By Sofia Kelly and Lily Krivanek
Unfortunately, COVID-19 has shut down several events, activities, and even holidays in 2020. Holidays are a great time for getting together with family and friends. As we all know, to stay safe we can only have limited or no physical contact with other people. As we approach the second most loved holiday in our school, it’s leaving us all wondering; what are we going to do for Halloween? Emerson and Davinci students gave us some insight on what to expect, and what they’re doing personally.
As we mentioned earlier, Halloween is the second favorite holiday of the students in Emerson and Davinci Junior High. We asked students what their favorite part of Halloween is in a normal year; to dress up in their choice of costume, trick-or-treat, have fun with friends, and most of all, eat candy! However, only half of students are planning to do something this year. The other half just don’t know yet or know that you aren’t doing anything at all. It makes sense, since COVID is a serious virus, and many people are taking necessary precautions. Some people are facing the hard fact that trick-or-treating may not be a part of Halloween at all this year. Most of the students think that we should trick-or-treat with added precautions, and some not at all. If it does come to the point where we can’t trick-or-treat at all, most people say they will be disappointed about it. After all, it is one of the most beloved Halloween traditions.
But what else is there to do on Halloween? Several Emerson and Davinci students will be watching a scary movie to get into the spooky spirit, with or without friends, either by face call or by a small social distancing gathering. Others will be trick-or-treating with added precautions such as masks, hand sanitizer, or gloves. And lastly, they will be making a costume and eating candy, maybe walk around the neighborhood. Most people are holding on to all the Halloween traditions that don’t require physical contact.
Does this mean Halloween is canceled entirely? Should people stay home and celebrate it on their own or by social distancing? Or maybe we can find some creative ways to trick-or-treat safely. Here is some advice and ideas from our classmates on what to do this year:
I am very bummed that COVID is in the way… Although, one idea for a safe trick-or-treating would be that people must wear a mask, and on your front porch, you could leave stickers on the floor like in the grocery store, so people stay 6 feet apart. Also, you could scoop individually wrapped candy into people’s bags using a scoop, and wearing a mask and gloves.
-Louise, 8th grade
I feel pretty sad that I can’t go with my friends out trick or treating like the past 3-5 years. Something I’m doing is that some of my online/in-real-life friends and I are streaming Halloween themed movies every weekend and that’s how I’m planning to celebrate it, and I think you can put a bottle of sanitizer and a bag/bowl of candy outside your door for people who are actually trick-or-treating.
-Lee, 7th grade
I think we have to skip trick-or-treating this year, just to be safe. We could even postpone it as a city or something and have it when the virus is over.
-Anonymous, 9th grade
I am sad that it will not be the same. But people could make slides from their house window to the sidewalk and put some candy down it while wearing gloves when people come and it would still be safe.
-Tegwyn, 7th grade
I feel sad of course. But I also feel relieved because more cases of COVID-19 could pop up and more people could get the virus and activities could be postponed until even later. I am going to miss my family tradition to go trick-or-treating every year.
-Paulo, 7th grade
Whether you plan to trick-or-treat or not, we hope you have found this information useful. We wish you a Happy Halloween! Whatever you do, stay safe and happy and healthy. And remember, just because of the coronavirus doesn’t mean we can’t still have fun, especially on Halloween. We hope you have a great time celebrating.
