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Make This Halloween One to Remember

Considering that the festival of Halloween was founded on these very Isles you Brits do very little to celebrate the festival especially when compared to those folks across the Atlantic. If you’ve been known to let the evening pass in the solace of your living room with the lights turned off in an attempt to avoid the kids from number 5 as they pound down your front door chubby fists crying out for candy – make this the year to turn it around and celebrate instead. Read on to find some great ideas to make this Halloween go with a swing!

History of the Night
Halloween or ‘All Hallows Eve’ as it is often known can be dated back to, as arguably all good festivals can – the Celts. The Festival of Samhain (pronounced sow-in) was celebrated by the Celts over 2,000 years ago on November 1 and marked the end of the heady summer days and the onset of the dark gloomy nights. The festival was also thought to be as I’m sure you all know the night when the ghosts of the dead had the chance to return to earth. So on October 31 the Celts dressed up with animal heads for costumes and attempted to tell each others fortunes whilst the Druids (Celtic priests) built bonfires on which they burnt crops and animals as a sacrifice to the gods. So, that’s why we celebrate today and whether or not you believe that dead spirits of the past are set to revisit the human world come this October 31 – it all sounds like a great excuse for a party to me!

Costumes
Right, I’m not asking you to place an animal on your head in order to enjoy the night but everyone young or old likes to dress up every now and again. So, why not arrange a little bit of fancy dress for your family and friends – whether you feel inclined to throw a party or even easier arrange a meet up in the centre of town to have a few drinks dressed to the nines as a vast array of mystical creatures, ghastly ghouls and no doubt one or two sexy nurses (nothing too kinky mind!) Costumes can easily be hired at reasonable prices from suppliers in your area and there are also many companies online who sell fancy dress costumes that can be delivered directly to your door at the simple touch of a button – so, that means there is no excuse to turn up as ‘your twin’! If you are on a budget and are looking for a cheap alternative to costume hire for yourself or for your children dress them in their finest pyjamas, add a tail made from a sock, some ears make out of cardboard and draw on a few whiskers with your eyeliner and they will be transformed into your very own floppy bunny. Another great low budget idea is to spend a few pounds on some face paints and get creative – although it’s advisable to do the painting before you make a start on the punch!

Throw a Little Do!
So, I like to party, have we established that yet?! If you do too there are many terrific traditional ideas to make Halloween a great night for guests of all ages.

Pumpkin Lanterns
Halloween is supposed to be a spooky evening and nothing is more eerie than the shadow cast by a sinister looking jack-o-lantern. Halloween is the most popular time of the year for pumpkins so make sure you get yours in good time, try to draw the face on your pumpkin before you start to cut and if your feeling really angelic keep the leftovers to make some soup.

Fast Fact: These lanterns are said to be named after a man named Jack who was forbidden from entering heaven because he was a miser. He was also refused entry to heaven because he played a trick on the devil. As a result, Jack is still to this day walking the earth with only a lantern, waiting for judgement day – poor Jack!

Bonfires
Whilst the Celts were fans of bonfires and enjoyed jumping over them to bring good luck – it is not advisable to try this at home. A great alternative to outdoor fires is indoor candles, I have been assured that these will still ward off evil spirits but pose much less of a hazard!

Apple Bobbing
Apple Bobbing is a firm favourite with adults and children alike and is a classic addition to any Halloween celebration. For the children place a number of apples in a large bowl of water, tie the participant’s hands behind their back and ask them to try and get an apple out of the bowl using only their mouths – blindfolds are optional. For the adults, fill the bowl with wine instead of water and make them wear the blindfold!

Fast Fact: During October the Romans also held a festival which celebrated the dead. Apple games have become popular around the time of Halloween as this Roman festival paid homage to Pomona the goddess of tress and fruit.

Make some Mischief
Halloween was also known as a time for making mischief and children up and down the land still enjoy the chance to knock on stranger’s doors and ask the age old question ‘trick or treat?’ If you have kids, it is probably a good idea to accompany them on their jaunt and if you don’t have kids remember to get some sweets in so that you have something to give when they (and they will) come a’knockin!

O’Leary’s Links

Halloween A History 
Costumes
Spooky Stories