Although quite a few folklorists have determined the origins of Halloween in the Roman banquet of Pomona, the goddess of fruit and seeds, or else in the festival of the departed named Parentalia, it is more generally associated to the Celtic celebration of Samhain (original spelling was Samuin (pronounced sow-an or sow-in). The name Halloween is derived from Old Irish and means “summer’s ending”. A similar celebration was held by the ancient Britons and is identified as Calan Gaeaf. (Best try saying that after a few beers!).
The festival of Samhain celebrates the ending of the “lighter half” of the year and also the commencement of the “darker half”, and is oftentimes viewed as the “Celtic New Year”.
The ancient Celts considered that the boundary between this world and the Otherworld turned thinner on Samhain, allowing for spirits (both benign and harmful) to go as a result. The family’s ancestors were honoured and invited home while destructive spirits used to be warded off. It truly is understood that the desire to ward away nasty spirits led to the donning of fancy dress outfits not to mention masks.
Their purpose was to help disguise one self as a bad spirit and for that reason stay clear of harm.
In Scotland the actual spirits were characterized by young men clothed in white garments along with masked, veiled or maybe blackened faces. Samhain was also an occasion to take count of food provisions and slaughter of livestock with respect to winter months reserves.
Bonfires played a large part in the festive times. All other sorts of fires used to be doused and each household lit up their own hearth from the bonfire. The bones of slaughtered animals ended up being thrown straight into its flames. From time to time a couple of bonfires might be made together, and families and their livestock normally would walk in between them as being a purifying ritual.
Another typical procedure was divination, which often-times involved the use of food and drink.
The label ‘Halloween’ and a number of its present-day practices come via the Old English period.
Celtic Pagans think of the season as being a holy season. Celtic Reconstructionists, and many others that sustain ancestral customs, come up with offerings to the gods in addition to the ancestors. Quite a few Wiccans feel that the custom is actually offensive to Wiccan practitioners in that it is endorsing clichd caricatures connected with “evil witches.
Halloween is one thing, the Twilight Saga is quite another. Learn more about vampires and things that go bump in the night with the Twilight Series
Posted on 9 May '10, under Halloween. No Comments.
Halloween night is a frightful, yet fun filled evening of candy and costumes. If you and friends are invited to a Halloween party, you will all need very special Halloween costumes to join in the fun. With the newest slasher movies coming out at this time of the season, and the stories of witches and vampires, it is all in fun and makes for a great time.
There are those who get ready for this special night months ahead of time. They go out and seek their perfect costume, as soon as the costume shops open for the season. Or they might make their own costume, which is also lots of fun.
You can get a costume complete in the box, or you can rent a really great costume from a rental store that deals with this type of clientele. You will find many of them in the Los Angeles area, New York City, and Las Vegas, as well. Then you will need either makeup to finish the special look, or warts and scars. It depends on what you intend to be.
You might want a really gory look, if you decide to be a vampire or a zombie. You can find scars and flaking skin that is moldable and looks really disgusting when you are through applying it. Then it needs to be topped off with a realistic blood makeup. These are all favorites at this time of year.
Halloween shops pop up all over the country in the weeks before Halloween. They usually start setting up in August for a September grand opening, and they are open and flourishing throughout the Halloween season. If you want to get a head start on next Halloween, they usually have a sale event in the few days after Halloween that they are still open, before they back up for the year. The great leftover items are about 50 percent to 75 percent off the regular retail price, so you will have to hurry before it is all picked through.
A scary, morbid costume is always fun. Some think that Halloween should be scary and nothing else. But others will arrive at the party being sexy, funny and silly. The combination of the different types of costumes makes a great party atmosphere.
There will be the bleeding accident victim, with a knife through his head, the witch with the broomstick and smoking cauldron, and the vampires that will undoubtedly try to suck your neck. There is always the guy who loves to wear a dress on this very special night. And girls may let it all hang out with a sexy French maid outfit. It is all in fun and you can have a great time of it.
Whether you go all out and rent authentic-looking Halloween costumes for the Victoria era, or put your own twist on a gypsy fortune telling witch by sewing your own garb, top it off with crazy makeup and props, and have a fun, safe time.
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Posted on 9 May '10, under Halloween. No Comments.
Many parents enjoy the time spent with their children on Halloween. It’s a time when kids go out with one of their folks to purchase clothes, eatables to take to school and sweets while the other parent stays back home to be present as the treaters that may drop in. Nearly all of the folks hassle a lot about their child not getting the finest costume or that they may perhaps not be able to take adequate time to create one or put one together. This is not so complex afterall. One can find a number of ways to simply craft a nice Halloween costume for their kid. What Does Your Kid Prefer? The odds are that you have spent at least one Saturday morning watching cartoons with your child and that you have a vague idea of which commercials or cartoon shows attract them. There is nothing to be troubled about even if you do not have an idea on it- a brief outing to your local toy store would help you know what is popular amongst children. One must understand accurately what the kid prefers and what they would prefer to get dressed as. It is not obvious that the kid would intend to get dressed as Spiderman barely because he likes him. Therefore it is extremely significant to take the child’s view so there is no disconnect.
What Will You Choose-Shopping for The Outfit Or Creating It Yourself?
One can buy lots of ready dresses in the market which would be an direct hit with your kid Nonetheless, making ones own outfit at home or buying a kit to craft one has its own appeal. Craft outlets like Michael’s, feature loads of of such kits and they barely require some cloth and a sewing machine.
For instance, you may stuff a used shirt in the tummy and pair it along with a worn out patched jeans to create a scarecrow outfit. Put a few pieces of dried grass all-around the cuffs and neck and put on a good wide brimmed hat and your child is set. This do what you want motto might be a little difficult when you’re dealing with superheros, cartoon characters or rock stars, but don’t be afraid to apply your imagination or still do a fast Google search and glimpse what other parents are doing to craft their own home-made clothes come together.
What is required for the Best Halloween Outfit
It is not so vital for your kid to win an award in the costume contest or win commendation from other folks to attest that they are wearing the greatest Halloween outfit. It is more eminent for your child to take pleasure in being dressed as whomsoever he admires, to know that you have done a nice job at making his perfect Halloween costume.
Get some KEWL Cheap Halloween Costume Ideas. Check out Blog for many great tips: Affordable Halloween Costumes
Posted on 10 November '09, under Halloween. No Comments.
For some, the idea of face painting may intimidate them at first if they are not naturally artistic or have never picked up a brush. This shouldn’t worry you as there are lots of books out there that you can use, start with beginner’s books and work your way up to more advanced.
As you look for the information you will realize that there is enough material available on easy face painting. All you have to do is to look for more simple designs and practice them. If you do not have volunteers for you to practice on you can use paper and then use your own hands or legs and see how it looks.
As your confidence grows by painting simple designs you can start to paint more difficult pieces. On a side note – always use FDA approved face paint to ensure the safety of your customer/child. Of course you will need to have the right tools for the job so, brushes and sponges are essential to complete designs properly. Once you have all of the tools and have made a start you will see that it is easy face painting.
The books you read will give you some easy face painting ideas and designs but a good tip to know is that there seems to be distinct preference in designs when it comes to boys and girls. Girls generally prefer a design of a princess face, flowers on the cheek or a bunny but the boys prefer to have a Spiderman or a monster on their face.
Having a portfolio of designs ready for when the boys and girls arrive will help you out a lot
Displaying the designs you can do will aid an easy face painting session because the kids will be able to choose their favorite design before they have got to you which will speed up the process. You know kids, they are indecisive especially when you have so many cool designs to choose from!
Kelly Van Dorn is a well respected Face Painter and founder of Face-Painting-Designs.com. She has recently revamped her site and by popular demand has included an Easy Face Painting page which will be updated with hints, tips and tricks as often as possible. Go check out Kellys revamped site today.
Posted on 9 November '09, under Halloween. No Comments.
It’s time to come out and party! Check out my top 10 Halloween costumes for women that will make you look sexy, not trashy. C’mon, you look at these costumes each year and say “hmm, what if I wear one of these on Halloween?” They’re cool, hot and sexy, all in one!
1) Silk Spectre – She was the lit up the screen in the most recent movie Watchmen. In this outfit, she all legs. And the outfit really fits well as Silk Spectre was one hot cookie knocking out the bad guys with one fell swoop.
2) Star Trek, Lieutenant Uhura. Remember sexy, vivacious Uhura? She was the one worth coming back to watch every week. Forget about Captain Kirk and Spock. Uhura was the on deck personality which lit up the commander’s post and somehow made everything alright. And, this outfit is a really good fit.
3) Tinker Bell. Tinker Bell costume is probably the nicest and most charming costume of all. It is also the easiest costume to do among any other fairy costume. Really cute. Sure thing that when you wear Tinker Bell costume, you’ll definitely have a ride home after the party.
4) Bat-girl. If you are a woman and an all-time Batman movies fanatic, why not consider dressing up as a Bat-girl. Who knows, you could meet the Batman of your life the night of the Halloween party. The bat-girl costume is suited also to those who are a bit conservative.
5) Princess Leia of Starwars. If you are a fan of the movie Starwars, probably the first thing that came up on your mind for Halloween is to dress up as the pretty Princess Leia. If you want to be sassy, you may want to consider wearing the slave costume of Princess Leia best for adult and after hours party.
6) Cat-woman. Now, if you want to be a scene stealer for a Halloween party, you might want to consider wearing the cat-woman costumes… a scene stealer for sure. Body-hugging top and pants, combined with accessories like mask, claws and a whip, you’ll definitely catch a lot of attention from the crowd.
7) Sexy Witch Costume. If you are up for an old, yet really classy costume, then you might want to consider wearing the witch costume. This will make the crowd look at you not just once, even more than twice. Match your evening gown with a cape, sharp black nails and fangs, you’ll definitely give the crowd a fright.
Marilyn Monroe. Who wouldn’t want to be like Marilyn Monroe. This costume will surely draw a lot of attention. Sexy and hot, two words to describe the Marilyn costume. You think you can handle those two words?
9) Rock Star and rock out. Rock stars are all the rage this Halloween with the anticipated American Idol to start up here again. Show off your wild side by singing up a storm and looking like a million dollars. It’s pink, blue and very, very sexy.
10) Spider Girl. Who can imagine a world without superheroes. This outfit, fresh for Halloween this year, will put you at the center of attraction. Slim, slick and sticky is the right type of spidey outfit and this one delivers!
Are you looking for a Halloween costumes for women that don’t look slutty on you, check out this top 10 list. More Halloween party ideas at http://halloweenthisyear.com.
Posted on 31 October '09, under Halloween. No Comments.
Halloween – the festival that all children love! A time when kids have the chance to get free candies that are offered by their neighbors, namely “Trick or Treat”. It’s a well-known custom that is favored by every single child.
Halloween is not just a festival for children, but also for adults. The old-fashioned sweets may recall adults’ memories of their old Halloween nights. You may wonder who started the candied history of Halloween. The whole concept dates back to centuries ago while pagan rituals had not even been blended with the Church yet.
Who knows when and where Halloween began exactly? Many different versions of its origin had been created over time, including one that is, surprisingly, to celebrate good harvest in an old Celtic festival. People believed that Halloween was a time when the dead would rise, instilling fear and spreading diseases to not only the living, but also to crops. One could say that this is where all those atypical Halloween scares came from!
What about the trick or treating? Where does that one come from? Some say that the poor go from houses to houses to pray for the family and their friends who are sick. In return for their good wishes, the people would offer them something to eat.
If you think about it, we may possibly be able to see a shadow of those food in the sweet range of candies now given out to costumed children nowadays!
Occasionally, there are people who suggest new perspectives to the mystic festival that takes place during nighttime. Many believe that it came from England or Ireland. Somehow, to many Halloween-lovers, the history of the tradition isn’t what is most important.
What is important today is that all people, including both children and adults, enjoy the festival. With a wide variety of costumes, you can be different types of scary characters such as ghosts, vampires, skeletons and even monsters. This makes the night more exciting.
But, always remember, that underneath those scary masks are just children who are enjoying their childhoods to the best of their ability. Remember that, and think this a treat to be able to see those children’s beautiful smiles!
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Posted on 29 October '09, under Halloween. No Comments.
With the Denver haunted house season fast approaching, it seems especially important to understand where haunted house ratings come from. After all, if you are counting on these ratings to determine which Denver haunted houses you would like to visit, it is probably a good idea to find out what the ratings are all about.
In the newspaper, the internet or the radio you might see that people are saying their haunted houses are the scariest, the best or longest.
It seems like every ad in the newspaper is advertising one or more haunted house as the best haunted house in Denver. On the radio, every station will advertise the #1 rated haunted house or the scariest haunted house in Denver and very seldom will they be the same haunted house. So how can they all be rated the ‘best’ or ‘#1?
This is easy for them. Since there is no rules or regulations it makes it easy for any average Joe to say that their haunted house is the scariest or rated number 1 in Denver. This is all it boils down to… A opinions game. But think about it who in their right mind would advertise their haunted house as being the lamest or only rated say number 7?
Granted everyone has their own opinion on what makes a Haunted House scary. Just ask your friends. Some people like the special effects, some people like the scary story lines, and others will say they only like the ones with a crazy guy with a chain saw at the end. Opinions! Everyone thinks different and are happy to share them with you.
So with all these opinions how do you find a haunted house that is suited to fit your opinions? Well there is two websites that can give you a full detailed explanations on the haunted houses in Denver. HauntedRatings.com and Scared.com.
HauntedRatings.com gives you detailed information for all of the Denver Haunted Houses, including dates and times they are open, admission prices, a synopsis of what the haunted house is all about and directions on how to get there.
Many Huanted Houses will offer discounted tickets and this is probably the best place to find out that information as well. Scared.com also lists all of the haunted houses in the Denver Metro Area.
Now all you have to do is figure out which haunted house experience would suit your needs best. Armed with this knowledge you can now feel confident that the Haunted Houses you have chosen to visit will offer you the best scare for your buck.
So, get passed all the hype and go to the Denver Haunted House that sounds the most interesting to you. Of course, that’s just my opinion.
There are plenty of haunted houses in Denver make sure you find the right one to scare you!
Posted on 29 October '09, under Halloween. No Comments.
Harvest Time!
October is here and there are plenty of activities to do in the Denver Metro area to enjoy the Haunting season. Denver has lots of exciting and entertaining activities to keep you and your family busy throughout the entire month. Here are just a few of the highlights to look forward to.
JACK-O-LAUNCH AT PUMPKIN FEST ” October 10, 2009 from 9am to 4pm at Historic Delaney Farm, 1700 Chambers Road. Come and see pumpkins get hurled hundreds of feet by different architects of ground launching devices compete for prizes. Not to mention all the fun activities such as hay rides, scarecrow making, a pumpkin patch, music and more. Admission is Free!
BARNUM AND BAILEY CIRCUS ” September 30 ” October 11th. Every year the circus comes this year being held in the Denver Coliseum. Experience the all new ZING ZANG ZOOM ” Red Tour. Every year the circus comes to Denver during the October season to bring you new and exciting shows for the whole family to enjoy. Lions and Tigers and BearsOh my!
HALLOWEEN AT THE HORSE FAMILY FALL FESTIVAL ” October 17th. Located in Parker, this annual event offers safe trick or treating and more. Follow a designated trail while sitting atop one of the the many trained and tame horses. Not too sure you want to ride, than just follow the patch and enjoy the fun.
WICKED- The Broadway Musical ” October 7 ” November 15 ” Buell Theater. This Tony Award winning Broadway musical is a perfect match for this Halloween Season. This is your chance to find out what really happened in OZ. Come on down and feed the interest now!
PUMPKIN FESTIVAL ” Denver Botanic Gardens at Chatfield ” October 10th and 11th. The Botanic Gardens in Chatfield offers up to its annual Pumpkin Festival. You and your family can choose the best pumpkins from rows and rows of ripe pumpkins. Tons of other activities such as vendors, hot chocolate, sleigh rides, and a corn maze. Still looking for something more thrilling… check out the haunted house next to the corn maze.
REINKE Bros. HAUNTED MANSION & COSTUME STORE ” A store open year round. Say your looking for the perfect Halloween costume or just want to take in a store that offers things out of the ordinary, then Reinke Bros Costume Store and Haunted Mansion is just right for you. All year round people come here to feed the need and during October is when there true colors shine. Here you can find everything you need during this scary seasons such as, costumes, props, magic, makeup and almost every imaginable creature that crawl the night on display. After feeding the need to shop check out the haunted mansion. Featuring Disney like effects to scare you at every turn.
13th DOOR HAUNTED HOUSE – October 01-October 31. Parker and I-225 in Denver. After checking out the Haunted Mansion be sure to go down to Aurora to check out the 13th Door Haunted House. The 13th Door has been voted the best and scariest haunted house in all of Denver by Americas Best Haunted Houses. You might have heard rumors of the 13th Door and all the secrets it holds deep within, things such as live snakes and no exits with a guarantee you will get your money back if you make it out alive. This is where the whole legend started and is home to the scariest things you will ever see. Not for the weak hearted. The 13th Door is definitely the scariest in all of Denver.
NORTH METRO VET & PETS 4 PEOPLE ANNUAL FUNDRAISER! October 2 ” October 31. North Metro Vet. Colorados only professional Haunted Vet Hospital and Amazing Halloween Attraction. Dogs and Cats offer up the scares here and this unique event is sure to be fun for the whole family. 1050 West 47th Avenue Denver 80211 303-433-8835
MILE HIGH CON ” Oct 23 ” 25 at the Hyatt Regency in the DTC. The whole haunted house thing not exactly your cup of tea, check out the Mile High Con. In its 41st year, it is a Science Fiction convention that features authors, artists, panels and just about every literary imaginable.
BOO AT THE ZOO ” Oct 31-Nov 01 at the Denver Zoo. Need something safe and kid oriented to go trick or treating? BOO AT THE ZOO is a great family targeted fun that is a wonderful chance to visit with all furry creatures at the zoo. Costumes are encouraged.
So from Science Fiction to Theater to Pumpkin Patches to Corn Mazes to Denver Haunted Houses, Denver offers tons of fun events for everyone to enjoy this October. So dont just sit there! Its October ” Go out and Enjoy the fun!
Posted on 27 October '09, under Halloween. No Comments.
Real Haunted Houses ” every city has them according to the website: RealHaunts.com. Denver is no exception to the rule. Here are just a few of the more notable places that are said to be the home of some very interesting ghosts.
The Molly Brown House in Denver. This unusual house is definitely one of the scariest of all, even the employees that work there have reported unusual activity taking place in the work area. Tons of thrills to make you jump such as shadows moving around you when no light can be found to produce them, piano keys moving in sequence when no sound is made. Lots of people comment that throughout the house they get a slight smell of cigar smoke, Mr. Brown was known to be an avid smoker.
The home has been carefully restored back as close as it can be to the way Molly Brown had it when she was a resident of Denver. The house’s atmosphere is full of the rich essence of the past. Sometimes it seems that Mr. and Ms. Brown are more trying to welcome you to their home rather than scare you away, with the way they tend to their guests.
THE STATE CAPITOL BUILDING. This important building is actually connected underground by a network of tunnels. Back when these were first incorporated they were used to move coal, which provided heat to these buildings. Now they are only good for moving around your blood, as it is known to be home of a wondering ghost women that wonders the buildings and tunnels. She has been sited in all the buildings and tunnels themselves. Very inquisitive, the ghost has often been seen reading over the shoulders of the employees that work in the area. And you thought politics were scary.
BROWN PALACE Hotel in Denver. Also connected to the series of cold tunnels, this building is plagued by the incessant sound of someone coughing. It is also frequented by the same ghost that haunts the capital.
Who knows maybe she is in search for more promising news at the hotel. The food is certainly better. Bradmar Tudor Manor can be found in a extensive and private, sparsely populated area on the countryside outside the city in Denver Colorado. This Manor is located at the end of a dark long road, lined with with giant cottonwood trees. This manor is privately owned, beware the owner and their privacy.
BUCKHORN EXCHANGE Restaurant. Presently a restaurant, when the fur trade began, This building was one of the first trading posts in the area. It is said that the building is haunted by many of the traders. There have been reports of tables moving suddenly. Also, many have reported hearing voices and footsteps when no one is talking or there.
Now looking at it the only problem with a genuine haunted house is that the ghost that resides in it has to be in the mood to scare you. You might be waiting a long time to be scared. To immediately be terrified try and visit any of the Denver Haunted Houses in the area. The best of which are known for their scares are: 13th Door Haunted House, Slaughterhouse Gulch Haunt, Haunted Mansion, 25th Hour, City of the Dead and The Butcher.
Now that Halloween has finally rolled around, here is you chance to see real ghost to scare you!
To find out more about these Haunted houses and more in the Denver area to scare you and your friends please visit Haunted Ratings website.
Posted on 27 October '09, under Halloween. No Comments.
It came as a surprise to find that Pottery Barn Kids sold Halloween costumes. Just when I thought they couldn’t get any better with their adorable collection of kids’ furniture, décor, and toys, I find that they in fact do sell a beautiful line of quality costumes for kids that are both fun and fabulous.
In my last couple of Halloween-inspired posts, I focused on what to dress your baby up as for the spooktacular event of the year. This time, I had to feature some of what Pottery Barn Kids has to offer – especially since there is only about a week left until the big day! In some cases, Halloween parties, haunted houses, and tractor hay rides may have been planned a week early and it’s time to get your kids ready for the season!
In addition to Pottery Barn’s fun and fabulous line of Halloween costumes, they are offering an assortment of trick-or-treat bags that are the perfect accessory for your kids’ candy collection. Take a look through the collection of costumes and see which theme fits your child the best!
Posted on 26 October '09, under Halloween. No Comments.