It's not huge in South Africa, but every October the northern hemisphere starts dusting off its Jack-‘o-lanterns and cobwebs (if it's possible to dust off cobwebs). Halloween gets people excited about putting on masks. But without wanting to make light of a serious global situation, how will Halloween be different in a year characterised by people wearing masks every day?
The world has been hiding behind masks for over six months. And while trick-or-treating might not be the same in a world of social distancing, it's likely that the American tradition of dress-up will still go ahead on 31 October. It'll be interesting to see how everybody chooses to wear their masks - and their masks.
For those of us who wear glasses, mask-wearing always presents its challenges. This is something I've raised many a time, and I still haven't found a solution to COVID Mask Lens Fog. Whether it's a COVID mask or a full Spider-Man face covering, what to do with one's glasses?
Speaking of glasses and dressing up, many an outfit wouldn't be complete without an eye-catching pair of frames (if you'll pardon the pun).
Superman managed to disguise himself for years by putting on a pair of glasses. And for decades of comic books, TV episodes and movies, nobody questioned that Clark Kent was anyone other than Clark Kent… all thanks to a pair of heavy black frames. That's what a pair of glasses can do for you.
And I don't have my statistics at hand, but I'm willing to bet that Harry Potter costumes are by far the most popular choice for Halloween. I wonder how many pairs of round glasses have been worn since The Boy Who Lived gave birth to a multi-million-dollar empire.
Then there's Elton John. Without a crazy pair of glasses, would he even be Elton John?
So, glasses and dressing up go back a long way. We could get deep and philosophical and say that in some ways our glasses are our masks. Yet while we may sometimes hide behind them, they also express who we are. In that sense they don't conceal but reveal our identity, because the shape and colour choices we make say something about us.
To all the Harry Potters and Supermen who'll come out on 31 October, there's no doubt they'll find a way to express themselves. Let's hope Clark Kent can handle COVID Mask Lens Fog. Then again, his alter ego has X-ray vision. So, if anyone can find a de-misting solution, Superman can.
As a final thought, I wonder how many people will be wearing rubber Donald Trump masks for Halloween this year. Oh well, the man himself doesn't seem to believe in mask-wearing. Maybe he'll appreciate the irony.