Halloween : NPR

On Halloween, Police Fire Tear Gas At Costumed Hong Kong Protesters

A police officer stares down a man and child wearing masks in the Lan Kwai Fong area of central Hong Kong. Anthony Wallace/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Anthony Wallace/AFP via Getty Images

On Halloween, Police Fire Tear Gas At Costumed Hong Kong Protesters

October 31, 2019 • Police fired tear gas and closed off sections of central Hong Kong and Kowloon, as protesters defied the city's mask ban with costumes depicting Guy Fawkes, the Joker and Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Teal Pumpkins Make Halloween Less Tricky For Kids With Food Allergies

A young girl paints a pumpkin teal to signify that a place is safe for children with food allergies to go trick-or-treating. Courtesy of Food Allergy Research & Education hide caption

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Courtesy of Food Allergy Research & Education

Teal Pumpkins Make Halloween Less Tricky For Kids With Food Allergies

October 29, 2019 • In addition to handing out candy, places that display teal pumpkins also give out non-food items such as glow sticks or stickers. The movement took off quickly on social media and continues to grow.

Cultural Appropriation, A Perennial Issue On Halloween

Native American protesters stand outside the Phoenix office of a retailer of "sexy Native American" costumes last year. For some ethnic and racial groups, Halloween has long been haunted by costumes that perpetuate stereotypes and instances of cultural appropriation. Terry Tang/AP hide caption

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Terry Tang/AP

National

Cultural Appropriation, A Perennial Issue On Halloween

October 29, 2019 • Halloween is filled with tricks and treats, but it's also filled with land mines of cultural appropriation and racist tropes. When does holiday fun turn into an offense for someone else?

Cultural Appropriation, A Perennial Issue On Halloween

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A skull door knocker and cobweb decorations on the day before Halloween in Philadelphia. Bastiaan Slabbers/Getty Images hide caption

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Bastiaan Slabbers/Getty Images

Analysis

Code Switch

The Code Switch Guide To Halloween

October 28, 2019 • Halloween each year brings a cauldron of unpleasantness for people of color — and a surge of questions to our inbox. To get through it all, we put together the official Code Switch Guide to Halloween.

For Many Native Americans, Fall Is The Least Wonderful Time Of The Year

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Opinion

Code Switch

For Many Native Americans, Fall Is The Least Wonderful Time Of The Year

November 23, 2017 • "Fall is the annual middle finger this country gives Native Americans," says one member of the Oglala Lakota Nation.

Political Costumes This Halloween Rank Right Behind Slasher Villains, Wonder Woman

Donald Trump holds up a mask of himself during a rally in Florida in November 2016. Mandel Ngan/AFP/Getty Images hide caption

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Mandel Ngan/AFP/Getty Images

Politics

Political Costumes This Halloween Rank Right Behind Slasher Villains, Wonder Woman

October 31, 2017 • More people say they will wear a political costume this Halloween in a year after an election than ever before. Hillary Clinton, for one, says she might go as "the president."

This Halloween Is Scaring Up Record Sales of Candy, Costumes And Decor

A squirrel investigates Halloween jack-o'lanterns in Washington, D.C. Analysts say spending for holiday decor, candy and costumes is strong this year. Joe Raedle/Getty Images hide caption

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Joe Raedle/Getty Images

The Two-Way

This Halloween Is Scaring Up Record Sales of Candy, Costumes And Decor

October 30, 2017 • Surging consumer confidence is spurring sales for Halloween. Retailers are forecasting an 8 percent increase in sales for costumes, candy and decorations. Those gains are strong given low inflation.

Toxic. Sour. Atomic. Why We Love To Hate Gross Candy

NPR intern Kevin Garcia endures the sour taste of Warheads hard candy. Why are we tempted by candy that pretends to be made of hazardous chemicals, that threatens to nuke our taste buds, or that dares us to be disgusted? Photo illustration by Josh Loock/NPR hide caption

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Photo illustration by Josh Loock/NPR

The Salt

Toxic. Sour. Atomic. Why We Love To Hate Gross Candy

October 30, 2017 • Candy is supposed to be sweet and delicious. So why are we tempted by candy that pretends to be made of hazardous chemicals, that threatens to nuke our tastebuds, or that dares us to be disgusted?

Top American Fears: Sharks And Zombies Or Corrupt Officials?

A survey says Americans are by far most afraid of corrupt government officials. Mark Wilson/Getty Images hide caption

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Mark Wilson/Getty Images

Opinion

Top American Fears: Sharks And Zombies Or Corrupt Officials?

October 28, 2017 • NPR's Melissa Block reflects on the results of an annual survey about what most scares Americans. The nation's health care system, pollution and another world war rank in the top 10.

Top American Fears: Sharks And Zombies Or Corrupt Officials?

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