*footnotes
It’s Halloween again. A time to dress up and scare people. The holiday’s history traces to the early Catholic Church in Ireland. Nov. 1 is a traditional Catholic holy day, All Saints’ Day or All Hallows’ Day. Thus, Oct. 31 was All Hallows’ Eve. Also, the ancient Celts celebrated Samhain, the end of summer, on Oct. 31. The custom of Halloween was brought to America in the 1840s by Irish immigrants.
* The custom of trick-or-treating was encouraged in the 1920s and ‘30s as an alternative to mischief and such petty vandalism as tipping over privies, soaping windows, removing gates, switching street signs, etc. Today, communities are encouraging Halloween parties and carnivals as alternatives to neighborhood trick-or-treating.
* For example, McCambridge Recreation Center, 1515 N. Glenoaks Blvd., Burbank, will have a Monster Mash for preschoolers Saturday at 10 a.m. and for elementary schoolchildren Sunday from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Both events are free. For more information, call (818) 238-5300 or contact the community recreation center in your neighborhood.
* Experts say small children should be reminded that Halloween is a day for dressing up and pretending. Don’t emphasize scary elements such as witches, ghosts and goblins for toddlers.
* But Halloween is not just for kids these days. The International Mass Retail Assn. reports that 82% of adults still dress up for Halloween just as they did as children. The American Express Retail Index reports that 45% of adult Americans celebrate Halloween on a similar or greater level as New Year’s Eve.
* Looking for something different to wear this Halloween? You could try Wild Eyes contact lenses. They come in several styles, including Cat Eyes, Pool Shark, Red Hot and Hypnotica. Check them out at www.wildeyescontactlenses.com.