Halloween has always been one of the greatest holidays for children old and young alike: Carving pumpkins into spooky jack-o-lanterns, trick-or-treating for candy, wandering about a haunted mansion and dressing up in costumes while hiding our true identities behind the clever disguise of a well-formed mask... EEK! Not another dreaded MASK!
Yep. Even Halloween masks are looking different this year.
According to South Carolina's Department of Health and Environmental Control, this Halloween we shouldn't use a costume mask as a substitute for a cloth mask unless it’s made of two or more layers of breathable fabric that covers your mouth and nose. The mask should not leave gaps around your face. In addition, we shouldn't wear a costume mask over a cloth mask because it can be dangerous if the costume mask makes it hard to breathe. Instead, we should consider making or buying a Halloween-themed cloth mask to keep us safe from virus transmission while still keeping our identities a spooky secret.
While trick-or-treating, keep it safe by making sure that everyone wears protective masks and stays six feet away from others. Make sure that you and your kids keep masks on at all times and if there’s already a group of kids at one person's door, wait until they leave before approaching with yours.
If you are staying home and planning on handing out treats, plan on having only pre-packaged treats to give. You can even use tongs to toss out the treats to the spooky little greedy specters. Also, consider having hand-sanitizer at your door.
If you must (and some of us must) have a Halloween bash, keep it small and socially-distanced. Outdoor parties are safer than indoors right now, and after Zeta slammed through last week, we are almost guaranteed a clear night to celebrate outside. Make a big fire!
Look up at the full moon on All Hallows Eve and thank the Good Pumpkin to be alive! If you can't think of a costume to wear this year, make yourself a grand or simple crown in honor of the dreaded corona (crown) virus and wish her on her merry way... because, doggone it, we need to get ready for Christmas.
Lord knows the big-box stores already are.
Happy Halloween!