Halloween hints to avoid trick or treat horrors
Krista Davies put her scepticism about Halloween to one side when she became a parent. Initially critical of the annual tradition when her son asked as a six-year-old to go trick or treating, the Bassendean geologist was pleasantly surprised.
“I saw everyone engaging with one another and had an ‘aha moment’ and thought, ‘Halloween is about bringing communities together’,” she said.
Ms Davies said she found that the essence of Halloween was about togetherness and not consumerism and despite misconceptions, it was actually an ancient Celtic tradition.
The Davies family first lived in Bassendean in 2011 but spent a few years living in South Perth before moving back to Bassendean.
Her different experiences of Halloween in the two neighbourhoods prompted her to start a website informing people of Halloween hotspots.
“I tried to take my son out trick or treating in South Perth — it was really disheartening, we got door after door slammed in our faces and it was tough,” Ms Davies said.
Last year she launched the website TrickorTreatMe where households can register their addresses for Halloween so people know where to go.
She said her vision was to create Halloween hubs around Australia where people could go on the annual event.
The website gives tips for being safe at Halloween, which include never trick or treat alone, children under 12 should be accompanied by an adult, parents of teenagers should keep watch of their children through phone tracking, never pass the doorstep and Halloween festivities stop at sundown.
This article originally appeared on The West Australian.
