Many would argue that the point of Halloween is to be scary. Blood and gore and gruesome things are turned into costumes and decorations, rewarded with candy and celebrated in haunted houses. The origins of our modern-day Halloween go back to the Celtic festival of Samhain where special bonfires were lit and costumes were worn to ward off evil spirits and ghosts, but not many of those original aspects remain as part of our present-day celebrations.
Turn on your TV or scroll through the news on your phone right now and it may feel like there’s an escalation of death and war and actual terrifying things going on around the world. According to the Uppsala Conflict Data Program, which has been gathering information on global violent conflicts for almost 40 years, that feeling isn’t wrong: the number of active conflicts in the world are at a historical high (ucdp.uu.se/). News headlines talk of “bloody attacks” and “horrifying death tolls” as images show carnage and terror-filled faces.
Maybe we don’t really need more “scary” in the world right now. Maybe this is the year to try something different. If you’re looking for alternatives to the traditional scary Halloween costumes, for yourself or your kids, here are some Yukon-inspired ideas. Get in touch with your artsy side; look up a paper mache recipe, dig out some old cardboard or fabric and maybe buy a bit of face paint and see what you can come up with.
A Raven: The Yukon’s official bird since 1985, the raven is a significant figure in several Yukon First Nations cultures and is said to have brought light to the world. Ravens have an unusually large brain and are incredibly intelligent. They love to steal and cache shiny objects and can make an unbelievable range of calls, as well as being able to mimic other birds. Make yourself a set of black wings and a mask with feathers and a beak, and you’re all set.
A White Horse: The capital of the Yukon allegedly got its name from the frothing rapids and whitecaps of the Yukon River that were said to have resembled the mane of a white horse. You can use the statue at the top of Two Mile Hill, created out of recycled materials by Yukon artist Daphne Mennell and journeyman welder Roger Poole, as inspiration for the look of your costume.
Salmon: Salmon have been a vital part of the ecology of the Yukon watershed and a traditionally integral part of communities throughout the territory, for thousands of years. Thousands upon thousands of salmon used to leave the Bering Sea and head up the Yukon River in one of the largest freshwater migrations in the world. That number has plummeted in recent years. Maybe proudly dressing up as this keystone species could help raise a bit of awareness about their importance and what’s happening to them.
A Yukon Quest Dog Musher: Halloween in the Yukon often comes with a fresh layer of snow. Why not involve your dog in your Halloween costume this year and go as a Yukon Quest dog musher? The Yukon Quest was started in 1984 and is considered by many to be the “most difficult sled-dog race in the world” (even more challenging than the famous Iditarod). Depending on the breed and size of your dog, this costume could turn out rather hilarious and may bring a smile to many a face.
The Midnight Sun: The endless hours of daylight in the Yukon summer are just a memory now, but why not celebrate that memory with a bit of construction paper and some creativity. This may be the simplest costume idea, yet: just dress up a headband with some golden sun rays and put on a yellow outfit and you’re good to go.
A Campfire: Camping may be the ultimate Yukon pastime, and what would camping be without a campfire? There are lots of creative DIY ideas for this one online, most of which include some s’mores on a stick and simple construction-paper flames.
Northern Lights: A shimmery, multicoloured dress and some artistically-applied face paint is all you need to embody the magical aurora borealis. Who knows, maybe the real deal will be dancing in the sky overhead as you head out on the town with your friends this Halloween.
The Boreal Forest: Get a group of friends or your whole family to dress up as different plants and animals of the boreal forest. Go as a spruce tree, a pretty pink fireweed, a red fox, a loon or maybe a moose. The possibilities are endless.
If all those ideas seem rather boring and mundane to you, here are two slightly more “scary” Yukon options …
A Mosquito: You might think that a tiny mosquito shouldn’t be called scary, but what could be more in line with the theme of modern Halloween than a bloodsucking creature that kills hundreds of thousands of people each year worldwide? Thankfully, here in the Yukon our mosquitoes don’t leave behind diseases like malaria, dengue, Zika and West Nile Virus, when they bite us, but the Yukon is home to over 30 species of mosquitoes and they are quite an iconic symbol of the North.
A Sasquatch: According to Red Grossinger’s book Nahganne: Tales of the Northern Sasquatch, there have been numerous sightings of this large and hairy human-like mythical creature, here in the Yukon. Its size, rumoured appearance and ability to disappear into thin air make the sasquatch perfect, spooky Halloween-costume material.
Whether you dress up as something scary or decide to go a different route, this year, may we all have a wonderful time with our loved ones and remember to appreciate the beauty around us—to laugh and to play and maybe sit around a bonfire and hope it keeps the evil spirits at bay.
