Halloween is coming up and this year, it will be very different. On a typical year, Halloween is a day where many people gather socially in some way. Some trick-or-treat, attend parties, or just hang out with their friends. This year, people’s plans will be affected due to the coronavirus limiting the number of people it is safe to be around.
Some students are planning on staying home while others plan on spending time with a small group of friends.
“I’m hanging out with a few friends. We aren’t sure what we’re doing yet but we can’t be around too many people to put ourselves or others at risk for COVID,” sophomore Kate Gleason said.
Many think Halloween should still be celebrated, just in a safe matter. As a result, some plan on doing new and different activities.
“My plans for this Halloween are to carve more pumpkins with my friends in my quarantine bubble while we watch Halloween movies like Hocus Pocus and the Halloweentown series,” math teacher Rachel Frasier said.
On the other hand, there are people who see Halloween as unsafe and will not be participating in social activities this year. Many students develop their opinions based off of their parents’ stance on the pandemic. People with parents who believe it is unsafe to go out and be around large groups of people will most likely not be allowed to attend social activities.
“I think it’s really unsanitary to go put your hand in someone’s candy basket where you know so many other hands have been,” sophomore Ava Farivar said.
Those who plan to do activities with others will take extra precautions to remain safe. Gleason, for instance, plans to be around five or six people this Halloween.
“If I do go [trick or treating], then yes, I will be wearing a mask,” Gleason said.
Others have not shunned social interaction, but are taking extra precautions to ensure the community stays safe.
“We will be handing out bags of candy to make for a cleaner environment, but also to let the trick or treaters have a good time,” Gleason said.
Although Frasier may have grown out of trick-or-treating, she hopes that younger kids get to enjoy it this year despite the pandemic.
“I remember trick-or-treating being the highlight of my year when I was younger, so I hope the neighborhoods can come together to make a plan for safe trick-or-treating this year to keep some normalcy in the air,” Frasier said.