No one knows what Halloween looks like during a pandemic. During these unprecedented times, there is no guidebook on how to be socially distanced on a holiday that is so social. Across the country, Halloween parades, parties and harvest festivals have been canceled because of COVID-19, and even trick-or-treating is in doubt. What’s hard to comprehend is the year’s biggest fright night being overtaken by a harmful form of microscopic RNA.
Of course, there will still be a Halloween and plenty of ways to observe it from the safety of your own home – and under this year’s full moon.
- Dress up. We may not be able to go door-to-door for tasty treats, but we can still don our Halloween finest. The irony this year is that masks are required. Why not get creative with items already in your closet? Pinterest and a plethora of websites offer clever ideas to celebrate the moment in DIY style – all it takes is some imagination!
- Be the best “BOO” on the block. Nothing more endearing than a residence that goes from charming to creepy overnight. Whether it’s a simple jack-o’-lantern on your stoop or an all-out display in your front yard, haunting your house will bewitch your neighbors… who are sure to admire it from six feet away.
- Whip up festive food. There are literally thousands (trust me, I counted) of yummy Halloween/fall recipes in existence, from the vintage (candy apples, caramel corn and popcorn balls); to the cute (hot dog mummies, spiderweb pizza, and ginger-dead men); to the downright gruesome (google “gross Halloween treats” … if you’re brave enough).
- Create daring mocktails. Pumpkin Butterbeer, Creepy Shirley Temples, Witches Brew and Dracula’s Blood are dreadfully delicious drinks. For those who like to imbibe, the possibilities for spirited Halloween cocktails are endless.
- Host a virtual Halloween party. Get a group of friends together to dress up and catch up – online. Make it even more fun by voting on Best Costume, Scariest Costume, Silliest Costume, Best Duo and Best Group (this includes your furry friends).
- Stuff a scarecrow or decorate a pumpkin. Celebrate the season by gathering the basics to build a straw man, or by adorning fall’s quintessential gourd. Use craft paint, stickers, magic markers, fabric, floral embellishments and glitter to enhance your creativity.
- Roast pumpkin seeds. Carving a pumpkin is a tried-and-true Halloween tradition, but don’t waste the goodness inside. Packed with nutrients and fiber, pumpkin seeds are a wholesome and tasty snack. My trick for making irresistibly crunchy seeds is to boil them in salt water for 10 minutes before seasoning them with olive oil and spices. Spread the seeds on a dark baking sheet lined with parchment paper at 325-350 degrees (depending on your oven) for 30 minutes or until golden brown, stirring occasionally. Served warm, these will vanish faster than you can scream “BOO!”
- Watch spooky movies. Some of the best films of all time are scary… like really scary. Masterpieces like “The Shining,” “Psycho,” “A Nightmare on Elm Street,” “Carrie,” “The Exorcist,” “Bram Stoker’s Dracula,” “Rosemary’s Baby,” “The Birds” and the ultimate seasonal nightmare, “Halloween,” somehow stay with us long after the credits have rolled. Suitable flicks for scaredy cats (the ones that won’t keep you or your kids up at night) are “Hocus Pocus,” “Ghostbusters,” “Hotel Transylvania,” “The Nightmare Before Christmas,” “Beetlejuice,” “The Spiderwick Chronicles,” “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” and “Young Frankenstein”. So, toss some candy corn into your popcorn, turn off the lights and snuggle up!
If you’re a parent, Halloween is also a great time to introduce your child to not-so-scary TV shows like “The Addams Family,” “The Munsters,” “The Twilight Zone,” “Goosebumps,” and the beloved “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown”. One of my favorites is the “The Monster of Walnut Grove” Halloween episode from the “Little House on the Prairie” series (free on the IMDb app). Kids will love it!
9. Settle in for a hair-raising read. Stephen King is the Master of Horror for a good reason: his terrifying tales have sold more than 350 million copies and earned him a handsome $450 million over his career. Other literary geniuses making sure you don’t sleep so tight include Dean Koontz, Clive Barker, Peter Straub, Ray Bradbury, Edgar Allen Poe and Bram Stoker, the patriarch of the undead.
This Halloween, take the “Safer at Home” opportunity to read books with your child, many of which can be enjoyed aloud on YouTube. Stories like “Room on the Broom,” “Ten Timid Ghosts,” “Berenstain Bears’ Trick or Treat,” “The Little Old Lady Who Was Not Afraid of Anything,” “The Runaway Pumpkin,” and “The Monster at the End of This Book” will bring smiles to a young face.
10. Dance to “Thriller”. Countless YouTube clips break down the choreography of Michael Jackson’s dazzling music video, but simply watching it will make anyone want to get off the couch and groove like the talented King of Pop.
Even if you don’t celebrate Halloween, you can still enjoy fall’s beautiful gifts. Take a walk to admire nature in all its colorful glory, plant some cheerful mums and pansies, sip some hot cider or pumpkin spice latte, and eat your favorite autumn comfort foods. This crazy year has reminded us of what’s important in life. Be kind to yourself and others, and let’s hope Halloween 2021 is a much safer and healthier one.
