The idea of All Hallow’s Eve, aka Halloween, has been around since the 8th century. It’s become a time of celebration, superstition, and all-around fun! You don’t have to be a kid to love everything about Halloween….teens and adults enjoy the “holiday” as much as young children. And during this time of year, you don’t have to go far to find some type of Halloween activity, whether it be a corn maze, haunted house, scream park or even a “trunk-or-treat”.
Even if your kids and their friends are old enough to roam the streets of your neighborhood sans parents on Halloween, there’s no reason you can’t stay home during trick-or-treat hours, dress up in your best costume, decorate your home, and sit in the driveway catching up with your neighbors! Some people will go so far as to create a photo booth to capture the night’s visitors, set up a haunted house in their garage, or pass out treats to the adults accompanying their children.
Getting ready for Halloween is where the fun begins…pumpkins, costumes, treats, décor!
Pumpkins
Pumpkins seems to be what most people identify with Halloween. And the best part of having pumpkins? Carving, of course! What used to be considered family time…scooping out the insides of the pumpkin, carving crooked teeth and triangle eyes, and putting a candle in the middle, is now an all out art form…creating pictures, characters, and portraits!
Costumes
Most experts believe that wearing costumes on Halloween date 2000 years ago when the Celts, during an ancient festival, lit fires and work costumes to scare away ghosts. That tradition continues today as children, teens, and adults dress in scary, funny, and even sexy costumes…not to ward off evil spirits, but to engage in the one night a year that everyone can feel like a kid and enjoy themselves. Interestingly enough, more and more schools are banning children from wearing costumes to school, and more and more businesses are encouraging their employees to dress up!
Treats
“In the 1950’s, after World War II, Halloween and trick-or-treating was aimed towards youth and bringing neighborhoods together. Pumpkin and witch cookies made with cookie cutters were a popular item, as were devil’s food cupcakes topped with frosting in holiday colors of orange and black– orange representing pumpkins and the autumn harvest, black representing death and nighttime.”(http://www.pbs.org/food/the-history-kitchen/halloween-a-foodie-history/).
Décor
Besides Christmas, Halloween is one of the biggest decorating holidays we celebrate. From the smallest spider to the largest inflatable decoration, Halloween seems to be one of the most favored holidays. The most popular Halloween decorating symbols include jack-o-lanterns, skeletons, ghosts, witches, bats, and black cats…all of which date back to ancient folklore. Decorating the outside of your home is just as imperative as decorating the inside. You can even turn your yard into a graveyard with skeletons, tombstones and coffins, along with animated witches and ghouls.
Whatever you decide to do this Halloween, put on your best costume, say a few incantations, grab your kids and a flashlight, and begin your exciting journey.
