Weekend Spotlight: Halloween Edition
Including an editorial addressing the recent “fake cobwebs” controversy
Editor’s note: On Wednesday, we published an article that generated a significant amount of backlash by seeming to cast doubt on whether birds get caught in fake cobwebs. Here is the story, for those who missed it:
We would now like to address this controversy head-on, in hopes that transparency will allow the community to heal.
In doing extensive research on the fake cobweb issue, we have consulted dozens of articles, and not one of them contains even a shred of data about bird deaths; in fact, these fun and spooky accents are not even listed among the leading causes of bird mortality. Robust and harrowing statistics do exist, however, on the number of bird deaths caused by windows (over one billion annually in the U.S. alone), and by cats (up to four billion, with an estimated 40 bird species completely wiped out).
This is not to say that people with windows, or cats, cannot be concerned about the unquantified (but potentially small) amount of birds who do become entangled in festive decorations that children love. We are simply pointing out that Halloween should continue to be a source of joy and personal expression, as birds are going down no matter what.
PUBLISHED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH SPIRIT HALLOWEEN, A SUBSIDIARY OF SPENCER’S GIFTS
Normal Neighborhoods Expecting Dismal Turnouts as Destination Trick-or-Treating Becomes Norm
Areas that once bustled with children on Halloween are now considered “flyover country” by 8 year-old Bryce Deloni, whose parents were driving him to a more impressive trick-or-treating hotspot across town. “A kindly neighbor handing out fun-size Snickers doesn’t cut it anymore,” he said, describing the elaborate haunted houses and pyrotechnics he now expected from the evening. “Modern kids want something more experiential.”