“Clothes make a statement. Costumes tell a story." – Mason Cooley
Halloween is just a few days away. There are many different thoughts about whether or not it should be celebrated. So, whether or not you find it appropriate to celebrate, I thought I would share some history and memories with you.
Halloween’s history stretches back 2,000 years to the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, celebrated on October 31. This festival marked the end of the harvest season and the start of winter, a time associated with death. The Celts believed that the boundary between the living and the dead was thinnest on this night, allowing spirits to cross into the mortal world. People lit bonfires and wore costumes to ward off these roaming spirits.
As Christianity spread through Europe, Samhain gradually merged with Christian holidays. By the 9th century, the Church designated November 1 as All Saints’ Day, or All Hallows’ Day, honoring saints and martyrs. The night before, known as All Hallows’ Eve, was eventually shortened to Halloween.
Halloween arrived in North America with Irish and Scottish immigrants in the 19th century, bringing traditions like dressing up, carving turnips (which evolved into pumpkins), and "mumming" or "guising" (going door-to-door in costume). By the early 20th century, Halloween had become a community-centered holiday in the United States, evolving into the festive, family-friendly celebration it is today, filled with costumes, trick-or-treating, and spooky decorations.
(Information is from Chat GPT)
I grew up enjoying Halloween. We always had fun costumes. When I was young, costumes were very different. Mostly, the masks were different. We had plastic masks that covered our faces with elastic going side to side that went around our heads. It was not safe for many reasons. The biggest one was the fact it was tough to breathe and see!
My parents took my brother and me trick-or-treating, and I will never forget the house with the “good” witch and big witch’s pot with steam coming out of it (dry ice). Getting brave enough to stick my hand in the pot to get my candy took me a while.
We would wear our costumes to school and parade around to the other classrooms. My mom was a room mother and helped with the Halloween party. At home, we helped clean out the pumpkins that my parents carved, and we roasted the delicious pumpkin seeds. Often, on Halloween, we woke up to a little bag of candy corn and a card from Mom.
I have fond memories of that time in my life.
As I got older, so did the way we celebrated Halloween. My dad and I would watch scary movies, like Halloween and Nightmare on Elm Street. (We would watch Creature Features every Saturday night all year around.) Our costumes became more realistic, and we would do more activities with our friends.
As an adult, I enjoy seeing children in their costumes and some of the decorated houses. I still go to see scary movies, and this year, the singles group at church is having a costume party. I am going to go as a ladybug.
Some don’t want to participate in Halloween and have wonderful harvest festivals. I participate and enjoy them also.
Halloween offers a ton of fun activities for all ages! Here are some ideas:
Pumpkin Carving or Decorating: Carve classic jack-o'-lanterns or paint pumpkins with unique designs. Try glow-in-the-dark paint or stencil intricate shapes for added creativity!
Costume Party: Host or attend a costume party where everyone dresses up. Add a theme like "famous characters," "decades," or "spooky classics" for extra flair.
Haunted House Tour: Visit a local haunted house or create your own at home with spooky decorations, eerie music, and dim lighting.
Halloween Movie Marathon: Watch classic Halloween movies like Hocus Pocus, Beetlejuice, The Nightmare Before Christmas, or scarier ones like Halloween or The Conjuring if you’re in for a fright!
Trick-or-Treating: A classic for families and kids. If traditional trick-or-treating isn’t an option, try a scavenger hunt at home or in your yard for candy and Halloween treats.
Pumpkin Patch Visit: Spend a day at a pumpkin patch, where you can pick pumpkins, go on hayrides, explore corn mazes, and enjoy seasonal treats.
DIY Spooky Decorations: Make your own Halloween decorations with family or friends. Create paper bats, ghost lanterns, or spider webs, or decorate with string lights for a haunted house effect.
Apple Bobbing and Halloween Games: Bring back the classics with apple bobbing, pin the hat on the witch, or a Halloween scavenger hunt. You could also try a costume relay or pumpkin ring toss.
Ghost Storytelling Night: Gather with friends or family for a spooky storytelling session. Take turns sharing ghost stories, or read from a favorite horror novel by candlelight.
Halloween Baking: Make Halloween-themed treats like pumpkin spice cupcakes, ghost-shaped cookies, or caramel apples. Decorating spooky sweets is fun and delicious!
Scavenger Hunt or Mystery Game: Organize a Halloween-themed scavenger hunt or host a murder mystery party where participants dress up as characters and solve clues.
Trunk-or-Treat: If trick-or-treating isn’t possible, many communities organize trunk-or-treat events where people hand out candy from decorated car trunks.
These activities are perfect for getting into the Halloween spirit, whether you want a night of scares or a relaxed, festive evening!
Enjoy this week!!
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