Halloween is a holiday celebrated each year on October 31st. According to History.com, the tradition originated from the ancient Celtic Festival of Samhain. Attendees would light bonfires and wear costumes to ward off evil spirits and ghosts. During the eighth century, Pope Gregory III elected November 1st as a date to honour all saints. Soon after, All Saints Day combined some of the traditions of the Celtic Samhain Festival. The evening before was known as ‘All Hallows Eve’ and then later ‘Halloween’.
Over time, Halloween has evolved into a marketing gimmick with fancy-dress costumes for kids and adults trick-or-treating, carving pumpkins and partying.
If you’re thinking of celebrating Halloween at home this year with your family, we’ve got some fun ideas to share with you.
Get Dressed Up in Spooky Costumes
This can be a shop-bought costume or you can get creative and do some DIY costume creation. Face painting, donning a black bin bag, using the kitchen broom as a witch’s prop, or making a papier-mâché mask – there are plenty of arts and crafts for kids to get stuck into. Getting dressed up isn’t for everyone, so you can choose whether to go all out or keep it simple. Make it your own.
Carve Pumpkins
What’s Halloween without a Jack-o’-lantern? Carving a pumpkin can be tricky but it’s a great way for adding a little competitiveness to the occasion. Each family member can have a go at making their own Jack-o’-lantern and a prize can be awarded for the best-looking pumpkin. Follow this step-by-step guide to safely carving a pumpkin.
Watch a Scary Movie with Homemade Snacks
Providing the film is age-appropriate for all the family, a scary movie can be an exhilarating experience on Halloween night. To enjoy the chosen movie even more, why not bake some Halloween cupcakes? Or, perhaps lay out a Halloween charcuterie board on the coffee table for everyone to graze on.
Host an Online Party
Unfortunately, with the pandemic still a part of our lives, parties have a whole new meaning. You could host a virtual party with your family to catch up with friends and loved ones via computer screens. Check out our online party packages for some inspiration. We have online playdates for youngsters, family challenge parties, plus magic parties with tips and tricks up an entertainer’s sleeve.
Go for a Spooky Family Stroll
Instead of trick-or-treating, you could go for a family walk in the evening to admire other houses’ spooky decorations. It’s a nice way to embrace the Halloween spirit without getting too involved. Be sure to wrap up warm and perhaps wear something reflective to keep safe while walking kerbside in the dark. Once you get back inside, get cosy with a hot chocolate and perhaps encourage the kids to paint a picture of their favourite spooky house.
We hope you enjoy celebrating Halloween at home. To finish off this post, we’d like to share a heart-warming quote from @Epicquotes_in: ‘Halloween wraps fear in innocence, as though it were a slightly sour sweet. Let terror, then, be turned into a treat…’ – Nicholas Gordon.