Halloween is a holiday filled with frights and delights.

Unfortunately, cultural appropriation also runs rampant during this time and can truly be the scariest part of any costume. As workplaces, classrooms and households get ready to celebrate, here are some helpful tips to consider and pass along to those who are participating.

First, what is cultural appropriation?

This occurs when a culture, heritage or identity is essentially stolen and/or used for the sake of personal advantage. During Halloween, we see this manifest as wearing indigenous attire, box braids, hijabs, dreadlocks, cornrows, bhindi’s, and/or culturally significant tattoos for those who do not hold those cultures and identities. Additionally, it can also be a time when people perpetuate stereotypes around gender, class, sexuality, ability and body size to make their costumes stand out. Any effort to change the complexion of your skin, eyes or other physical features to create a costume is highly offensive and is a practice of dehumanization that only seeks to harm those you are trying to “represent”.

As you get ready to celebrate, seek to be mindful of the identities that may be impacted through your attire. Cultural appreciation is the antidote to appropriation and it embodies exactly what the name says: appreciation. If you realize you’ve made a mistake, apologize and seek to do better in the future.

There are many costumes that are more than safe to wear and will allow for just as much fun at whatever your festivity may be.