The Do’s and Don’ts of Halloween: GW’s Medical, Marketing, Urban Development and Religion Experts Available

From discussing how to protect yourself from pranks gone wrong to explaining the origin of honoring all of the living dead saints, George Washington University experts are available to provide commentary about Halloween.

To schedule an interview with any of the below experts, contact Emily Grebenstein at 202-994-3087 or [email protected].

Allison Sylvetsky, visiting assistant professor, can discuss best practices in healthy eating and nutrition. She also can provide tips to parents on how not to overindulge when sneaking candy out of their child’s plastic pumpkin.

Babak Sarani, associate professor of surgery and chief of trauma and acute surgery at GW Medical Faculty Associates, can discuss trauma situations occurring during the holiday such as falls from ladders while decorating houses and spooky pranks gone wrong.

Lynda Maddox, professor of marketing, can discuss the marketing and retail implications of Halloween. Is the holiday overshadowed by the longer, drawn-out Christmas shopping season?

Chris Leinberger, professor of real estate and urban development, can discuss retail and the walkability of trick-or-treating including how to map out your route to maximize your candy haul.

Jon Wood, assistant professor of religion, can discuss the Christian aspect of Halloween. All religions feature special teachings and rituals meant to protect the relationship between the living and the dead, and Christianity is no exception. In the early medieval period, regular celebrations were set for Nov. 1 to honor all the living-dead saints, and this tradition became the primary matrix for Halloween.

GW’s Flash Studio, a state-of-the-art broadcast studio, is available for remote, live or taped television and radio interviews. The studio is operated in partnership with VideoLink.