food. That tradition is seen today with people of all ages dressing in costume to Trick-or-treat or just to enjoy the holiday.
According to a survey conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau:
- 41.1 million - estimated number of potential trick-or-treaters
- 120 million - number of potential stops for trick-or treaters to occupied housing units
- 40,411 - number of people employed by U.S. manufacturing establishment that produced chocolate and cocoa products as of 2016
- 3,430 - number of U.S. confectionary and nut stores that sold candy and other confectionary products in 2016
- 991 - number of formal wear and costume rental establishments in the U.S. in 2016
Source: U.S. Census Bureau
In addition here are a few Halloween Safety tips from Longmont Public Safety:
- When choosing a costume, stay away from long trailing fabric. If you child is wearing a mask, make sure the eye holes are large enough so he or she can see out.
- Provide children with flashlights to carry for lighting or glow sticks as part of their costume.
- Dried flowers, cornstalks and crepe paper catch fire easily. Keep all decorations away from open flames and other heat sources like light bulbs and heaters.
- Use battery-operated candles or glow sticks in jack-o-lanterns. If you use a real candle, use extreme caution. Make sure children are watched at all times when candles are lit. When lighting candles inside jack-o-lanterns, use long, fireplace-style matches or a utility lighter. Be sure to place lit pumpkins well away from anything that can burn and far enough out of the way of trick-or-treaters, doorsteps, walkways and yards.
- Remember to keep exits clear of decorations, so nothing blocks escape routes. Make sure all smoke alarms are working.
- Tell children to stay away from open flames including jack-o-lanterns with candles in them. Be sure they know how to stop, drop and roll if their clothing catches fire. (Have them practice, stopping immediately, dropping to the ground, covering their face with hands, and rolling over and over to put the flames out).
Stand for Something: Against Hate
By now, I'm sure most people are aware of the shooting of 11 people in a Pittsburgh synagogue by a white supremacist.
I don't often think about being a minority. As a consequence of my hobbies, lifestyle and my education, I wind up spending a lot of time with white people. But I am inevitably and periodically snapped back to reality by a hate crime which hits the national news. I'm not going to engage in debate about whether this was a hate crime. "I just want to kill Jews." Enough said. Continue reading.
Longmont’s Outdoor Ice Pavilion Opens November 12
Visit Longmont wrote a nice article on the opening of the Longmont Ice Pavilion.
Look Inside the Ballot Processing Center
This contains a video following your ballot as it makes it way through the Ballot Processing Center.
Bad Times at the El Royale - Movie Review!
Matt Steininger gives a spoiler-free review on the movie Bad Times at the El Royale.
New Trojan Movie House to Show Babette's Feast
The New Trojan Movie House is showing Babette's Feast on their new movie screen on November 2-4. The Longmont Performing Arts Center, once called Trojan Theater, began housing movies in 1960. It was a tradition that Richard W. Klein kept for 30 years. Later, Klein assisted the Longmont Theatre Company in buying the building and beginning a new tradition of showing live stage productions and movies side-by-side. Learn more.
