THE ORIGIN OF HALLOWEEN

Halloween has ancient Celtic origins, dating back 2,000 years to “Samhain,” the Celtic New Year’s Day that fell on November 1. Demons, fairies and spirits of the dead were thought to walk the Earth the night before. The Celts lit bonfires and set out gifts of food, hoping to win the favor of the spirits of those who had died in the past year. They also disguised themselves so the spirits of the dead wouldn’t recognize them. Around the 7th century, Samhain transformed into the Christian All Saint’s Day or All Hallows’ Day. The night before continued to be observed with bonfires, costumes and parades and came to be known as All Hallows’ Eve, or Halloween. When the Irish immigrated to America in the late 1800s—early 1900s, they brought the Celtic tradition to America. The Trick-or-Treating aspect of Halloween may have derived from a 16th century English tradition where the poor went begging on All Souls’ Day. Children took over this custom, and were given “soul cakes” in exchange for prayers. The development and popularization of candy, the growth of suburbs after WWII, and the explosion of consumerism in 1950s America turned Halloween into what it is today.  

TRICK OR TREAT MEETS RUSH HOUR

Halloween is almost here, and in many respects it is a family-friendly holiday enjoyed by all ages. The chance to dress up in costumes, to see family and friends at school and in our neighborhoods, and of course, to eat a lot of sweets, is appealing to people no matter how young or old. But the holiday is not without risk. Whereas decades ago people worried about candy containing dangerous objects or toxic substances, today’s concerns center more on pedestrian and motor vehicle safety. When the holiday is celebrated on a weekday—this year October 31 falls on Monday—this concern becomes even more salient since drivers perhaps rushing to get home from work in time for trick-or-treating can collide with the kids wandering through the neighborhood already seeking their treats. While the pandemic-driven trend of working from home helps to somewhat alleviate this risk factor, data shows that fatalities are higher when the holiday is celebrated on a weeknight:

• 18% of the people who die in fatal crashes on Halloween are children
• Pedestrians have a 50% higher chance of dying on Halloween than on the average day
• Weekday Halloweens have 11% more fatal crashes than weekend Halloweens
• Saturday Halloweens are safer for driving than the typical Saturdays 

While you might think that weekends would be the worst culprit, the data shows that weekdays (Monday-Friday) comprise 8 out of the worst 10 spots with an average of 18.78% of traffic deaths being children. Saturday and Sunday Halloween nights see just 11.92% of traffic deaths being children.

Pedestrian risk, therefore, greatly increases on Halloween, and even more so on Halloweens celebrated on weeknights. Since it is established that Halloweens falling on the weekdays are worse for children, pedestrians, and the general population, communities might opt to celebrate the holiday on the last weekend in October. (See: Brentwood Borough in Allegheny County near Pittsburgh, which decided to change the date of trick-or-treating this year from Monday, October 31st to the Saturday before, October 29th.) 

For the many ways to celebrate Halloween in and around Atlanta, Georgia, visit https://www.atlantanewsfirst.com/2022/09/19/ways-celebrate-halloween-atlanta/. Haunted houses, parades, ghost tours, fun at the zoo and more are waiting!

DRUNK DRIVING

Drunk driving is a big issue on Halloween nights. Adult parties and the common practice of handing out a drink to adult escorts when handing out candy to children has led to heightened concerns regarding drunk driving. Statistics show that 44% of national fatal crashes during Halloween weekend involved a driver or motorcyclist with a BAC of 0.08 or higher and 38% of fatal crashes that occurred on Halloween night involved a driver or motorcyclist with a BAC of 0.08 or higher; 23% of pedestrian fatalities on Halloween night included a drunk driver.

If you are planning to host an adult Halloween party, make sure that you serve plenty of food and provide non-alcoholic beverage options.  Collect car keys from guests who are drinking. Prepare to call taxis, ride shares, provide sleeping accommodations, or—if you’re sober—drive guests home yourself. 

SAFETY TIPS

In general, dress your little trick or treater in a costume that can be seen; add glow sticks, necklaces or bracelets if their costume is dark. Caution your little ghost or ghoul to stay on well-lit paths, to stay with the group, to only approach doors and porches that are lit, and to only cross a street at the corner or intersection or where a crosswalk is marked.  

Beware of food allergies (if your trick or treater has such an allergy, it might be a good idea to accompany them, since not all foods or candies make their ingredients obvious). Never accept a ride from a stranger, and don’t go into a stranger’s home.  

For drivers specifically, be alert for trick-or-treaters on Halloween. Slow down and continue to scan the road in areas where they are likely to be or where sight distances are limited. Remember that on Halloween there will likely be more pedestrians on the roads and in places where they are not expected. Slower speeds save lives. Stay alert for pedestrians who may come out from between parked cars or behind shrubbery. Stop, and wait for them to pass.

CONTACT YOUR ATTORNEY

If you or your child is involved in an accident on Halloween, first make sure that all injured parties receive the medical treatment they need. If possible, get statements and contact information from witnesses, and take photos of the scene and the injuries. Then contact an experienced personal injury attorney like Dave Thomas at The Thomas Law Firm to schedule a free consultation regarding your legal rights.