Some will stick with the actual October 31 date; others may choose to not hold any formal celebration at all. But there are a few things schools hope parents keep in mind.
Public Relations Specialist for Murray School District, D. Wright, shares a few seasonal reminders.
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With Halloween following the day after the Utah Education (UEA) break (Monday and Tuesday, October 23 and 30), many schools are choosing to hold their Halloween parties the Friday before on October 26, some will stay with the actual October 31 date, and others may choose to not hold any formal celebration at all.
Many secondary schools will be holding Halloween stomps or dances, most likely the week before Halloween, and the following costume guidelines would apply to those events also.
Due to child safety concerns, there will probably be special Halloween activity guidelines determined by the administration of each school. A few from the Murray City School District schools include:
• No fake guns, knives, swords, or any other kind of weapon (toy or otherwise) is allowed at school – at any time!
• Gory, violent looking make-up and scary, bloody costumes may be frightening to younger students and are often discouraged.
• Face paint is usually acceptable (as long as it follows guidelines).
• Masks are not encouraged and often not allowed – this rule would include parents who may be visiting or helping with school functions.
• Costumes need to be appropriate for school wear and appropriately modest.
• Parents are invited and encouraged to attend and participate any Halloween activities that are public. Some of the classroom parties may be in need of parent volunteers also. Having parents around can provide a grounding influence for most children.
Before Halloween activities:
A good meal prior to parties and trick-or-treating will discourage youngsters from filling up on Halloween treats. This may also alleviate some upset stomachs.
Try (as best you can) to have children get a full nights sleep before Halloween party day. With excitement rampant, a well rested child “may” be a little calmer.
Keep costumes as comfortable and uncomplicated as possible. It shouldn’t take a staff of three to dress and handle props for your little tricker-treater. The more comfortable the child is in his/her costume, the more fun they are likely to have and the less fussy they are likely to be.
After Treat Collecting: Go through treats together and decide how many may be consumed right away. Try to apportion out the others through out the coming days. Don’t send children to school with a bag of candy to share with others, as allergies and dietary restrictions may need to be considered by some children.
Brief Halloween History:
Halloween is one of the oldest holidays with origins going back thousands of years. It has had many influences from many cultures over the centuries; from the Roman’s Pomona Day, to the Celtic festival of Samhain, to the Christian holidays of All Saints and All Souls Days.
In pre-Christian times, people really were scared on October 31. Celtic people believed the dark half of the year started on that date, the day when powerful spirits came back to do all sorts of awful things. People stayed inside and placed offerings for the spirits on their doorsteps. They also left some sort of fire, like a candle, burning in the window because it imitated the sun and kept evil spirits away. Odie, a tenth-century abbot, is said to have initiated All Saints’ Day on November 1 and All Hallows’ Eve on October 31. Eventually, the event became Halloween, but in spite of all efforts to make it religious, it has never lost its haunted quality.
Trick-or-treating may have its roots in the English custom of “soul-caking.” From medieval times onward, poor people would beg door-to-door for spiced cakes in return for prayers they promised to say for the householders’ ancestors. There are many legends about the origins of Halloween. Most tell of the transition from a Pagan to a Christian festival, but all include stories of spirits, fires, and gifts to avoid evil happenings. It seems the scarier you can make Halloween, the more fun it is!
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