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.
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