I mean, after all, it is Halloween. That time of year when we relish the ghoulish and ghastly activities that have become synonymous with All Hallows’ Eve. Of course, over the centuries, the pagan festival has been overhauled into an innocuous amalgam of eating, drinking, and fearmongering coupled with some inventive and subliminally suggestive costumes. Come to think of it, we’ve applied that celebratory model over the years to pretty much everything from tailgating parties to political rallies. We so love an opportunity to spread a little bit of shock value, well, everywhere.
And this year, with Halloween occurring just five days before a national election – the national election – the holiday is already being upstaged to the point of being quaint and staid by comparison. Across the nation, people have been celebrating their national identity (or that of their party; it’s hard to tell) with plenty of events where eating, drinking, outlandish costumes, and plenty of unprintable vitriol are in full display. It’s the culmination of two plus years’ worth of gatherings, speeches, debates, town halls, parades, protests, commentaries, and all the fearmongering your conscious mind can stand.
So in the spirit of the holiday and as a public service of sorts, I wanted to share a few helpful tips when venturing out on Halloween. Incidentally, some of these may also come in handy when you go out to vote on election day – or as it’s probably being advertised, the highly anticipated Fright Night:
Be sure to have a source of light with you. Some places are dark, and you don’t want to run the risk of getting lost or ending up in the wrong place. At the very least, that would be awkward. Worse case, it could be dangerous.
Bring along something to quench your thirst. You’re going to be walking from one place to another, repeating the same colorful yet trite phrases over and over again that are synonymous with the occasion. You’ll no doubt get thirsty, so bring something along that will both refresh and renew your energy – like a thermos filled with some nice, hot tea.
Go with an outfit that suits you. No need to sacrifice your disguise to avoid discomfort; pick something that won’t constrict or impede your movements. Any footwear with proper support will help you go the distance. And if it suits your costume’s theme, wear something vivid and colorful; perhaps add something witty like a bright hat or a flashing pin. Have fun; make a statement! Just be sure to be comfortable and safe with what you choose to put on. Nothing worse than being in the middle of everything and realizing you made a bad choice and need to go back and change.
Bring a friend. Let’s face it; times have changed. It’s sad to say this, but even when you’re out canvassing for a few treats, you need to be aware that some of those may be intended to cause you harm. Never ingest anything that someone gives you until you’re able to go back home and look at everything carefully. Having a good friend along can help keep you from getting hurt or making bad choices. Besides, when you’re out with someone you really trust, you’ll be safer knowing that they’ll always be there to tell you the truth. If you’re tempted to go somewhere that looks questionable, a good friend will keep you from making a wrong decision that could cause you problems down the road.
So have fun on Halloween! Make the most of it and gather all the memories you can. The same goes for election day; make it a safe and memorable experience. And if you can, be sure to take lots of pictures or videos! Believe me, years from now, you’re going to look at some of those and wonder what was going through your mind to be dressed like that when you were out canvassing for candy or candidates.
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