Party Planning and More…

It’s hard to believe, but the nip in the air, colorful foliage, and earlier sunsets are unmistakable signs that Halloween is just around the corner. As your little ghouls and goblins gear up for another trick-or-treating session, we thought it would be fun to share some history of the delightfully frightful season, as well as some common ways in which it’s celebrated.

The modern-day Halloween is rooted in a traditional Celtic festival called Samhain, an observance of the end of the harvest season. Also known as the Celtic New Year, this ancient holiday commemorated Catholic saints on November 1 of each year.
Halloween gets its name from All Hallows Eve, the eve of what was originally known as All Hallows Day and is now dubbed All Saints’ Day. Commemorating ancient European Pagan beliefs, this religious festival was originally held on May 13, and was later moved to November 1. Legend had it that the spirits of everyone who had passed away during the previous year would return on All Hallows Eve to find living bodies to occupy, a story that reflected the Celts’ belief in the afterlife. Many believed that some of the spirits posed a potential harm to livestock, crops, and personal property. Each October 31, the night before All Hallows Eve, the locals would don menacing costumes and organize riotous processions through town, creating as much noise and destruction as possible to scare away the prowling spirits.

In the 1840s, the earliest version of our modern-day Halloween was introduced into America by Irish immigrants. Early observances were marked by relatively harmless pranks, such as knocking over outhouses and opening gates to farms.

The trick-or-treating aspect of Halloween was derived not from the Celts, but from an ancient European tradition called All Souls Day. Observed on November 2, this 9th-century holiday was marked by beggars who walked throughout town soliciting villagers for “soul cakes,” a form of fruit pastry. In exchange for each soul cake, the beggars promised to say a prayer for the family of the charitable villager.

The Jack-o-Lantern, with his crooked smile and flickering glow, has a deep-rooted history in Irish folklore. Legend has it that an Irishman named Stingy Jack, a notorious practical jokester and drinker, lured Satan up into a tree. Jack agreed to let the devil come back down only if he would promise never to tempt him again. After Jack died, he was forbidden to enter Heaven because of his drunken debaucheries, and was also blocked from Hell due to his deception of the devil. According to the fable, Satan condemned Jack to wander through the cold shadows of limbo for all eternity, with only a single glowing ember inside a carved turnip to light his way. The modern-day Jack-o-Lanterns use hollowed-out pumpkins, which are more abundant and decorative than turnips. Originally a symbol of harvest time, pumpkins didn’t become emblems of Halloween until the mid- to late-1800s.

Today, many centuries later, the ancient practice of dressing in costume each October 31st continues—not with the objective of warding off spirits, but to celebrate with candy, fun, and revelry. In addition to trick-or-treating, modern-day Halloween is celebrated by such activities as bonfires, ghost tours, visiting haunted houses, pumpkin-carving activities, and watching scary movies. During the 1900s, observances of the holiday became widely commercialized, with trick-or-treaters’ costumes transitioning from ancient ghouls, ghosts, and goblins to reflect pop culture icons and trends.

Variations of Halloween are observed in several different Western countries, including the United States, Ireland, Canada, the United Kingdom, Japan, New Zealand, and parts of Australia.

Tips for Safe Trick-or-Treating

Before you unleash your little witches and warlocks for their annual neighborhood begging, take a few minutes to educate them on these trick-or-treating safety guidelines. Following these words of wisdom will help ensure fun, worry-free Halloween festivities.

• Always bring along a flashlight. After sundown, unfamiliar steps and uneven terrain can trip up your costumed crusaders, especially when their vision is impaired by masks. Make sure the flashlight has new batteries. For added precaution, you might also want to provide glow sticks and reflective accessories.
• As excited as they are, trick-or-treaters should always walk rather than run. Nothing derails a good time like skinned knees and spilled candy.
• For older trick-or-treaters who are heading out with friends, make sure they wear a glow-in-the-dark watch and carry a cell phone for use in emergencies.
• Advise children to always stay on sidewalks and avoid walking in the street. If they must cross the street, they should do so at the corner and always be accompanied by an adult. They should also avoid cutting through neighbors’ yards.
• Trick-or-treat only on familiar streets. If a house is dark, skip it and go on to the next one. Always knock at the front door rather than a side or back entrance.
• Kids should pair their costumes with comfortable shoes to avoid pain and blisters. Make sure all laces are securely tied to prevent tripping. Check your child’s costume to make sure it doesn’t drag on the ground and pose a tripping hazard.
• Avoid approaching or petting unfamiliar dogs or other animals.
• Make sure all props are safe and flexible. Don’t allow trick-or-treaters to carry sharp or pointy swords or wands that could potentially injure others.

With some sensible planning and foresight, Halloween can provide a sensationally spooky opportunity for friends, families, and neighbors to spend time together and observe the transition from fall to winter.

Creative Costume Ideas

Whether you’re looking for an ensemble that’s scary, sexy, or funny, BuyCostumes.com is sure to have the perfect Halloween attire for you. Shop hundreds of costumes for adults, teens, and children. Among the features of this well-designed online Halloween store.

• Durable, high-quality materials that endure multiple trick-or-treating seasons
• Quick, same-day shipments and courteous customer service
• A wide selection of more than 15,000 costumes in a wide variety of genres
• A 100% satisfaction guarantee for each and every purchase
• Unrivaled values that allow you to achieve your vision without busting your budget