Ghouls, goblins, and spookiness

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  • Ghouls, goblins, and spookiness
    Ghouls, goblins, and spookiness
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CIBOLA COUNTY, N.M. Halloween can be traced back to an ancient Celtic holiday called Samhain, celebrated in what is now Ireland, Scotland, and England, as well as parts of Northern Europe. The celebration originated approximately 2,000 years ago as a three-day religious festival around Oct. 31 to honor the harvest and prepare for the “the dark half of the year,”

The ancient Celts believed that on this day, the line between the living and the spiritual realm was blurred—meaning that ghosts from beyond could visit the living and monsters could find their way into people’s houses, according to history.com.

Celebrations honoring similar traditions usually take place each year around this time in Hong Kong, the Philippines, India, Poland, Japan, Italy, Romania, Nigeria, and Cambodia.

This year the pandemic has altered plans across the globe because of the increasing number of COVID-19 cases and the growing mortality rate of those who have been infected.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently issued guidelines for Halloween activities. The CDC recommends avoiding highrisk activities including doorto-door trick-or-treating, trunk-or-treating (handing out treats from the trunks of cars in a parking lot), indoor costume parties, visiting crowded haunted houses, and participating in hayrides.

The pandemic has affected plans for local activities, according to event organizers:

• Cancelled — all Trick or Treat activities and Halloween events in the Pueblo of Laguna, according to an Oct. 8 announcement by officials. Visit lagunapueblo-nsn.gov for more information.

• Friday, Oct. 30, Continental Divide Electric Co-op office, 200 E. High St., Grants, is giving away goodie bags in a drive-through event from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Participants must follow current health orders including remaining in their vehicle, according to CDEC officials. Visit cdec.coop for more information.

• Saturday, Oct. 31, Grants Public Library, 1101 N. First St., Grants, is hosting a Community Scavenger Hunt, 1-4 p.m. Participants will follow letter clues to various businesses and return to the library to collect their Halloween treat bag. Visit cityofgrants.net/library for more information.