Halloween is celebrated on the evening of October 31. People dress up in scary costumes of supernatural monsters on this night. Children go trick-or-treating, traveling from house to house, and asking for candy. Holiday goers also attend parties or bonfires and visit haunted houses.
What is the history of Halloween?
The history of Halloween is said to have originated from a Celtic festival called Samhain, which was a Gaelic celebration marking the close of the harvest season. October 31 marked the night when the worlds of the living and the dead collided. It was believed that the dead would be resurrected, causing chaos in the world of the living through illness and ruined crops. People are said to have donned costumes and masks to imitate and flatter the dead spirits.
According to the history of Halloween, the celebration of Samhain included bonfires. The fire lured insects, which attracted bats. This is why bats are considered a stereotypical symbol of the holiday.
The American tradition of Halloween originated from the traditional practices of nineteenth century Irish and Scottish immigrants in North America. Later, other western countries, such as Canada and Puerto Rico, also started to celebrate the holiday.
What is the history of Halloween's trick-or-treating custom?
Trick-or-treating was born from a European custom from the ninth century. Earlier, on November 2 or All Souls Day, Christians used to travel from town to town in search of "soul cakes," a treat of bread with currants. This was known as "souling." In exchange for the cake, the beggars would offer prayers to hasten the passage to heaven of the souls of the contributors' deceased relatives.
How did the current history of Halloween evolve?
Halloween's popularity in the United States grew so much that it influenced similar celebration in Europe. More recent history of Halloween in the United Kingdom reveals that mischievous children have often pushed their luck with the "trick" element of trick-or-treating, so that police have had to crack down on them. Similar menacing "tricks" in other countries in Europe have raised red flags about the celebration of this holiday.
Showing posts with label halloween celebration. Show all posts
Showing posts with label halloween celebration. Show all posts
Monday, October 20, 2008
Thursday, October 16, 2008
How to Cut Costs with Halloween Costumes
There's no reason to overspend on Halloween costumes if you plan ahead. Here are tips for saving money at Halloween
1. Prepare for next year - of course it's too late now, but check Halloween stores and local drugstores the day after Halloween and stock up on accessories that don't go out of style like face makeup, vampire teeth, and cobweb netting. The discounts are often as much as 90%. Garage sales also net very, very cheap Halloween costumes if you're willing to grab them when you see them.
2. Start early - It is easy to sometimes make your own, but never a good idea to start looking for good budget ideas on October 30th.
3. Look for ideas that don't tie to specific characters. It's hard to make something look like a real good knock-off of Mickey Mouse.
4. Try community sites for previously used Halloween outfits, especially in kids' sizes.
5. Involve your child - ask them what they want to be and use items your kids are already interested in. If you have football or soccer outfits, use them. This is simple and might be easier to sell to your child rather than trying to imitate what they have seen on TV.
6. Take a trip to thrift store and consider these favorites:
• Old prom dresses, along with blood for a "Carrie" costume, or for Beauty Pageant misfits
• Bridal gowns for "Bride of Frankenstein" or cut down as princess dresses
• Old tuxedos for crazy French waiters
• Retro outfits
7. Consider these cheap and easy costumes:
• Wrap a sheet and you have a mummy or a toga costume
• Safety pin odd clothing items to a single colored ensemble and go as "static cling."
• Wrap a red blanket around a child, put on a big cross or other medallion and go as a medieval crusader
• Eye patch, red turtleneck, blue jeans and a red bandana for a pirate
• Attach Smarties to your child's pants with packing tape to create a "smartie(s) pants" costume (familyfun.com idea)
8. Consult websites for ideas. Two of our favorites are:
• coolest-homemade-costumes.com - idea sharing site
• familyfun.com (even a category for last minute ideas)
There are plenty of ideas without the need for a glue gun or sewing machine. Even if you feel you aren't very creative, the websites listed above have lots of ideas of things you can put together mostly using items you have at home.
Halloween doesn't have to be expensive and can be a lot of fun, probably more so, if you use a little imagination rather than buying something off the rack at the store.
1. Prepare for next year - of course it's too late now, but check Halloween stores and local drugstores the day after Halloween and stock up on accessories that don't go out of style like face makeup, vampire teeth, and cobweb netting. The discounts are often as much as 90%. Garage sales also net very, very cheap Halloween costumes if you're willing to grab them when you see them.
2. Start early - It is easy to sometimes make your own, but never a good idea to start looking for good budget ideas on October 30th.
3. Look for ideas that don't tie to specific characters. It's hard to make something look like a real good knock-off of Mickey Mouse.
4. Try community sites for previously used Halloween outfits, especially in kids' sizes.
5. Involve your child - ask them what they want to be and use items your kids are already interested in. If you have football or soccer outfits, use them. This is simple and might be easier to sell to your child rather than trying to imitate what they have seen on TV.
6. Take a trip to thrift store and consider these favorites:
• Old prom dresses, along with blood for a "Carrie" costume, or for Beauty Pageant misfits
• Bridal gowns for "Bride of Frankenstein" or cut down as princess dresses
• Old tuxedos for crazy French waiters
• Retro outfits
7. Consider these cheap and easy costumes:
• Wrap a sheet and you have a mummy or a toga costume
• Safety pin odd clothing items to a single colored ensemble and go as "static cling."
• Wrap a red blanket around a child, put on a big cross or other medallion and go as a medieval crusader
• Eye patch, red turtleneck, blue jeans and a red bandana for a pirate
• Attach Smarties to your child's pants with packing tape to create a "smartie(s) pants" costume (familyfun.com idea)
8. Consult websites for ideas. Two of our favorites are:
• coolest-homemade-costumes.com - idea sharing site
• familyfun.com (even a category for last minute ideas)
There are plenty of ideas without the need for a glue gun or sewing machine. Even if you feel you aren't very creative, the websites listed above have lots of ideas of things you can put together mostly using items you have at home.
Halloween doesn't have to be expensive and can be a lot of fun, probably more so, if you use a little imagination rather than buying something off the rack at the store.
Friday, October 10, 2008
Make Your Own Halloween Masks
With Halloween right around the corner, specialty stores are stocking their shelves with costumes and masks for adults and children. This year, instead of spending money on buying Halloween masks which your child will likely rip or lose by the end of the evening, why don't you considering making homemade Halloween masks? Put on your creative hat and get cracking because here is an easy method for creating Halloween masks for your little trick-or-treater.
The Supplies
Large paper bag (such as from a supermarket)
Colored construction paper
Black marker
Pencil
Scissors
Glue
Miscellaneous decorations (depending on the theme of mask)
The Process
Step 1
The first step is to make sure that the Halloween masks fit the faces of the people who are going to wear them. If you are creating one for your child, start by gently pulling the paper bag over your child's face and press it against his features. Make note of where his eyes, nose, and mouth are by lightly marking their outline on the bag in pencil.
Step 2
The next step for making Halloween masks is to use scissors to cut out the areas where the eyes, nose, and mouth should be, as per the markings you made earlier. If necessary, fold the paper to help you create symmetrical shapes when cutting. Don't press down too firmly though as you will create a noticeable crease on the mask.
Step 3
Pick a design. Does your child want to be a specific character? An animal? A goblin? Use the black marker and miscellaneous decorations to add the appropriate details. Create contrasting color patterns and other features using the colored construction paper.
Step 4
If you use glue to attach any materials, leave the mask in a place to dry where it will not be disturbed. After all your hard work you want to make sure the mask is in good shape for the main event.
Step 5
Come October 31, put on your Halloween masks and go trick-or-treating!
You can turn any home into a haunted house for Halloween by adding the right Halloween decorations. Here are simple do-it-yourself suggestions for Halloween decorations that you, your family, and the neighbors will enjoy this fall.
The Supplies
Large paper bag (such as from a supermarket)
Colored construction paper
Black marker
Pencil
Scissors
Glue
Miscellaneous decorations (depending on the theme of mask)
The Process
Step 1
The first step is to make sure that the Halloween masks fit the faces of the people who are going to wear them. If you are creating one for your child, start by gently pulling the paper bag over your child's face and press it against his features. Make note of where his eyes, nose, and mouth are by lightly marking their outline on the bag in pencil.
Step 2
The next step for making Halloween masks is to use scissors to cut out the areas where the eyes, nose, and mouth should be, as per the markings you made earlier. If necessary, fold the paper to help you create symmetrical shapes when cutting. Don't press down too firmly though as you will create a noticeable crease on the mask.
Step 3
Pick a design. Does your child want to be a specific character? An animal? A goblin? Use the black marker and miscellaneous decorations to add the appropriate details. Create contrasting color patterns and other features using the colored construction paper.
Step 4
If you use glue to attach any materials, leave the mask in a place to dry where it will not be disturbed. After all your hard work you want to make sure the mask is in good shape for the main event.
Step 5
Come October 31, put on your Halloween masks and go trick-or-treating!
You can turn any home into a haunted house for Halloween by adding the right Halloween decorations. Here are simple do-it-yourself suggestions for Halloween decorations that you, your family, and the neighbors will enjoy this fall.
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