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The World of Pirate Halloween Costumes

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It is hard to believe one type of holiday disguise could have its own niche, but pirate Halloween costumes have managed to do just that. While this has always been a popular holiday personal décor choice, the recent love of the Pirates of the Caribbean movies has certainly upped the desire. It can be a fun choice for those who like to go as a character a little bit ruthless, but not in the realm of spooky creatures like devils, ghosts or vampires. So while you may not look like Johnny Depp no matter how great the costume and makeup are, it can still be fun to try.

Pirate Halloween Costumes for Men 

Aside from pasting the Jolly Roger flag of skull and cross bones across your “ship,” in other words car, you’ll be glad to know there are varieties of pirate looks. Of course, the most popular pirate Halloween costume for men right now is the Captain Jack Sparrow. This comes with everything you would envision Johnny Depp’s character wearing and can include optional accessories. If you don’t feel like investing in boots, no worries matey, there are pieces that slip over regular boots to create the same look. The thinly beaded dread wig isn’t optional, though. What would Captain Jack Sparrow be without his lovely locks?

There are other styles of men’s pirate costumes, such as the “cutthroat.” This look usually includes the red and black striped leggings, an eye patch and the curved sword symbolic of this style of pirate. There is the Captain Black Heart look, which comes with the ornate red, velvet ¾ length jacket and matching hat. An optional bottle of booze can be explained to others as simply part of the costume.

Of course for most of these looks an earring, hat, eye patch sword and parrot do so much to complete the look. You will be glad to know there is even a peg leg option. This piece attaches to your pants and hangs down over your camouflaged leg for the appearance of a peg leg.

Pirate Halloween Costumes for Women 

These tend to be much more revealing and appealing, as well as low cut in the top and high slit in the skirt. There is no reason why women can’t also look like they are ready to do some looting and acquire some booty, even if there weren’t typically female pirates sending others off to walk the plank. Same optional accessories apply, though a popular one for just the gals is the thigh-riding garter belt complete with faux saber.

There’s the classy pirate look that comes with a velveteen ¾ coat, and not much underneath. High heel pirate boots and of course a more feminine hat are the finishing touches on this style of pirate. Another look for female pirates is more of the lower class, but still as lovely, working class pirate. Not quite a swabbie, or deck member to mop the deck, but not far above either. So for this, picture a corset top over a tight fitting pirate blouse paired with an jagged cut skirt and there’s the look. Well, that and sexy boots and a sword, of course. Fishnets don’t hurt the look either.

Don’t Forget the Children and Pets

That’s right, the pirate Halloween costumes aren’t just for adults. Plenty of children planning to make their rounds trick-or-treating or to Halloween parties think “it’s the pirate look for me,” although maybe not the life in this case. The same general ideas apply, as it’s all about the ability to not look like a land lubber. Plenty of striped leggings, ornate hats, fake swords and of course, the skull and cross bones symbols. There are even costumes for babies and toddlers. No person is too small or too young to be a Jack Sparrow in his younger days.

To Buy or DIY

The thing is, the price of some of these costumes can really add up. When possible, rent the look and save some cash or borrow from a friend who already hit the Halloween parties. Find anything you have at home to dress it up, such as a scarf, excessive jewelry or large, ornate belt buckle. If possible, too, make items by hand especially for children and pets.

Of course, it is required to learn some cheesy pirate terminology to overdo it in front of your friends. While some costumes don’t really invoke much character to come with it, this is one that requires some proper hamming it up. When opting for pirate Halloween costumes for the holiday, bring some of your personal flair with it.

Vintage Halloween

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Vintage Halloween can mean different things to different people. Mainly, it is about however you choose to incorporate this theme into your haunting holiday. It might be your costume, your home décor or your choice of movies to get in the spirit of the holiday. There are plenty of ways to acquire items to make part or all of your Halloween vintage inspired.

Vintage Halloween Costumes

Usually, this means a costume with a vintage theme. A popular idea for this is the classic, retro pinup girl. Of course anything from the ‘50s era is a great way to bring vintage or retro to your Halloween. Think poodle skirts and James Dean type rockabilly boyfriends, and you have some costume ideas.

Of course the ‘50s aren’t the only era that can be considered when thinking of a vintage theme. Because vintage is generally described, at least in clothing or furnishings, as anything more than 20 years back, that means the ‘90s are now vintage. Pick something from the era that is classic, and you have a vintage costume. For the ‘60s and ‘70s, it could be boho or hippies, or more glam disco divas. For the ‘80s think of anything new wave or pop. For the ‘90s, it would probably be grunge.

Now, on the other hand, if you are looking for vintage that means finding an actual vintage costume, you may be limited to selection based on what you can find. If you are looking for a vintage police uniform costume as opposed to just a vintage costume, you may have a more difficult time in your hunt. Your best bets would be eBay, online vintage clothing retailers, Etsy or your local costume rental place for some unique choices.

Halloween Decorating with a Vintage Flair

Surprisingly, you can still find ‘vintage’ Halloween decorations. These are most likely going to be available through eBay, Etsy or, if you are really lucky, your nearest thrift store. There are plenty of selections, whether you want a paper black cat with moveable limbs or an actual plastic skeleton. If you are willing to accept some with a little “pre-love,” or wear and tear, you are sure to find something that fits your retro Halloween look.

One item that is fairly easy to track down that makes great looking vintage Halloween decorations is the vintage Halloween postcard. Also, old holiday greeting cards work too. They offer a spooky or classic feel to holiday décor, even when mixed in with more current decorating.

Vintage Movies for Halloween

Again, this would now include anything that was created more than 20 years ago. So, flicks such as the original Texas Chainsaw Massacre or Rosemary’s Baby are indeed vintage horror movies. Grab a few from the same era and make it a Halloween by decade movie watching extravaganza. There are plenty of horror movies dating back to when movies first began, and many of even the oldest are considered some of the scariest Halloween movies ever. The 1932 flick, Freaks, is an example of an oldie but a true cult classic when it comes to vintage horror movie choices.

Host a Vintage Halloween Party 

Put it all together and you have got yourself a vintage Halloween party. Take this idea and run with it down to every last detail. You can actually still find vintage Halloween party invitations online, as well as holiday themed placeholders to let your guests know where to sit a the table.

Next, you will need some vintage décor to set the mood of the room and the party. Aside from buying things that are simply vintage items, look through old books or magazines for Halloween decorating ideas. You may find some things that were trendy to do for holiday decorating during the ‘60s that you could recreate with modern items.

The same thing goes for foods. You can find vintage books or magazines online to buy that may have Halloween recipes, or at least recipes from certain decades. Recreate the feel of the past by recreating the flavors of the past. Retro Housewife has recipes even for holiday punches from different eras. If nothing else, your local library is bound to have an outdated recipe book or two.

The last thing, make sure everyone dresses in vintage costumes or with that theme. Add some old holiday tunes or movies for background noise and party like it’s 1959. Make everything old, new and hip again. Halloween itself is a holiday old and rich with historic tradition, so make your vintage Halloween celebrate this idea.

Halloween Around the World – Japan, Belgium, Austria and more

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Halloween is an old holiday and it’s evolved from those first Druid & Celtic roots, to what’s celebrated today.  In Canada and the US is where it’s most popular.  Up to 65% of Americans decorate for Halloween and Christmas is the only holiday which is more popular.   More candy is sold on Halloween than on any other holiday and every country which celebrates Halloween at all, does so in its own unique way.

Halloween in Austria

Just like at Christmas in North America with milk & cookies for Santa, Austrians have a tradition of leaving water, bread, and a lighted lamp on the table before going to bed on Halloween night.  From long ago, the tradition held that these types of items would welcome any dead souls back to the land of the living.  Austrians felt that Halloween was a night chock full of cosmic energy and this made the dead souls’ return for a night much easier.

Halloween in Canada

Irish and Scottish immigrants arrived in Canada during the 1800s.  Festivities included trick or treating and parties, homes decorated with corn stalks and pumpkins, plus the carving of Jack O’Lanterns.

Halloween in Belgium

Belgian’s believe that a black cat crossing someone’s path is unlucky.  If it goes on a ship or enters a home, then that’s also unlucky and Belgians light candles on Halloween to remember dead relatives.

Halloween in Czechoslovakia

Chairs are put by the fireside on Halloween and they are one per family member, plus one for each of their spirits.

Halloween in China

Halloween is known by Teng Chieh here.  Water and food are placed in front of dead relatives’ photographs.  Lanterns and bonfires are lit so that spirits can see the pathway back to earth.  Buddhists make little boats from paper and these are burned when it gets dark and this honors the dead, plus spirits of pretas are released and can ascend into heaven.  Pretas are people who died because they drowned or had an accident and their bodies weren’t able to be buried.  If pretas roam amongst the living, the Chinese feel that it’s dangerous.

Halloween in England

English children used to carve beetroots like Jack O’Lanterns.  They carried these “punkies”  from door to door and sang, then asked for money.  Turnip lanterns were placed on posts to protect the home form spirits roaming around on Halloween.  Sometimes, stones, nuts and vegetables were tossed into a bonfire to scare away spirits and fortune telling was often read into the remains of the bonfire in the morning.  The English people no longer celebrated Halloween when Martin Luther had his protestant reformation.  Costumes and trick or treating have crossed back over the pond into England and the children there go out on Halloween.  Most seniors in England don’t know what it’s all about.

Halloween in France

Until 1996, Halloween was thought of as an American holiday and the French do not celebrate it to honor the dearly departed.

Halloween in Hong Kong

Yue Lan is the name of the Halloween celebration in Hong Kong.  Spirits supposedly roam freely for 24 hours and people there burned photos of money and fruit.

Halloween in Germany

Residents of Germany put their knives away on Halloween because returning spirits could be harmed.

Halloween in Japan

In Japan, the Obon festival is similar to Halloween.  Food is prepared and red lanterns are hung all over.  When lit candles are placed into the lanterns they are set adrift on rivers.  Families light fires to show ancestors the path to their families and community dances are put on, and memorial stones are cleaned during the Obon Festival.  The Japanese festival happens during August or July.

Halloween in Ireland

This is supposed to be the birthplace of Halloween.  Bonfires are lit in the countryside and children dress in costumes then go trick or treating.  Parties are given in neighborhoods and games are played, one of which is bobbing for apples.  A type of fruitcake is eaten on Halloween and a treasure is buried inside for someone to find.

Halloween Makeup Ideas

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Halloween makeup ideas can be a crucial part of your costume. In fact, in some cases, it may be the most important part of your costume. The outfit is one thing, but makeup can help drive the point home about what your costume is supposed to be. A zombie isn’t really a zombie without makeup to create the full effect.

The Easy Route

Some store bought costumes actually include a small kit of makeup to help with your costume, for example, may include a tube of green face paint. A monster may have already made scars that can be fairly easily applied. If not, there are still ways to create or add to your look with little to no effort.

The simplest approach may be using white face paint and black eyeliner. These two items can help you create multiple looks. Ghosts, skeletons and mimes all utilize these two shades and also don’t require too much skill. That, or don’t overlook the simplicity of creating a simple cat face with whiskers. You can do the nose in black, but pink can add a little more depth to it.

As a Costume

Maybe you want your Halloween makeup ideas to act as your costume, not in addition to it. There are ways to do so, but some can require some intricate work. Shop online or offline for makeup kits that include stencils for this specific purpose. You could also consider using a professional makeup artist, or hitting up a friend who is one for a favor.

So, if you have time, patience and a wide variety of colors to work with, here are a few ideas that act as costumes instead of just makeup. One idea is a deck of cards. You can paint your face white and add either multiple suits, such as hearts or clubs, or a single one. Or, how about a zebra or tiger! While it doesn’t have to be perfect, it will be slightly more time consuming than some other options. Just think of things or animals that could be easily represented by face painting, like fish scales, and give it a go.

You also pick something that is highly recognizable by its face. Think comic books, super heroes or cartoon characters. Anyone would recognize a well painted Spider Man or Joker face. You can also just think back to your childhood when you would get your face painted at the fair. When in doubt, simply painting a swimming fish or mystical unicorn on your face can act as a costume. If nothing else, you can also go really simple and paint puzzle piece sections on your face. At least it is something.

More Elaborate Ideas 

You can get as complicated as you like when it comes to painting up your face for Halloween. It depends on your ability and the amount of time you have. As mentioned before, zombies just aren’t the undead without a full face of makeup. For those who have the skills, create deep cuts, gashes and scars to make a dramatic impact. Keep in mind, there are recipes to be found online to help create 3D effects for some Halloween makeup ideas. For example, corn syrup and red food color can be used to make sticky bloody marks or incisions on your face.

Tips

Decide if you should put the costume on before or after the makeup is applied. If your costume tends to make you heat up and slips on without going over your head, then you will want to wait until after you’ve finished your makeup. Otherwise, especially if the costume slips on overhead, it is generally a good idea to have the costume on. Just be certain to cover up the costume to prevent spilling any makeup on it.

Bring extra makeup with you. There is always a chance of a smudge occurring and having your kit with you enables you to make a quick fix. Of course, it is also a good idea to bring some tissues and facial wipes with you. You may find out an hour into the party your eye makeup is irritating you, and should have a quick easy way to remove some or all of the face paint. At the end of the event, you also may want to remove the makeup immediately to allow your skin to breathe.

The idea is to have fun with it, try not to take it too seriously or get frustrated. Allow yourself some time and, when possible, practice your technique before the holiday party. Halloween makeup ideas can really add some depth to whatever character you decide to portray for the holiday.

Halloween Costumes for Infants, Toddlers and Babies

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Some of the best “photo ops” for youngsters are in their Halloween costumes for infants, toddlers and babies. The best part, for some parents, is that at this age, parents still get to select the holiday costumes young children wear. This means selecting adorable costumes that, probably someday, the children wouldn’t select themselves. So, this is a good time to put some thought into the look you want for your children on Halloween.

Ideas for Halloween Costumes for Infants, Toddlers and Babies 

The thing is, really, that the costume ideas are similar to the choices available at any age. There may just be a different approach to the costume, such as the onesie, as opposed to a more complex costume. Also, costumes or accessories will have to be monitored closely for details that could be a choking hazard or otherwise dangerous for infants, toddlers and babies. Most store bought costumes for babies will be free from safety hazards, but it is always a good idea to double check. Also, anything that could potentially become loose and cause a problem, such as a button, should be given a few extra hand stitches, just to be safe.

So now, it is more about finding something that is cute and comfy for your youngster. Animal themes and bugs are popular choices for babies, infants and toddlers. These selections are cute and stick with the idea of having a holiday costume, without being too spooky for Halloween. For this, the sky is the limit. There are choices such as lions, ladybugs, frogs, penguins, tigers and elephants, just to name a few. You can also consider the less obvious choices, that aren’t animals, but are still cute and fun. A Tootsie Roll, for example, or a pine tree shaped air freshener.

Or, maybe you like going the traditional route and want a little ghostly baby or more traditional or Halloween themed costume. Is that case, one easy choice for babies to wear is the jack o’lantern costume. There are also outfits of the more macabre nature, like Dracula, with a headpiece to create the infamous widow’s peak at the forehead. Then check online, or at your local baby clothing store, for the fang pacifiers. These look like a pair of fangs when baby has the pacifier in his or her mouth.

More Basic or DIY Costumes for Infants, Toddlers and Babies

If you would like to keep it more simple, try using less to say more. A headband with little kitten ears, a black onesie and a pinned on tail create an adorable cat look. Or, look for a onesie or bodysuit that simply has a pattern or theme. Examples of this easy costume are a cow print bodysuit or one with a Superman emblem on the front. There are also hooded bodysuits, or standard ones, that come with prints on them to act as a costume. A skeleton, for example, or a bumble bee are just two of the many choices available for this approach.

Or, use a crafty approach and do it yourself. Hooded sweatshirts work great for this approach. A basic orange sweatshirt with some cleverly placed piece of black electrical tape create a jack-o’-lantern costume. Sew together some basic ears and attach them to a “hoodie” for any animal you would like, such as a mouse.

Incorporate Baby into Your Costume Idea

Another great approach to dressing your infant, toddler or baby for Halloween is to coordinate your outfit to work with the youngsters. A popular idea for this method is to have the adult as Dorothy and the baby as Toto from The Wizard of Oz. Or think about other ways to work the costumes as an intertwined theme. Winnie the Pooh and Piglet or dressing as a police officer with a little baby bandit are two other ideas.

To get inspired, think about movies or cartoons you like and imagine how some of the characters could work as costumes. If your toddler, or you, just love the Peanuts Gang, dress as Snoopy with a baby Woodstock. Browse online for other ideas, and surely the perfect Halloween collaboration for you and your baby will become obvious.

The Bottom Line 

The idea of dressing your baby, and possibly yourself, for Halloween is to keep it fun and hassle free. It can be easy to get caught up in stressing over the perfect costume or having costumes with “wardrobe malfunctions” and end up not enjoying the holiday. As soon as your infant is dressed, get your photos done, that way if the costume falls apart or becomes uncomfortable after a bit, you already have the pictures out of the way. Halloween Costumes for infants, toddlers and babies can be a great way to make the most of the holiday.

Halloween Crafts for the Holiday

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Halloween crafts can be projects that bring the entire family together. These are projects that can be used to decorate the home, so that your house is transformed into a spooky and festive place. It also gives you ideas for things you can do with groups of children at Halloween parties or school craft classes. Whatever your reason, Halloween is a great time to get crafting.

Halloween Crafts for the Yard

Aside from the classic and traditional carved pumpkin jack-o’-lantern, there are other things you can do to get creative and make the exterior of your house look festive. In fact, you can add to your jack-o’-lanterns with other styles of decor that have the same idea. Turn flower pots into painted pumpkins, either upside down or right side up.

You can also use empty milk or orange juice jugs for a new twist on an old classic. Using a black marker you can create ghost faces on white milk jugs or jack-o’-lantern looks on the orange juice ones. Using a blade to cut away part of the bottom, you can use Christmas or string-bulb lights to illuminate the inside. Put as many bulbs in as you like, then set more jugs side by side with the rest of the string lights running into these.

Also, make use of what you have on hand and create a giant black spider to scare the neighbors. Using a giant black trash bag stuffed with leaves, you create the body. The head is the same process, only a smaller end result. Twist more bags in pairs lengthwise to create the legs, then use black electrical tape to fasten it all together. Get creative with eyes; you can cut them from plastic cups, paper plates, construction paper or paint them on. Don’t forget fangs and an hourglass for a really sinister arachnid.

Bats and Spiders

Speaking of giant spiders, not much else creeps people out for Halloween more than spiders and bats. So what better way to get creative with Halloween crafts than to incorporate these critters into the plan. One method you can use includes mini-pumpkins as the body of either one.

The basic idea is to paint the pumpkins black, and be creative with the faces. Wings, ears or spider legs can be created from thick construction paper, poster board or craft foam. You can also use pipe cleaners to create spider legs or add dimension to bat wings. Simply glue on or attach with black electrical tape.

The same principle can be applied to creating bats or spiders from black balloons. A larger one for the body, smaller for the head, and use paper for the features. Make eyes, ears, fangs, wings or legs and attach with glue or tape. Remember, the balloons don’t get filled very full. That way you avoid them popping or looking like overstuffed critters.

Recycle, Reuse and Get Scary

A great way to make decorations is by repurposing items meant to go to the trash bin and giving them a new use. The skeleton of plastic bottles is a neat way to do this. Keep in mind though, it does require cutting, and only adults can do most of this activity. Also, you can use clear or white, or paint clear bottles white, but you want to end up with a consistent end result.

Milk jugs become the head and chest cavity by bringing them together where the lid openings are. Your child can paint on a skeleton face while you do some cutting of the ribs. The pelvis is yet another jug, but just the bottom part cut and shaped a bit like hips. The bones are made from plastic bottles, with or without the centers cut out. It looks more realistic with them cut, but does not have to be. Attach the bones with wire so the skeleton has some realistic movement involved.

Use old white sheets stuffed with old newspapers to create ghosts around the home. If you have some old white pillowcases too, then you can vary the size of the ghosts. Either use the entire sheet, or divide into smaller sections for a family of ghosts. Decorate the faces with markers, partially fill with newspaper and cinch off with wire or rubber bands. Suspend them from rafters or doorways to spook your guests.

There are plenty of ways to get crafty for Halloween, decorate the home and create some family bonding moments. Have kids offer their own ideas or at least express their individuality by decorating pieces. Halloween crafts can be saved for the next year when a whole new bunch of ideas get added.

Halloween Ghost Stories

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Ghost Stories

The original Celtic holiday of Samhain included spirits of the dead returning to walk among the living.  Ghost stories have been a part of Halloween since the beginning.

Halloween ghost stories can be told around a bonfire, or in a darkened living room.  It doesn’t matter where they are told, as long as the atmosphere is spooky and the stories are scary.

The most famous American ghost story told on Halloween is probably The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving.  The ghost in The Legend of Sleepy Hollow is the terrifying Headless Horseman.  The Headless Horseman is the ghost of a German soldier from the Revolutionary War who had his head blown off by a cannonball.  The Headless Horseman is always seen riding around the isolated glen of Sleepy Hollow at midnight, looking for his missing head, and in the story, he might – or might not – have replaced his missing head with the head of Ichabod Crane and left a Jack O’Lantern behind in its place.

Another classic ghost story is The Monkey’s Paw by W.W. Jacobs.  Mr. and Mrs. White and their son Herbert inherit a monkey’s paw from India, which is said to grant three wishes.  Mrs. White wishes for money, and within a few days, her son Herbert dies in an accident at work and she receives the money.  Overcome with grief, Mrs. Herbert wishes for her son to come back from the grave, although her husband thinks it’s a bad idea.

Soon, someone is knocking at their door.  Knock.  Knock.  Knock. Mr. White identified his son’s body, which has been buried for over a week.  He knows that whatever is knocking on the door will look and be so terrifying that he can’t let him in.  At the last minute, Mr. White grabs the monkey’s paw and wishes the gruesome dead Herbert back to the grave.

Some ghosts are in every culture.  The mysterious “Girl in White” appears in American ghost tales as a barefoot hitchhiking girl.  Whoever stops to pick her up on a lonely country road hears a sad tale of how she was abandoned on her wedding night, and just wants to get home.  But by the time the driver reaches the place the girl calls home, he finds an abandoned house, and when he turns to ask if it’s the right place, the girl has vanished.  In Mexico, the “Girl in White” is a beautiful girl named Consuela who dances with an eager young man at a dance.  The young man rushes to tell his friends about the beautiful girl he has danced with, and they tell him that he was dancing alone.  When he returns to Consuela, she vanishes into mist and he realizes that he has been dancing with a ghost.

Edgar Allan Poe’s famous story The Tell-Tale Heart is always scary, especially to those who hear it for the first time.  A poor young man moves in with an older man, who is very kind and generous, but whose appearance has been ruined by illness.  The young man begins to fear and hate the old man’s ugly “vulture” eye.  Every night for eight nights, the young man creeps in the old man’s bedroom with thoughts of murder, in order to get rid of the old man’s ugly, scary eye.  Each time, he is stopped because the old man’s horrible eye is closed.  On the eighth night, a beam of moonlight falls on the old man’s face, and the eye is open!

The young man smothers the old man, to silence his cries and his extremely loud beating heart, racing in terror.  The young man buries the old man under the floorboards in the kitchen.

When police come to question the young man, he is pleasant and reasonable at first, answering all of their questions.  As the officers stay, the young man hears a heart beating under the floorboards.  It grows louder and louder until the young man can’t take it any longer and leaps up, confessing to the murder and asking how they can’t hear the old man’s heart beating as loudly as it is.

Family Friendly Halloween Movies

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Many families celebrate Halloween in a more traditional fashion — they opt for an in-home party and movie night, rather than trick or treating, which can run like a scary movie itself.  How do you know which movies are family-suitable?  Sure, there are lots of reviews out there, but it depends on who is writing them.  Other than watching every movie beforehand, it’s hard to know what children may like, yet be safe watching.  We’ve rounded up a few of the good movies to watch on Halloween night.

Hocus Pocus

When three witches were sentenced to die over three hundred years ago in Salem Massachusetts, and a boy was turned into a black cat, who knew that the witches would return and that this time they use vacuum cleaners to get around!  The three have turned their wrath onto trick or treaters and it’s up to the very old cat (boy) to save the day.

Corpse Bride

Victor Van Dort starts to fret when his arranged marriage with Victoria Everglot reaches the rehearsal stage.  He practices rehearsing the wedding by himself, in the forest.  By accident, he slips the ring onto a corpse’s finger instead and is transported to the land of the dead, where he learns he has actually married the corpse.  Victoria, still in the land of the living, wonders who she will marry, while Victor struggles to get back to her.

Casper

Carrigan Crittendon worries that her father willed her his old mansion instead of a pile of money.  She’s about to torch the house when she finds a treasure map in it.  Wicked waves of ghosts scare her away from the house.  She hires an afterlife expert, Dr. James Harvey, so he can get rid of the annoying mansion ghosts.  Harvey and his daughter move in, the better to exorcise the spirits, when they meet a friendly ghost — Casper.  This is the ghost of a young boy and turns out to be the very friendliest ghost anyone could know.

Monsters Inc.

James P. Sullivan and Mike Wazowski work for Monsters Inc. which is  a power company for a nervous and quite paranoid city of monsters.   The power is produced when children who are sleeping, scream.  Naturally, the monsters do their best to accomplish this.  Sully uncovers a plot to rid Monster City of its power problems — but not in a good way.  Both monsters fight to protect the innocent children which they have been scaring every night.  This is a terrific little interactive show at Disneyworld, as well as having the characters there for children to get autographs from.   See the movie then the show and the kids will have a wonderful time.

The Witches

A recently orphaned boy is taken over to England by his grandmother.  At the hotel where they are, a group of witches plot to rid the world of children.  Roald Dahl wrote the book and the film is one that’s definitely for kids.  Jim Henson of the Muppets fame produced the movie.

Something Wicked This Way Comes

Taken from the wonderful Ray Bradbury story, two boys enjoy the waning autumn days.  A strange lightning rod salesman tell them about a quirky traveling carnival so they go to check it out.  When Mr. Dark, the Illustrated Man, sets up his carnival after midnight, and in mere seconds, the boys are terrified and thrilled at the same time.  This is a wonderful film.

Pufnstuf

First a TV show, the movie is great and has long outlived the series.  Mama Cass stars as Witch Hazel.  There are colors which are bright, sped-up film, fast edits, pop culture in-jokes, and musical segments.  Both young adults and kids loved the movie.  Young Jimmy is at the center of the movie with his magic flute, and a group of witches want the flute for themselves.  A friendly dragon called Puff (hence Puff the Magic Dragon), is  a key figure.

The Nightmare Before Christmas

Jack Skellington (naturally he looks like  skeleton) is the pumpkin king of Halloween Town.  This was a big movie for Disney and Tim Burton, and rightly so.  Jack gets bored with Halloween and stumbles into Christmas Town.  He finds out that he loves Christmas so he does his best to get the residents to put on Christmas instead of Halloween.  These residents are the local ghouls, bats, and goblins.  They just can’t get it right…

Beetlejuice

Two people, killed in a car crash, are trapped inside of their old house in New England.  A yuppie family, along with their daughter, buy the house.  The ghost family are just too nice to scare away the new residents.  Beetlejuice, another ghost, is roped in to help.  The dinner scene, with shrimp cocktails, is a riot.

Ghost Busters

Three occult studies scientists get booted out of a university in NYC.  They start a business in an old firehouse and name it Ghostbusters.  It’s good money trapping pesky spirits, haunts, ghosts and poltergeists.  After stumbling on a gateway to another dimension, an evil one, the ghost busters are called upon to save the Big City.  This movie is timeless, and a cult classic.

The Druids and Celts and Halloween History

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When it comes to Druids and Celts and Halloween, there is a connection that dates back eons. Of course the tales surrounding their connection involving Halloween are deeply shrouded in mystery and lore, as the holiday itself is. While there some variations in the tales, the core of the stories remain the same.

The First Halloween or Samhain

The celebrations for this holiday started in ancient, pre-Christian times as a Celtic ceremony for the dead. The holiday fell upon October 31, as it still does. It was called Samhain and marked the eve of the next season and new year. During this time period, November 1 was the beginning of the cold season, which was a time of hardship. In this era the year was divided up based on four holidays, as opposed to seasons but each division was still affiliated with a season. For this situation, the season was winter.

The winter ahead promised to be cold, long and harsh. The people would get ready by relocating their livestock closer and preparing them for the cruel season ahead. The cessation of the crop cycle was at this time, with the harvests being stored for the winter. Because of the severity of this season, and the long, dark, cold spell upon the Celts, it became affiliated with death.

The festival of Samhain became a time that people believed the worlds of the living and the dead could become one again, with the presence of spirits. Spirits could return to earth and be mischievous, like causing crop damage. The Celts also thought the priests, or Druids, could make forecasts with greater ease for the coming year when the un-living were around. Animal sacrifices would be made and fires lit to try to keep the souls at bay but help them see their way from the earth to the beyond.

Costumes were adorned during these early festivities, usually those made from the skins and heads of dead animals. The Celts would try to make predictions for one another, gathered around the large bonfire, then returned home to start their own hearth fire back again. They would use a flame from the Samhain bonfire, believing this would help to protect themselves and their homes.

The Transformation

Eventually, the holiday we know as Halloween became known this way after Christian missionaries set out to tamper with the ways the Celts practiced religion. The holiday really began to change following the Roman’s domination over most of the Celtic territory. Samhain was then combined with two Roman holidays.

Samhain was declared pagan as Christianity spread, and a celebration associated with the devil and all things evil. Since Druids were priests and scholars of the practice deemed pagan, these scholarly men were seen as worshipers of evil and the Devil. Christians categorized the underworld of the Celts as tied in with Hell. Many held on strong to their core beliefs as the changes were made.

First – All Souls Day was started, where the living paid homage to the dead, or souls, who had passed. This took place on November 2 of each year. All Saints Day occurred on November 1, but it was the night before All Saints Day, also known as All Hallows, that the lines between the living world and the spiritual one were blurred. This night was called All Hallows Eve, and eventually Halloween. The Celts maintained many of their beliefs and traditions involving this holiday and time of year. One change that happened was that the spirits, once viewed as simply mischievous, were considered evil. This is how the Druids and Celts and Halloween all went down in history together.

The Druids and Celts and Halloween Connected to Modern Traditions

Though the holiday saw many changes in both name and traditions, much of the modern day celebrations can be said to still be tied to original Samhain practices. For example, the Celts wore the hides and heads of animals as costumes during this event, and the use of costumes is still practiced today.

Trick-or-treating is another example of Celt traditions that live on. Since, originally, people left food and offerings to wandering spirits to appease them, people began to use costumes of spirits to go from door to door to collect these offerings. This is what became the first true type of trick-or-treating.

While customs continue to change and evolve, it is doubtful the holiday will ever transform so much that there will not be some remaining proof of the Druids and Celts and Halloween connection.

Costume Parties

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Though costume parties can be held as a festive event during any time of the year, Halloween is often the most popular time for this type of event. Halloween costume parties are a great way to celebrate the holiday for both youngsters and adults. Parents often schedule Halloween costume parties right before Halloween or on the night of as an alternative to trick-or-treating. Adults, on the other hand, have come to enjoy these parties since they generally do not get to celebrate the holiday in any other form or fashion.

Brief History of the Halloween Costume

Most information seems to support the idea that Halloween originated with the Celtic celebration known as Samhain. This event marked the eve of the beginning of another long, hard, cold and cruel winter in which survival alone was a task. During this night it was believed, by the Celts, that the barrier the between spirit and mortal world was open and spirits would return to earth. At this point, restless spirits could destroy crops or cause other forms of damage. So, while the Celts tried to appease spirits and keep them from causing mayhem, they would burn great bonfires and often sacrifice animals and crops, as an offering. Also, during Samhain, the Celts would wear the hides and heads of animals and march the streets in these costumes. Hence, the first Halloween costume was born, as well, in a way, the first Halloween costume parties.

Costume Parties for Children

It begins, of course, with the selection process of a costume. These disguises come in an unimaginable amount of options that can be purchased off the rack at a retails store, or crafted at home for those craft-savvy and budget conscious types. Designing a costume at home can also be a good way to be more original or creative and avoid being a duplicate of too many other children at a party or at school.

Some schools still host costume parties in which children wear their holiday outfits to class and awards and prizes are often given out for different categories of best costumes. For home-based Halloween parties, there are plenty of other activities to include in the itinerary including judging for best costumes. Some popular activities to include are bobbing for apples, pumpkin bowling, Halloween-themed crafts and ghost story telling.

Freeze dancing is another fun way for youngsters to have holiday fun and burn off some energy. Music, often Halloween themed, is played and the party goers dance until the DJ abruptly cuts the tune off. Those who do not immediately freeze are out until only one dancing guest remains to claim his or her place as the winner.

Another fun idea for children’s Halloween costume parties is sectioning off part of the home as a haunted house event kids get to scamper and scream their way through. An increasingly popular activity in the past few years has been the addition of “pumpkin hunt.” Using either mini-pumpkins or small plastic versions of the squash, the kids hunt for hidden pumpkins like during an Easter egg hunt. This can be done outside before dark, outside with the use of flashlights or completely indoors.

Costume Parties for Adults

The beginning of this process isn’t any different than the Halloween party for kids; it begins with a costume selection. Again, costumes can be store bought, handmade but often, in usually just the case for adults, renting a costume is also an option. Adults often get a little more daring with their costume selection, bordering on risqué in some cases, especially women’s options. There are bound to me more scantily clad cats, Playboy bunnies, school girls, French maids and Indian princesses competing for an award, and some attention.

These celebrations are usually hosted at someone’s house or by booking a restaurant, pub, bar, club or other type of venue or hall. Events at adult Halloween costume parties can closely resemble the activities that take place at the kid’s parties. Though the punch may be spiked and there is likely to be a “sexiest” category during the Halloween costume contest. Scavenger hunts can be a great addition to adult Halloween parties, especially when conducted in a public place or outdoor venue.

A Wrap on Halloween Costume Parties

Halloween can be a hauntingly spook-tacular good time for children and adults. The Halloween get up is one of the most important, and fun, elements to celebrating the holiday. Whether trick-or-treating or not, just the fun of a Halloween costume party can be the best part of the season.