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<!--/montrealgazette/header_nav.inc --><!-- navbarwrapper ends --><!-- navabr ends -->Halloween may be ghost of its former self
By Misty Harris, Canwest News Service
October 20, 2009 3:02 PM
A perfect storm of economic restraints, H1N1 fears, and fewer Canadian children of trick-or-treating age means this Halloween, we may be opening our doors to one of the smallest turnouts of costumed candy-seekers in nearly two decades.
Results of recent surveys suggest the economy will affect the Halloween plans of about one-third of households, while slightly more ? 36 per cent ? are concerned about contracting the H1N1 flu virus. Add that to the latest Statistics Canada data, which show the pool of kids aged five to 14 is on track to hit a low not seen since 1990, and it appears Canadians will be eating leftover candy well into Christmas.
"We're looking at the lowest potential turnout in quite a while," says
Statistics Canada's William Dore, though he notes the figures don't account for "younger kids who are hauled out by their parents in little bunny outfits" or older teens who push the holiday's age limits.
Those who do participate on Oct. 31 will experience a very different ritual than the one enjoyed by earlier generations, according to Halloween expert Jim Farrelly.
"I'm sure that kids will be instructed not to touch anybody as they go door-to-door and that hand-sanitizers will be used between stops," says Farrelly, a professor of English at the University of Dayton in Ohio. "It's going to be a very clinical Halloween."
The Public Health Agency of Canada isn't cautioning against Halloween involvement, but encourages trick-or-treaters to practise such infection-prevention methods as sneezing into their sleeves and maintaining clean hands.
Beyond such timely considerations, however, Farrelly believes the holiday is undergoing fundamentally "profane" changes that may ultimately put people off for good.
"Parents have told their children about all the dangerous things that can occur, and the kids seem scared to death. They don't even say 'trick-or-treat' anymore; they just stand there with open bags until you drop something in," says Farrelly.
"And look what's happened to haunted houses. They're no longer about fun, scary surprises (but rather) really gross renderings of all kinds of heinous acts. . . . It's like The Texas Chainsaw Massacre."
If attendance is lower this year, demographics will likely also play a role.
In 2008, the number of children aged five to 14 sank to 3,807,039 ? the lowest level since hitting 3,798,425 in 1990. As of April 2009, the roundup of children in that age group had fallen to 3,780,575; Statistics Canada looks at each year ending July 1, so this figure doesn't yet account for youths whose birthdays fall between April and June.
Demographer Julien Berard-Chagnon cites a decrease in fertility rates, as well as a decline in the number of women of "prime" fertility age, between the mid-1990s and mid-2000s, for Canada's teetering trick-or-treating pool, which has steadily fallen in recent years.
The good news is that any diminished interest in the holiday stands to reduce delinquent behaviour, which can more than double around Halloween.
According to data provided to Statistics Canada by 155 police services, representing 98 per cent of the population, there was a 53 per cent increase in reported drug violations during Halloween 2008 compared to a week earlier, a 20 per cent increase in reported violent offences, and a 24 per cent rise in other Criminal Code violations, such as weapons-related offences and disturbing the peace.
http://www.montrealgazette.com/health/Halloween+ghost+former+self/2124530/story.html
By Misty Harris, Canwest News Service
October 20, 2009 3:02 PM
A perfect storm of economic restraints, H1N1 fears, and fewer Canadian children of trick-or-treating age means this Halloween, we may be opening our doors to one of the smallest turnouts of costumed candy-seekers in nearly two decades.
Results of recent surveys suggest the economy will affect the Halloween plans of about one-third of households, while slightly more ? 36 per cent ? are concerned about contracting the H1N1 flu virus. Add that to the latest Statistics Canada data, which show the pool of kids aged five to 14 is on track to hit a low not seen since 1990, and it appears Canadians will be eating leftover candy well into Christmas.
"We're looking at the lowest potential turnout in quite a while," says
Statistics Canada's William Dore, though he notes the figures don't account for "younger kids who are hauled out by their parents in little bunny outfits" or older teens who push the holiday's age limits.
Those who do participate on Oct. 31 will experience a very different ritual than the one enjoyed by earlier generations, according to Halloween expert Jim Farrelly.
"I'm sure that kids will be instructed not to touch anybody as they go door-to-door and that hand-sanitizers will be used between stops," says Farrelly, a professor of English at the University of Dayton in Ohio. "It's going to be a very clinical Halloween."
The Public Health Agency of Canada isn't cautioning against Halloween involvement, but encourages trick-or-treaters to practise such infection-prevention methods as sneezing into their sleeves and maintaining clean hands.
Beyond such timely considerations, however, Farrelly believes the holiday is undergoing fundamentally "profane" changes that may ultimately put people off for good.
"Parents have told their children about all the dangerous things that can occur, and the kids seem scared to death. They don't even say 'trick-or-treat' anymore; they just stand there with open bags until you drop something in," says Farrelly.
"And look what's happened to haunted houses. They're no longer about fun, scary surprises (but rather) really gross renderings of all kinds of heinous acts. . . . It's like The Texas Chainsaw Massacre."
If attendance is lower this year, demographics will likely also play a role.
In 2008, the number of children aged five to 14 sank to 3,807,039 ? the lowest level since hitting 3,798,425 in 1990. As of April 2009, the roundup of children in that age group had fallen to 3,780,575; Statistics Canada looks at each year ending July 1, so this figure doesn't yet account for youths whose birthdays fall between April and June.
Demographer Julien Berard-Chagnon cites a decrease in fertility rates, as well as a decline in the number of women of "prime" fertility age, between the mid-1990s and mid-2000s, for Canada's teetering trick-or-treating pool, which has steadily fallen in recent years.
The good news is that any diminished interest in the holiday stands to reduce delinquent behaviour, which can more than double around Halloween.
According to data provided to Statistics Canada by 155 police services, representing 98 per cent of the population, there was a 53 per cent increase in reported drug violations during Halloween 2008 compared to a week earlier, a 20 per cent increase in reported violent offences, and a 24 per cent rise in other Criminal Code violations, such as weapons-related offences and disturbing the peace.
http://www.montrealgazette.com/health/Halloween+ghost+former+self/2124530/story.html