Why Do We Celebrate Halloween - The Spookiest Holiday Of The Year

Halloween is full of costumes and candy, trick-or-treating and terrific haunted houses, pumpkins and black cats. But just where did Halloween come from? Why are we celebrating?

Why Do We Celebrate Halloween - The Spookiest Holiday Of The Year

The history of Halloween goes back 2000 years. Many believe that Halloween's origins are found in the Celtic festival of Samhain. The Celts, who were settled in Ireland, the Uk and the northern parts of France, famed their New Year on the first of November. Samhain was famed the night before the New Year.

Halloween

Why Do We Celebrate Halloween - The Spookiest Holiday Of The Year

The New Year, Celts believed, marked summer's end, harvest time, and the start of dark, cold winter months. Those winter months were related with death by these people. On October 31, the night before the New Year, the Celts famed Samhain. This day, they believed, was when the ghosts of the deceased returned to earth because the boundaries in the middle of the living world and the dead world blurred.

Why Do We Celebrate Halloween - The Spookiest Holiday Of The Year

Why Do We Celebrate Halloween - The Spookiest Holiday Of The Year

When we think of "Trick-Or-Treating", the origins can probably be found in the English All Souls' Day parades. While these celebrations, the poor would come out and beg for food from the more wealthy families. When the families gave them pastries called "soul cakes", they asked for the poor to pray for their relatives that had passed away.

Another possibility that may have grown into "Trick-Or-Treating" is the tradition of citizen leaving bowls of food in front of their homes. They did this to keep the ghosts that were wandering the earth from entering.

Dressing in costumes has a merge possible origins. European and Celtic citizen both felt winter was a frightening time. It was cold, it was darker, and the possibility of running out of food was great. When they reached the time when they conception the dead returned, they conception they might encounter these ghosts whenever they left their houses. The wearing of masks and costumes grew from these citizen donning masks so the ghosts would not identify them!

This holiday was brought to the Us by Scotch and Irish immigrants in the 1800s. At that time, much of the "spookiness" of the holiday was removed and a sense of society and fun were added. Although scary themes are still the focus of many Halloween celebrations, that scariness is done for fun, not because of actual fear.

Halloween is currently the 2nd largest market holiday!

Why Do We Celebrate Halloween - The Spookiest Holiday Of The Year

Halloween

Adult Halloween Games To Liven Up Your Halloween Party

Halloween isn't just for kids anymore. Plenty of adults celebrate the day as well. Halloween parties are a common event for many adults these days. If you're planning a party of your own, here are some fun adult Halloween games to liven it up.

Adult Halloween Games To Liven Up Your Halloween Party

Adult Halloween Games To Liven Up Your Halloween Party

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Adult Halloween Games To Liven Up Your Halloween Party

Adult Halloween Games To Liven Up Your Halloween Party

Photo Scavenger Hunt

The object of a photo scavenger hunt is to get pictures of all the items using a digital camera or a Polaroid camera so the pictures can be judged right away.

Break your guests up into some small groups and give each of them a list of items they have to find. They can all get the same items or you can make each one different if you don't want them tripping over one someone else in their search.

They head out on foot or by car to find the items and take pictures of themselves with each one. I like to make them find someone to take their picture if potential - if the whole group isn't in each one, they get penalized.

You can select the winner by the first team to finish, the team with the most creative pictures or anything criteria you want.

Make the scavenger hunt items fit the theme of your party. You could use a tombstone, a hockey mask, red paint or a horror movie poster for example.

Pumpkin Bowling

This one is fun for any age, really, but adults can have a lot of fun with it.

Partially fill ten 2 liter pop bottles with water to weight them down, then decorate them to fit the theme of your party.

Set them up in the acceptable 10 pin layout.

Have your guests "bowl" with pumpkins. The smaller gourds regularly work best, or at least smaller pumpkins. Round ones tend to roll better but the ones that aren't as perfect make the game a lot more challenging.

Pumpkin Carving

A lot of population have switched to painting pumpkins rather than carving, both for security and for longer chronic jack-o-lanterns. But carving is still the best in my opinion. There's nothing that says Halloween like the light of a candle flickering straight through the face of a pumpkin.

You can buy carving kits at most craft and hobby market colse to Halloween, with small tools for more detailed carving.

They regularly come with stencils as well but for this game you'll probably want to leave it up to your guests to do freestyle.

You can judge the game in some ways - the first to discontinue their pumpkin, the most creative (in your judgement or the entire group's), the scariest, etc.

And there are Plenty of children's games that are just as much fun for adults - bobbing for apples, Twister, musical chairs, etc. Don't worry about either it's a "mature" thing to do - just worry about either your guests enjoy themselves!

Adult Halloween Games To Liven Up Your Halloween Party

Decade Costumes Make Great Halloween Outfits

It's fun to look back at the varied decades and dress in decade costumes once the occasion arises. Each decade had its own unique charm. From poodle skirts in the 50's to the grunge look in the 90's, they all offer something unique.

Decade Costumes Make Great Halloween Outfits

Decade Costumes Make Great Halloween Outfits

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Decade Costumes Make Great Halloween Outfits

Decade Costumes Make Great Halloween Outfits

Dressing in decade costumes may be a tiny easier than dressing in a superhero costume, for example. Most of us have decade costumes already in our closets and we may not even know it. Plus, these items are easy to replicate and find clothing for.

Here is some guidance on how to put together your own decade costumes for your next dress-up event.

The Fifties

Poodle skirts and pony tails quote this era. You can de facto find outfits from this decade in costume shops and even in stores. Also check in your relatives' attics, vintage clothing shops and of course eBay.

The Sixties

The sixties were a fun time. This is the era of the hippie. Think John Lennon, long hair, long skirts, and lots of flowers and beads. Sixties style clothing still comes in and out of style so chances are pretty good that you have the clothes in your closet. If not, they should be fairly easy to obtain in a regular group store or in second hand clothing shops.

The Seventies

Bell bottoms and disco music- these things are just two of the items that quote the seventies decade costumes. Lots of glitter and sparkles for the ladies and dramatic afros for anyone who is willing are just a few of the accessories to pick from. Bell bottoms came back in style not too long ago so they should be fairly easy to locate. You can also check in second hand clothing shop and costume shops.

The Eighties

Teased hair and heavy metal and all the fashions that were attached to this music are just some of the things you can do to make yourself look like you were from the eighties. On hair the longer and more teased it is the more authentic you will look. For inspiration, makes and females alike can learn a lot by watching those old music videos. For a change of pace you can also use other movies such as Flash or even shows such as Miami Vice for yet even more eighties inspiration.

The Nineties

The nineties de facto weren't so long ago but it may be fun to dress up in grunge clothing for your nineties decade costumes. Think Nirvana and Pearl Jam. A pair of thick combat boots and lots of flannel will do a lot to give you the right look.

Decade Costumes Make Great Halloween Outfits

Angry Birds Halloween - The New Game

The new Angry Birds Halloween version has 45 levels where the player needs to kill the evil green pigs using the very angry birds. Throughout the game the pigs, who stole the birds' precious eggs, are hiding from the birds in different structures made of wood, glass, stone and more. The aim of the game is simple, use the birds to kill the pigs. The level is completed once you killed all of the pigs with the number of birds you started with, or less. Once the level is completed the next level will unlocked. You can go back and play the levels again if you want to boost your score.

Angry Birds Halloween - The New Game

Angry Birds Halloween - The New Game

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Angry Birds Halloween - The New Game

Angry Birds Halloween - The New Game

Use the slingshot to aim and start the bird towards the pigs. Most of the times you want to hit the pigs directly, sometimes you might want to aim at the different objects in order to damage the structure which can cause it to collapse or even explode, and by that kill the pigs.

The angry birds are different from one an additional one and can be used in different ways to maximize your chances to kill the pigs.
Normal Birds (Red ) are the simplest birds, simply touch the screen to aim them towards the pigs.
Ice Birds (Blue ) can be split into three smaller birds midway through the air by touching the screen. You may also select not to split the bird into three and use it as one bird.
Fast Birds (Yellow ) can speed up and dash into their targets. To make them fly faster touch the screen midway through the air. These birds also make taste with wood much easier.
Bomb Birds (Black birds) can explode when touching the screen or shortly after advent into taste with an object.
Egg Birds (White ) drop egg-shaped bombs when touching the screen.
Toucans (Green ) fly like a boomerang and will fly in the opposite direction once you touch the screen.
Big Brother birds (Big Red ) act like the thorough general birds but are bigger and can cause more damage.

The pigs themselves appear in different sizes and with different abilities. The smaller pigs are easy to destroy then the larger pigs who can preserve more damage before being destroyed. Some pigs wear helmets as armor or an armor made of pumpkin, manufacture them stronger.

Angry Birds Halloween - The New Game

80's Costume Ideas - Funky and Punky Rock Star Costumes

80s costume ideas for you girls who are planning to have fun at this seasons Halloween party. Get some fun Halloween costume ideas...because Halloween is the best excuse to dress up in fashion styles that were beloved during our more immature days. It's great to have a reason to dress up in those good old 80s costumes. Check out some of these costume ideas that are perfect for this years Halloween party, and they can make you feel 16 again!

80's Costume Ideas - Funky and Punky Rock Star Costumes

80's Costume Ideas - Funky and Punky Rock Star Costumes

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80's Costume Ideas - Funky and Punky Rock Star Costumes

80's Costume Ideas - Funky and Punky Rock Star Costumes

In the 80s costume ideas you can think of Cyndi Lauper, Madonna, Olivia Newton John...so either you are a Material Girl, A Girl who wants to have fun or are more the type who says "Let's Get Physical", you can find those fun 80s costume ideas from these icons of 80's fashion and music. Have population remember the song, "Who's That Girl" Madonna sang when you walk by in your Madonna costume...whether you have chosen the black Material Girl look or the white Borderline look.

Take a look at the Madonna and Cyndi Lauper styled costumes, layered, unique, wild and colorful are some words to relate this punky fashion look. Lots of jewelry, gloves, lace, leather, crinolines and boots are all approved fashion accessories, and when they are used together...you've got the perfect look of the 80s. Add some make up, lots of hairspray and some spray on hair color to make this look work for you.

For a slightly dissimilar look, lets take a look at Olivia Newton John, who led the workout fanatics in our country to a new look with her music video, Let's Get Physical. Workout clothes of the 80s changed from dull and boring to colorful leotards, leggings and every person who worked out wore a sweat band around their head. Now after you've put on your workout gear, fix your hair so it looks big and good!

Every costume needs a puny bit more, so apply all things in excess. After all we are dressing up and want it to be a puny overdone. Accessories are key when you are dressing in fun 80's costume ideas, so add jewelry, leather, workout clothes, glam and punky with lots of color. Don't be afraid to experiment, Cyndi and Madonna unmistakably weren't. In fact, these 80s stars went with the idea that the more outrageous the outfit the better.

The 80's are a cherished and remembered time when your talking about Diva stars, Diva outfits and that punky music, that we all sang and danced to. Take a look at all the costume accessories and ideas you can find for these spectacular, women of punk rock costumes when you are planning your Halloween costume this year with the fashions of the 1980's as your costume goal.

80's Costume Ideas - Funky and Punky Rock Star Costumes

Creative, Quick And Easy Adult Halloween Costume Ideas

Creative Halloween Costume Ideas

Creative, Quick And Easy Adult Halloween Costume Ideas

Creative, Quick And Easy Adult Halloween Costume Ideas

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Creative, Quick And Easy Adult Halloween Costume Ideas

Creative, Quick And Easy Adult Halloween Costume Ideas

Each year you are given the opening to show your creativity with your Halloween costume ideas. The possibilities are nearly limitless once your creative juices start to flow. Creative Halloween costume ideas can be grouped into some sub categories. This record includes a few suggestions to help you get your creative juices flowing.

Halloween Costume Ideas On a Budget

When you are decorating yourself or your kids for the holiday and you don't want to break the bank, start with what you have in the house. A Gypsy costume can be made plainly by layering all of the necklaces you own and layering some skirts or putting scarves on as skirts as well as putting on a bit of make-up. Ghosts can be made of a sheet or pillowcase and a pair of scissors. Clown costumes are categorically made of a sweat outfit and make-up. A multi-colored wig is fairly inexpensive. Dressing up like a bum is all the time fun too. Jeans, old T-shirt, torn jacket or flannel shirt, and a handkerchief tied to a stick (carrying your candy stash of course) all help you pull off this look. A bit of grime or stubble can be painted onto the face and this costume is complete.

Unique Halloween Costume Ideas

There are so many separate ways to dress up for Halloween. If you put your mind to it there are many things you have around the house that can make up a unique costume. You can dress up as a head on a platter by putting a table cloth on card board and gluing paper picnic settings to it then put it on so that it goes around your neck and you can only see your head sticking out of the center. This takes very small work but the reactions you get will be amazing.
There are many other ideas but the most unique often happen when you categorically put your mind to work seeking the rare.

Sexy Halloween Costume Ideas

Dressing up like a French maid or a playboy bunny is all the time fun. Some of the best sexy Halloween costume ideas start with a favorite movie star. If you can think of person you like to watch on the big screen you can dress like a character they play in your favorite movie. Dressing up like Marilyn Monroe, Angelina Jolie or George Clooney can be fun and make you feel sexy and perhaps even a bit playful at your Halloween party.

Couples Costume ideas

When you and a friend or your indispensable other go to a party as a combine it can be fun to dress up like your favorite duo. These can be male/female couples or others like Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid can be fun. An angel and the Devil together is all the time a way to make a statement. Newly weds going as a bride and groom don't all the time go over as well as you would think. Stick with Peter Pan and Tinker Bell or other characters who are commonly together.

Group costume ideas

Groups of friends dressing up as the Three (or more) Musketeers, Winnie-the-Pooh and his friends, groups of Zombies, and your favorite rock band lets others at the party know you are together. Groups of witches and wizards from definite houses at Hogwarts are fun too, especially if you can get cousins together and each house dress up in costumes from a separate house. Group costumes can be fun to think up and fabricate together.

Whatever costumes you select have fun coming up with your Halloween costume ideas. Let your hair down and see how creative you can be. If you already have your costume ideas for this year it isn't too late to start thinking up ways to win the costume contest next year.

Creative, Quick And Easy Adult Halloween Costume Ideas

The True Meaning Behind Halloween

With all of the excitement of the holiday season and the new traditions that have made their way into contemporary culture, it can be difficult to remember the origin of these holidays and the significance of the former traditions. All too often, Halloween is linked with costumes and candy but, in its early days, the significance of Halloween held great significance throughout Scotland, Ireland and Britain. Sadly, over time, these traditions have been forgotten.

The True Meaning Behind Halloween

The True Meaning Behind Halloween

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The True Meaning Behind Halloween

The True Meaning Behind Halloween

Halloween for real started out as Samhain, a ceremony sublime among Celts and their ancestors. It also marked the end of the winter solstice as well as a victorious harvest. According to the tradition, this was the one night a year when spirits were free to walk the earth. Origin suggests that the Celtic families would hide in their homes in fear of these spirits or coming into sense with them.

Many symbols that are used today, such as the jack-o-lantern, originated from this ceremony. The jack-o-lanterns originated from an Irish folktale, Stingy Jack, a greedy alcoholic who tricked the devil into climbing a tree and then trapped him by carving a uncomplicated cross into the trunk. The devil cursed Jack and he was forced to walk the earth for all eternity.

The ceremony of Samhain, was followed by All Hallows Eve, sublime on November first. The souls would once again be banished and no longer free to roam the earth. Although many of the traditions have been lost over time, the origins of Halloween and the beliefs which were practiced at this time help contemporary celebrations with their own symbols.

The actual origins of Halloween and the meaning of symbols that characterized this day have been forgotten, even by historians. The true meaning of the celebration has been supplanted somewhat by what Hollywood thinks it should mean. However, in contemporary Celtic Ireland, Samhain is still sublime as the serious holiday it is and as a time to pray for relatives' safe entry into heaven.

The True Meaning Behind Halloween

Halloween Face Painting Ideas

Halloween is such fun for kids of all ages, and adults too. Here are some face painting ideas to get you in the Halloween spirit.

Halloween Face Painting Ideas

Halloween Face Painting Ideas

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Halloween Face Painting Ideas

Halloween Face Painting Ideas

Halloween face painting idea 1: pumpkin

A bright orange pumpkin painted on each cheek. Black paint used to paint eyes, nose and mouth. A light grey would be used to show the ridges of the pumpkin as well as its outline.
An alternative would be to do a full face pumpkin with an orange face base (blending a darker orange shade over cheekbones), black triangle shape over the eyes (extending above and below the eye area), a black nose and a large black mouth (need to cover more than just the lips).

Halloween face painting idea 2: skull

A full face design. Has a white face as the base, large black 'panda' eyes, black and white vertical stripes on the lips (with the white stripes wider than the black ones) and a trickle of red from one side of the mouth (to indicate blood).

Halloween face painting idea 3: vampire

A full face design. A white face base, bright red lips, fangs arrival out of each corner of the lower lip (outline is light grey, fill is white, and tip is red to denote some blood), eye lids are smoky grey (right up to and over eye brows), eye brow then exaggerated with black sweeping strokes.

Halloween face painting idea 4: bat

A full face design. A white face base, bat's face painted on forehead above the nose (it's in black with light grey for eyeballs, and for some definition in ears); the bat's body is painted in black on the nose and ends at the base of the nostrils (use different shadings of black; the bat's wings extends out from head and body and covers the eyes curving up towards the temple and down the surface of the eye to mid cheek (again use different black shadings and some fine dark grey strokes to paint some definition into the wings); the lips are painted in dark grey with an exaggerated upward curl at the corners.

Halloween Face Painting Ideas

The Best Halloween Costume Ideas Ever!

The best Halloween costume ideas ever are dissimilar to each person. That's because which Halloween costume you like best is a matter of personal taste. You may like the Gothic Vampire best, while I like the Fairy. There are some costume themes that are beloved every year, and some styles come and go depending on the blockbuster movies or cartoon characters that happen to be beloved right now. Let's take a look at some of the superior costume styles that are beloved year after year.

The Best Halloween Costume Ideas Ever!

The Best Halloween Costume Ideas Ever!

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The Best Halloween Costume Ideas Ever!

The Best Halloween Costume Ideas Ever!

Superhero and Villain Halloween Costume Ideas

Superheroes and their worst Villains are always a beloved costume idea for Halloween parties and trick or treating. This year Batman is beloved again, and so are some of his most illustrious villains...The Joker, The Scarecrow, Cat Woman and Poison Ivy. Logan, of the X-Men is also pretty hot this season...we know him as Wolverine. Transformers have been a beloved kids costume theme for years, but thanks to the release of their new movie, Revenge of the Fallen, they are super hot this year. Bumblebee, Optimus Prime and Megatron are the three most beloved Autobot costumes for boys.

For girls and women there is Supergirl and Wonder Women to turn each of us into crime fighters with extra Powers that make us Super! Spider Girl costumes are also pretty beloved with the ladies year after year. The well super thing about these superhero costumes is that they work for both male and female costume ideas. It's just fun to have these extra extra Powers and crime fighting abilities, even if it is only for one day. And it's fun to be one of those very bad guys...just for a day too.

Celebrity Halloween Costume Ideas

If your not going to be a Superhero, you might want to dress up like a Celebrity. A celebrity like Hannah Montana are all fun dress up costumes to wear. Movie and Tv stars are as close as you can get to Superheroes without well being one. For boys there are beloved characters like Ben 10 or Dan Kuso of Bakugan are a close relative to superheroes.

For teens and adults there are some real oldies, but goodies costume ideas out there. Be nostalgic and get dressed up as Marilyn Monroe and Elvis from any of his hit movies...or from his music. There's Michael Jackson costumes with his outfits from Thriller, Bad...and the beautiful sparkling Billie Jean outfit. For the ladies, how about that beautiful and funny lady from I Love Lucy...Lucille Ball, that illustrious coMedian from old time Tv.

Then there are some adult funny costumes based on characters like the Flintstones...yep, Fred and Wilma, Barney and Betty and even Bam Bam and Pebbles are beloved adult and teen costumes.

Gothic Halloween Costume Ideas

Sometimes, it's the make up possibilities that attract us to a particular character we can dress up as. The Gothic theme is always a beloved one, but this year the gothic costumes for teenagers and adults are well spellbinding out of the shop quickly. The Renaissance goth costumes, and the cooler punkier ones, like the Gothic Fairy, the Corpse Bride and Groom or the Gothic Mummy are fun, not only to wear, but to get made up for. Very light foundation and very dark, smokey eyes are part of the gothic make up charm. Add some black nail polish, a itsybitsy gray blush and some dark blood red lipstick and you've achieved the gothic Halloween look.

Sexy Halloween Costume Ideas

Of course, if you happen to be an adult, sexy is always a hit. You can take one of those Marilyn outfits or get a Greek Goddess Venus or Aphrodite. There's a well cute lady Cop uniform and some naughty, but nice Angel and Fairy costumes. For the men, there are the classics, the Vampire and the Roman Guard and of course, the Cop if you like a man in uniform.

Fantasy and Fairy Tale Halloween Costume Ideas

The Disney Princesses, Tinkerbell, Fairy and Mermaid costumes are always big crowd pleaser for the girls and the boys, well, they have Prince Caspian, a Knight, Peter Pan and the Dragon Slayer to select from.
The Wizard of Oz and Alice in Wonderland open up lots of costume ideas too.

Easy Costumes For Halloween

Easy costumes are always big hits with all age groups. Togas, Scrubs or a White Lab Coat are very beloved because of the ease of production them. You don't have to buy or sew to turn yourself into a Toga wearing Greek, or a doctor or Nurse costume. Just get a sheet or a large rectangular piece of material to make your own toga or borrow some scrubs and a stethoscope from man in the healing field.

What ever Halloween costume ideas you rule on, either its a toga or Marilyn, or The Gothic Fairy for the ladies, and a Transformer or Indiana Jones costume for the guys, enjoy the occasion to dress up and go out and have some fun.

The Best Halloween Costume Ideas Ever!

5 Fun Things to Do on Halloween

If you are seeing for something to do on Halloween there are many cost sufficient activities that population of all ages can enjoy. Not only is Halloween one of the most fun holidays for children, adults can enjoy it to.

Here are 5 Fun Things to do on Halloween:

1.) Take a child Trick or Treating: I can remember growing up how much fun it was to pick out or make a costume for Halloween to go trick or treating. We would always get a group of neighborhood kids together and take pictures and go door to door throughout our town collecting candy and showing off our costumes. The dads would pull a wagon behind us filLED with drinks while our mothers would get together and hand out candy. It was a blast! If you are seeing for something to do on Halloween and you don't have kids, see if your neighbors or relatives would like you to take their kids out. It's a fun time for everyone!

2.) Decorate your Lawn: I always enjoyed going up to the houses that were decorated on Halloween. It is undoubtedly easy to decorate for the holiday and very inexpensive. Fill garbage bags with leaves, hang up spider webs on your house and make a few Styrofoam head stones. It can be undoubtedly fun to do and easy to clean up!

3.) Host A Halloween Party: If you are anyone like me, you love an excuse to throw a party. Halloween is the perfect holiday to dress up silly, make and eat some good food and socialize with your friends. Obviously this party will be themed and if you feel like it you could even have a dress up contest.

4.) Go to a Corn Maze: If you have a family a corn maze might be fun to attend on Halloween. There is so much more to do at a corn maze then the maze itself. Most have costume contests, serve hot apple cider and other treats and some even have a wagon ride which small children enjoy. Remember to keep your kids close, we don't want them to get lost!

5.) Visit A Haunted House:If you like the whole theme of Halloween you probably like or are into scary things. Visiting a local haunted house is a great way to enjoy the holiday and get scared at the same time. Haunted houses are fun to go with a group of friends or even on a date. I like going to a haunted house or two a year, they are always great at changing the theme or layout.

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