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A brief history of Halloween

Hi everyone! Hope you all had a wonderful week while we enjoyed some sun and some amazing sunsets. The forecast looks fairly decent for Halloween night. It may not be the top headline or breaking news, but here in Halfmoon Bay, it’s very exciting.
halloween

Hi everyone! Hope you all had a wonderful week while we enjoyed some sun and some amazing sunsets. The forecast looks fairly decent for Halloween night. 

It may not be the top headline or breaking news, but here in Halfmoon Bay, it’s very exciting. Paving has been completed on the northern section of Redrooffs Road! From Welcome Beach Road to the 8700 block of Redrooffs, the road has been a bumpy mess for quite some time and needed some attention. After the preparation began there was a delay, most likely due to weather, and culvert work and then paving started with brief traffic disruption. There still is some cleanup to do and centre lines to be painted, but travelling along this stretch is smooth and comfortable. The work and end result are very much appreciated. Thank-you to those that helped make this happen. 

Where did Halloween begin and what does it mean? There are a few different beliefs of its origin, so I did some research and found an article with information on Halloween in Canada. 

It is believed to have originated primarily as a Celtic celebration marking the division of the light and dark halves of the year, when the boundary between the living and the dead was believed to be at its thinnest. Halloween customs, such as wearing disguises to ward off ghosts and offering food to appease malevolent spirits, were brought to Canada in the mid-to-late 1800s by Irish and Scottish immigrants. North America’s first recorded instance of dressing in disguise on Halloween was in Vancouver, in 1898, while the first recorded use of the term “trick or treat” was in Lethbridge, Alta., in 1927. 

Halloween has become increasingly popular with adults and it is estimated to be a billion-dollar industry, making it the second most commercially successful time of year behind Christmas. Some decorating enthusiasts have incredible Halloween creations from elaborate yard scenes to haunted houses and amazing costumes. Ttreats are now wrapped candy, and the days of homemade items such as caramel apples, rice crispy squares, popcorn balls are long gone, understandably so. I do remember how exciting it was to find these little treasures in my pillowcase, which was used for a treat bag, at the end of the evening. 

The Welcome Woods area will have a Pumpkin Trail between Lohn and Hart Roads on Oct. 31, beginning at 4:30 p.m. It’s not too late to carve a pumpkin and place it with a tea light on the trail by 4 p.m that day. The community encourages those wanting to trick-or-treat to stay with their immediate family and to have only one family approach the house at a time. It is suggested to start at 4:30 p.m. and finish by 7:30 .pm. If giving out candy, be sure to remain as safe as possible by using tongs to give out treats. There are many ways to give out candy to the little trick-or-treaters so be creative. Wishing everyone a safe and fun Halloween! Oh, and don’t forget to turn your clocks back one hour before you go to bed on Halloween night. 

Have your “Say at the Bay,” please contact me before 5 p.m. on Mondays. [email protected]

Be kind, be gentle, be safe.