Halloween began way back when the ancient Celts decided to dress up and light bonfires in an attempt to shoo away the dead.
Over the centuries, All Hallows Eve has evolved into what has become a month-long celebration of alternate identities, haunted experiences and people trying to scare the dickens out of each other.
Which is how folklore gets mingled with fakelore.
Of course, there are real monsters in the world but, come Oct. 31, are your neighbors suddenly turning into psychopaths with schemes of putting razor blades in apples and poison in candy bars?
Not likely, at least not in these parts, according to snopes.com
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and local police.Of course, that doesn’t mean tampering can’t happen. In 2000, a Minneapolis man was charged with putting needles in Snickers bars, according to Snopes. And the 1982 Tylenol poisonings in Chicago not only put everyone on edge but fueled fears of Halloween horrors.
But most accounts of doctored treats have been magnified, if not made up.
Still, local police remind that while perhaps nothing wicked this way comes, there are still potential hazards when costumed kids take to the streets in great numbers.
Joe Miller, chief of police for Palos Park, says that while tampering is very rare, “we ask that adults examine all treats and throw away any candies” that are unusual in appearance, discolored or have pinholes or torn wrappers. Parents of small children should also check loot bags for choking hazards, such as hard candy, bubblegum, peanuts and small toys.
He also recommends tossing homemade items unless you know the person who gave them out.
Miller’s advice? “When in doubt, throw it out.”
On its Facebook page, Aurora police remind parents that kids should only eat factory-wrapped candy and that costumes should be light and reflective and not obstruct a child’s view.
Michaus Williams, a Naperville police commander, said parents should be mindful of other safety concerns too. They should set time and geographic boundaries, he said.
Kids should have flashlights or glow sticks but avoid carrying costume-style “weapons,” he said.
Motorists should not drive under the influence of drugs or alcohol and should use extreme caution when entering and exiting driveways and traversing neighborhood streets during trick-or-treat hours, he said.
Children should go out in small groups, not alone, he said. They should not take shortcuts through back yards, alleys or parks and they should carry a fully charged cell phone and know how to call 911, he added.
Although Naperville has never had an issue with tampered treats, it is a good idea to check the loot anyway, he said.
OK, I know it’s Halloween and you want to be scared but, frankly, most of the holiday’s frights are, like Frankenstein and Freddie, made up.
Nevertheless, everyone, it seems, loves a good scare.
According to the National Retail Federation, 2020’s pandemic ghosting of the holiday is history. Americans spent a record $10.14 billion on Halloween in 2021 and are expected to spend even more this year.
But claims that Halloween is now No. 2 in spending, just behind the winter holidays, are false, according to Snopes. We still drop more on Mother’s Day and Father’s Day, and rightly so, I might add.
In Illinois, witches are all the rage this year, according to All Home Connections, which has tracked the most searched for costumes in each state for the past five years. Likely inspired by the release of Disney’s “Hocus Pocus 2,” witches top the most searched list in nine states, followed by cats and characters from “Buzz Lightyear” and “Encanto” movies.
So, have no fear, Halloween celebrants — real monsters are an exaggerated threat.
What is truly frightening?
Costumed characters will tear through your neighborhood in search of treats. Unless you’re a curmudgeon who turns off the porch light and cowers in the basement, you will drop some serious coin obliging them.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the cost of candy is up 13% over last year.
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Donna Vickroy is an award-winning reporter, editor and columnist who worked for the Daily Southtown for 38 years.