When you think of October, you probably think of fall, cool weather, fluffy sweaters, and the holiday at the end of the month, Halloween. The holiday was introduced to the United States in the 1840s and it’s one of the top holidays in the country to this day. However, with the intrusion of the Coronavirus in early 2020, everything was put at standstill. Even then, we’ve managed to trudge through the past year and a half and are looking forward to the holiday and getting into the Halloween spirit.

Trick or treating is a very common tradition in the US, but there is so much more that brings family and friends together for the holiday. For junior Cordelia Matulewic, spending the night and eating candy with her friends is how she spends Halloween night.

Stores are stocked up with candy, costumes, and decorations, getting ready for Halloween. All kinds of treats and chocolate are enough to make freshman Courtney Fox happy.

Because Halloween is such a huge holiday, it has a lot of memories tied to it, either good, bad, or a bit of both. “There was one year where my parents dressed up as Indiana and Marion from Indiana Jones and it was a lot of fun,” Matulewic said.

Courtney Fox said, “My grandpa used to throw pennies at trick or treaters because he didn’t want them near his house.”

Tackling the stressful time of year along with a global pandemic is difficult, adjusting plans for people around the globe. Social distancing, masking, and making sure to sanitize are things that communities are doing to keep their children and families safe. “When my sister goes out trick or treating, she is going to be wearing a mask when coming into contact with people,” Matulewic explains. “I still plan on meeting with friends, but we’re going to be careful.”

“I’m planning on going trick-or-treating this year, but I’m going to have to wear a mask with my costume,” Fox said.

Covid has changed the outlook of every aspect of life but being able to do things, such as Halloween and trick or treating, brings light to the darkness of Covid.