Spooky Season takes on a Different Meaning when you are Away from Home
From Point Hope to Boston Halloween traditions look much the same.
As a Red Crosser, I was honored to raise my hand to deploy to Alaska as part of the relief effort for the Western Alaska storms. But as I packed my bag for three weeks, I knew it would mean missing Halloween with my family. Our family costumes are famous on our street - but they’ll be fine without me this year.
Dressing up and asking for candy may be a silly tradition – but as I’m learning here in Anchorage, it’s one that crosses language and cultural barriers, too.
“Halloween is just as new to this culture as it is to you,” said Native Alaskan Spike Milligrock, the Red Cross Community Disaster Program Manager for the territory that includes the impacted villages. “We dress up in plastic costumes or paint our faces just like you do. We’re human, you know, we like to have fun too.”
That’s why the work volunteers and partners are doing this week at the Red Cross shelters at the Egan Center and UAA’s Alaska Airlines Center is so special.
Multiple municipal, state and nonprofit agencies – even some prominent Alaskan social media influencers - put out the word looking for donations of new children’s Halloween costumes in every size, infant to teenager. Volunteers sorted through the contents, dividing them into careful piles – which were quickly toppled as the kids raced through, looking for the perfect outfit. Mario and Luigi from the Nintendo universe seemed to be especially popular!
Once the kids were outfitted, it was time for makeup. Local artists were brought in to do face-painting for any child who wanted to participate. Some kids were so excited they asked for three or four different designs – carefully wiping it off and running to the back of the line to start all over.
Kids have already had a few opportunities to try out their new costumes. Red Cross shelter volunteers handed out candy at both the Egan Center and the Alaska Airlines Center shelters last weekend, and the University of Alaska at Anchorage invited evacuees to a Haunted Halloween fun night last Saturday. Kids can trick or treat again tonight at a Halloween event just for them, sponsored by several partners including the Southcentral Foundation, the Alaska Native Heritage Center, the Alaska Tribal Health Consortium and Data for Indigenous Justice.
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