Ways to Celebrate Halloween
From Giftypedia
To celebrate Halloween or not to celebrate Halloween?
Many people consider Halloween celebrations very festive, but there are some people that choose not to celebrate this holiday. There are many different reasons why people decide not to celebrate Halloween, they can range from safety concerns to religious beliefs, and deciding to celebrate is a personal decision. Halloween has developed into a highly commercialized holiday it is the second most popular holiday after Christmas for decorating, and the sale of candy and costumes. [1] The desire to don festive costumes and indulge in yummy treats can make it hard not to resist celebrating this holiday. There are alternative Halloween celebrations that are fun, safe and will not leave anyone feeling deprived of festive fall fun. The following ideas can help you to create new Halloween traditions.
Go Booing
- Halloween Booing is a fun tradition that you can start in your neighborhood, in the weeks prior to Halloween you secretly leave a bag or basket of treats for your neighbors. Halloween Booing is also known as Boo-Gram, Reverse Trick-or-Treating, or ghousting. By whatever name it is called, the concept is that you and leave the treats on your neighbors porch or hanging on the door, along with a Boo Poem asking them to pay-it-forward to other neighbors.
How to Start Booing
- Choose your target
- Make two Halloween boo baskets or treat bags. The treats can range from creating a small treat bag of goodies to an elaborate gift basket full of festive treats. You can be as creative as you like when making your baskets or bags, you can purchase containers like decorative baskets, or make them from oatmeal canisters, lunch bags, or heavy construction paper twisted into a cone shape.
- Simply open up the PDF and send it to your computer's printer for printable Halloween Boo Poems and Boo Signs.
- Booing can be done during the middle of the day, but it's fun when treats are dropped off after dark. The key is to leave the gift, ring the door bell, and run.
Alternatives to Trick-or-Treating
Trunk-or-Treat or Backyard Trick-or-Treating
- This is a great way to make sure that children can go trick-or-treating in a safe environment. Organize a group of families that are interested in meeting in a parking lot, then each family can decorate and fill their trunks with goodies. Kids can then trick-or-treat while staying safe by trick-or-treating from car to car. Check with the a local school, park, library, or church about using the parking lot on Halloween night. Another way to create a safe environment for trick-or-treating is to host a Backyard Trick-or-Treating Party. Talk with families in your community and get the adults to dress in fun costumes and have each family set up mini spooky houses from tents or simple games in your backyard. Then the kids can go to each family's area to collect their candy.
Halloween Costume Party
- Having a party for Halloween is a great way to celebrate, and is a great way for any age group to have a fun time. The party can be planned according to the age of the guests and can include festive games, costumes, food, and prizes. For the younger party-goers, you can plan games like bobbing for apples and rent an inflatable jumper or slide. For the teenagers and adults you could plan a scavenger hunt or purchase gory make-up so the guests can turn each other into scary zombies, which they could then film to create their very own scary movie.
Scary Sleepover
- The kids can invite their friends over for a spooky sleepover that can include traditional festive treats like popcorn balls, caramel apples. Have plenty of Halloween-themed movies on hand for a spooky movie marathon. Then as the night progresses you can get out the flashlights and tell your favorite scary stories.
The traditional way to celebrate Halloween was going from house to house saying "Trick-or-Treat", and knowing that the candy you were receiving was safe to enjoy. The times have changed and families are celebrating Halloween in different ways, so while planning your celebration just be creative, have fun and you will definitely have a frighteningly fun night.
Pumpkin Painting Party
- Use a Fall Theme for the party as an alternative to a Halloween theme.
- Provide a selection of pumpkins, mini pumpkins or other gourds, at least one for each guest, or have them bring their own. These can be real pumpkins or fake ones from the craft supply store.
- Cover the tables with sheets or plastic table cloths.
- Supply an assortment of paints and markers. For very young children your can have stickers for some parts like eyes.
- Offer a variety of items for embellishments, such as pipe cleaners, yarn, googlie eyes, little hats, or whatever fits your theme.
- Have a contest with prizes for funniest, scariest, etc.
Related Guides
- Tips for Planning a Halloween Party
- History of Halloween
- International Halloween Traditions
- Gag Gifts
- Halloween Luminary
- Mischief Night
- October Holidays
References
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