Special Features - Halloween 2012

THE FREE PRESS Thursday, October 25, 2012

HALLOWEEN TRIVIA PET SAFETY CHILD SAFETY

Safety is at our core Teck is committed to everyone going home safe and healthy every day – at work or at play.

Be seen on Halloween – wear a brightly-coloured costume and carry a flashlight or glow stick when trick or treating.

Leave extra driving time for your winter journey, so you can reduce your speed in poor road and weather conditions. www.teck.com

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THE FREE PRESS, Thursday, October 25, 2012

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Halloween 2012

Little-Known Halloween Trivia

alloween has been celebrated for centuries. Still, most people simply think it's about dressing up and scouring the neighborhood for candy. A true Halloween lover knows the tasty tidbits of information about the holiday's history and customs.

The holiday of Halloween has been celebrated for 2,000 years and dates back to the ancient Celts who inhabited Britain.

They practiced a Druidic fire festival called "Samhain." It marked the end of the autumn harvest season and the signaling of winter to come, or the end of the "lighter half of the year" and the beginning of the "darker half." The Celts believed that the border between the current world and the "Otherworld" thinned out on Samhain, allowing spirits to pass through.

There are other associations between Halloween and the celebrations of the dead. Originally there were pagan festivals to celebrate the dead.

However, in the 7th century, when Christianity was blooming, Pope Boniface wanted to replace pagan festivals with Christian celebrations. He introduced All Saints Day to replace pagan death festivals.

It was originally observed on May 13, but was later moved to November 1.

All Saints Day was known by other names, including All Hallows or All Souls Day. Hallow is an Old English word meaning "sanctify." Eventually, the day before the religious holiday came to be known as All Hallows Eve, or the Hallow E'en as it was known in Ireland. The term was later shortened to Halloween, as it is known

today.

Today, Halloween is a largely secular holiday and no longer has such tight religious ties. It is widely known as a day of fun and mischief when individuals dress up to scare away otherworldly spirits and beg for treats and tricks.

The colors of orange and black likely became the mascots for Halloween because orange is associated with the harvest and black is associated with death.

Other harvest-related decorations are also used, including hay bales and corn husks.

However, the larger part of the decorating leans toward the occult, including ghosts, witches, goblins and the like. Much of this decor is inspired by the ghost stories of books and Hollywood, such as "Dracula" and "Frankenstein."

The Jack-O-Lantern is also an integral part of Halloween tradition.

Legend has it that there was an Irishman named Jack who was a stingy prankster. Jack even tricked the Devil out of Jack's soul, making the Devil promise to never possess it.

When Jack eventually died, he was refused entry to Heaven for being too mean and ill-mannered. Jack went down to Hell and the Devil kept his promise, refusing to allow him entry there, either. Jack asked the Devil how he could find his way around in the dark place between Heaven and Hell. The Devil tossed an ember to Jack, who placed it in a hollowed-out turnip. He then roamed eternity with his Jack O'Lantern.

Halloween can be a fun day for children and adults, even more so when the tradition behind the day is known.

Protect pets from harm this Halloween

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hile Halloween can be fun for for the day. Animals that are frightened adults and children alike, the may run away or grow disoriented and family pet might not look get lost. Also, you never want your pet to be the victim of forward to October 31 as much as the rest of the family. When trick-ora Halloween treating time arrives and the doorbell p r a n k . gets its annual workout, pet parents Sometimes should take steps to ensure their black cats are stolen dogs, cats and other companion animals stay calm and don't get on Halloween. too frightened or excited.

Dogs left outside Halloween is full of decorations, may be at risk costumes and, of course, trickfor teasing and or-treaters. While the excitement taunting, too. can be thrilling for children, pets • Don't can easily grow scared. Animals take dogs trickgenerally become creatures of routine, or-treating. Although and anything that takes them out of you may have a calm, welltheir comfort zones can be a cause mannered dog, the crowds in the Roxie for agitation. Spooky decorations neighborhood may excite man's best hung throughout the house and friend, whose behavior might be difficult outdoors present new sights and to predict. Also, other animals that get smells. The doorbell ringing every few loose from homes when the doors are minutes could put skittish pets even more on opened may provoke your dog. It's enough edge -- especially when they come face-to-face to keep your eyes on your children, never with hordes of costumed trick-or-treaters. mind being mindful of your dog, too.

Candy, and chocolate in particular, poses • Skip costumes for pets. You may think it's a large risk as well. Even relatively small a great idea to dress your pets in costumes, amounts of chocolate can be harmful to cats but there's a good chance your pet does not and dogs. That's because chocolate contains share your enthusiasm. It may stress out the caffeine and theobromine, two different types animal, so avoid pet costumes.

• Be mindful of holiday decorations. Strings of stimulants that can wreak havoc on an of lights, fake spider webs and other animal's central nervous system. Hard candies may be swallowed and become lodged in the decorative items can be tripping hazards for pets, while electronic devices could pose throat or digestive tract. Artificial sweeteners a safety risk. Avoid lit candles in the home are harmful to animals, too. because cats or dogs may knock them over.

• Keep pets secured in a bedroom or another To help keep pets safe, it is best to consider the quiet space. Your dog or cat may try to bolt following tips for Halloween. outside every time you open the door to • Keep pets indoors trick-or-treaters. Instead, keep the animals in a bedroom or laundry area. Not only will they appreciate the quiet, but also they won't have a chance to escape and get lost.

• Store collected candy out of reach.

Pets are inquisitive, and they may be drawn to the sweet smell of candy and treats. Candy wrappers and the candy itself can be hazardous to pets.

Therefore, store candy where pets cannot access it and be sure children discard candy wrappers.

Cooper

Est. 1898

Wishes everyone a safe night filled With

FRIGHTFUL FESTIVITIES

THE FREE PRESS Thursday, October 25, 2012

Halloween 2012

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Everyone should think safety for Halloween!

Halloween Costume Safety Tips:

• Make sure your Halloween costume is colourfast so the colour doesn’t run onto your clothes if it rains.

• Try on costumes before Halloween to allow time for alterations.

• Make-up should be hypoallergenic and non-toxic.

• Wear comfortable, practical shoes even if they don’t fit with the costume.

• Keep your costume and wig away from candles.

• If your costume includes an authenticlooking accessory such as a fake sword, gun, knife etc., make sure that it is made of plastic, is flexible and cannot harm anyone.

Children’s safety tips:

• Wear identification that’s easy to read.

• Follow a curfew and bring a watch you can read in the dark.

• Cross only at intersections and designated crosswalks.

• Walk. No running.

• Watch out for open flames in jack-o’-lanterns.

• Trick or treat in familiar neighbourhoods.

• Walk with your head up and be aware of your surroundings.

• Carry a spare Halloween bag — in case yours breaks or you fill your original one.

• Don’t cut across yards and stay out of back yards.

• Follow traffic signals and don’t jaywalk.

• Always watch out for cars backing up or turning.

• Review the “stop, drop and roll” procedure in case your costume catches on fire.

• Never accept rides from strangers.

• Respect other people and their property.

• Be polite and say “thank you.”

• Avoid candy that has loose wrappings, is unwrapped, has puncture holes, or is homemade.

• Hard candy is a choking hazard for small children.

• Report any suspicious or criminal activity to an adult or the police.

• Consider having a party instead of trick or treating.

• If there are no sidewalks, walk on the left side of the road, facing traffic.

Parents’ safety tips:

• Let your child eat a meal before setting out.

• Someone in the group should carry a cell phone to call home or 911.

• Ideally, young children of any age should be accompanied by an adult.

• Other children should know where to reach you and when to be home.

Homeowners’ safety tips:

• Make sure your yard is clear of such things as ladders, hoses, dog leashes and flower pots that can trip the young ones.

• Pets get frightened on Halloween. Keep them indoors to protect them from cars or from inadvertently biting a trickor-treater.

• Battery-powered jack-o’-lantern candles are preferable to a real flame.

• If you do use candles, place the pumpkin well away from where trick-or-treaters will be walking or standing.

• Make sure paper or cloth yard decorations won’t be blown into a burning candle.

• Non-food treats such as plastic rings, pencils, stickers, erasers and coins can be a great alternative to candy.

Roasted pumpkin seeds Crunchy, salty pumpkin seeds are a great reward for the hard work of carving a jack o’ lantern!

For 2 bowls

Preparation: • Preheat the oven to 175o C (350o F).

• Rinse 300 g of seeds under cold water, removing all the fibrous strings. Dry them thoroughly and place them in a big bowl. Add 30 ml of oil and 5 ml of salt and mix well so that all the seeds are well coated. Spread in a single layer on a baking sheet and bake for 12 to 15 minutes.

Remove when the seeds are crisp and golden.

• Taste and add extra salt if desired.

Fernie Aquatic Centre

HAUNTED HOUSE! www.fernie.ca

The Fernie Aquatic Centre haunted house is back with new and improved haunted fun.

The witches and wizards of Fernie Aquatic Centre will work their magic, and transform our family change room into a wicked and wonderful den of fun.

October 30, 2012 6 to 8pm

Regular Admission Applies.

Call 250.423.4466 for more information.

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THE FREE PRESS, Thursday, October 25, 2012

Halloween 2012

Halloween colouring contest

Name:_______________________________________ Age:

Open to children ages 3 to 12! Please bring entries to The Free Press or Overwaitea Fernie or ______________ Sparwood no later than November 2nd, 4:00 p.m.

Address:__________________________________ Phone:____________

Est. 1898