February 24th, 2010
Day of the Dead is often referred to as ‘the Mexican Halloween’, mainly due to it falling at a similar time of year to our festival. However in reality, the two are very different, not surprising given they were born from two completely different cultures!
On 1st and 2nd November in Latin America, families and friends gather to remember and pray for the souls of the dead. This tradition is believed to derive from an Aztec ritual dedicated to Mictecacihuatl, Queen of the Underworld.
Despite these sombre beginnings, the festival has a strong atmosphere of celebration with many parties taking place across the period. Ritual tasks of the festival are also treated in a more light-hearted fashion than in the UK or US:, alt graves are cleaned and adorned with massive flower sculptures, witty ‘epitaph’ poems are written to commemorate a particularly endearing trait of a loved one and toys are left at the graves of children. The adults receive a bottle of tequila or similar.
The skull is the dominant icon of the holiday and can be found in many forms, from the traditional ‘Catrina’ statue, representing a female skeleton in upper-class clothing, to tasty treats such as chocolate and sugar representations for the table. Another traditional dish at this time of year is the pan de muerto, a sweet bread often decorated with white icing to look like twisted bones.
So if you are looking for a couple of alternative aspects for your Halloween party, you may like to consider trying some of the customs of el Día de los Muertos.
Tags: alternative Halloween party, Aztec ritual, Day of the Dead, Halloween parties, Halloween party, Mexican Halloween
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February 11th, 2010
Valentine’s Day was originally celebrated as the anniversary of the beheading of St Valentine, a Roman Saint; a bloodthirsty and not very romantic event. Today it’s sugar and spice and all things nice. So, this year why not celebrate the true meaning of St. Valentine’s Day with a Halloween-themed party?
A screening of Tim Burton’s Corpse Bride is perfectly suited to this type of event with its plot of love, robbery and murder in a supernatural setting. Gauzy, veil-type decorations and fancy dress costumes can add an air of mystery to any setting and evoke the idea of the jilted bride, popularised by the portrayal of Dickens’ Miss Havisham in popular culture. Party Halloween offers a fantastic skeletal scene setter. These giant figures perfectly accent the macabre aspect of your theme and provide an excellent talking point.
Another Valentine’s icon that lends itself well to a Halloween twist is Cupid. Often portrayed in a white loin cloth and carrying bow and arrows, some strategically scattered fake blood on the arrows can have a strong effect, as can replacing the traditional white costume with a black or red equivalent. Decorations that subvert the classic heart motif of Valentine’s Day can also help create the mood, as can pink or red balloons instead of the traditional Halloween orange.
Have fun with your food – Bleeding Heart Sandwiches, raspberry jam sandwiches cut with heart-shaped cookie cutter, are an ingenious twist on a classic party nibble, while heart-shaped jellies can create a great table display.
The contrast between Valentine and Halloween provides endless inventive opportunities and, more importantly, your guests will love it!
Tags: fancy dress costumes, Halloween costumes, Halloween party, Halloween themed-party, party decorations, Valentines costumes, Valentines Day party
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January 28th, 2010
Since its earliest beginnings as a pagan festival, Halloween has attracted many superstitions. These beliefs have fed into the festival to create the icons and symbols we see at many of today’s Halloween parties.
Jack O’Lantern: Carving vegetable lanterns is an old custom that became associated with Halloween in 1886. The name comes from the strange, yet natural, phenomenon of flickering lights above peat bogs.
Spiders: As one of the most feared creatures on earth, they make your skin crawl. However, if you see a spider on All Hallow’s Eve, it could be the spirit of a deceased loved one.
Fire: The Celts used to light massive bonfires on Halloween and dance round them to scare evil spirits away. Today, the flickering light of a candle has many superstitions attached to it. If a candle goes out by itself on Halloween, then a ghost is present. It is also said that a woman gazing into a mirror by candlelight will see her future husband.
Bats: Their penchant for the night and unappealing appearance has not helped the bats’ reputation. They are connected with the vampire legends and it is thought that if one flies three times round your house on Halloween, it is a death omen.
Black Cats: Today, black cats are actually a symbol of good luck in Britain. However, in the Middle Ages they were thought to be witches’ familiars and ill omens. Therefore cats were often killed on sight to prevent bad luck. It had the opposite effect, as with fewer cats there were more rats, and with rats came plague.
Tags: Halloween icons, Halloween parties, Halloween symbols, pagan festival
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January 13th, 2010
The weather outside is frightful, so why not make the most of nature’s backdrop with a Halloween-themed party that maximises the grey skies, low light and shivering temperatures? Many characters from popular fiction have the ability to live in ice, as well as strike it into the hearts of their enemies, so why not consider the White Witch of Narnia, the infamous Dracula from the snowy Carpathian wastelands or – for the very adventurous – a Yeti, the mythical snow beast as possible costumes on a snowy theme.
For Halloween decorations, bring the outside in with some fake snow scattered over tombstone decorations. Alternatively create strong contrasts with the bright colours of pumpkins against the white backdrop. As the skies clear, they can make excellent outdoor lanterns, as the candles are well protected against the wind. This provides the opportunity to make some fantastically memorable outdoor landscapes, even if the guests are resolutely staying in the warm.
A cleverly decorated snowman in the garden can also add to themed fun. Try dressing up your snowman as an iconic horror character, or alternatively keep him plain and simple with just a glint of mischief in his little coal eyes …
Food needs to be warming, so try various soups. Tomato is a great favourite under the more ghoulish name of ‘steaming blood’ or similar. Alternatively get the most out of your pumpkin with a hot dish made from the scooped out innards. To complement, serve cold snow-themed desserts such as coconut snowballs and anything with white chocolate!
Tags: Halloween decorations, Halloween party, Halloween themed-party, New Year, snow, snowman, snowy theme
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December 30th, 2009
Decorations can make or break a Halloween party and there is a remarkable selection available in this day and age, but with all the bells and whistles, it’s best not to forget the simple balloon. Whether foil or traditional, the Halloween possibilities are endless.
For those of you who like to keep things simple but effective foil balloons in Halloween shapes such as bats or spiders can create a real ‘wow’ factor in an arrangement. Round or square balloons with printed pictures also add character and distinction to a set of decorations and both types can make distinctive ‘child tags’ when out trick or treating. Just tie the balloon to your child’s wrist for a handy way to spot them in a group.
The more creatively minded may like to have a go at customising their own balloons. Buy a variety of colours – orange, black and yellow are good starting points. The orange balloons make great jack o’lanterns. Black marker pen will stay fixed in place, or you may like to create 3D versions using paper shapes; buck teeth and big noses are especially effective. Black balloons are a great base for spider decorations. Use pipe cleaners or lolly sticks painted black for the legs, attach 4 to each side of the balloon and use white paper for the eyes, complete with scary red pupils.
Yellow balloons can make a great feature as part of a haunted scarecrow centrepiece. Make a Guy figure by stuffing old clothes with newspaper and decorate a yellow balloon for the head, then fix to the body to create a striking talking point.
Tags: balloons, Decorations, Halloween party, round balloons, square balloons
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December 17th, 2009
If you’re looking for a seasonal spin on your Halloween party, why not draw inspiration from Christmas? At first glance it seems an unlikely pairing, but look a little closer and you’ll soon see it isn’t purely sugar, spice and all things nice in Lapland.
The most famous seasonal ghost story is Charles Dickens’ atmospheric A Christmas Carol. This novella offers a whole host of wonderful costume ideas, from the emaciated Jacob Marley, whose frail frame is held together by the chains of his evil deeds, to the ethereal, fairy-like ghost of the past and the downright terrifying wraith of the future. Dickens gives vivid descriptions of all Scrooge’s apparitions and they can provide quick and easy costumes at this festive time of year.
The tradition of the spooky Christmas tale was continued by M.R. James; seen by many as the best ghost story writer of the 20th century. His stories began life as Christmas Eve entertainments for a group of selected friends and were later collected and published. This original context was revived by the BBC in 2000 with Hammer Horror Legend Christopher Lee performing a series of readings.
Modern takes on this tradition include Tim Burton’s film The Nightmare Before Christmas. The protagonist Jack Skellington, the Pumpkin King, provides an excellent twist on the standard skeleton costume. This film, released in 1993, is now an undisputed classic, proving just how effective a theme that links Halloween and Yuletide can be and continuing the tradition of the Christmas fright.
Tags: A Christmas Carol, Charles Dickens, Christmas ghost stories, Christmas party, Halloween and Yuletide, Halloween party, Nightmare Before Christmas, Tim Burton
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December 2nd, 2009
Usually when you think of Halloween parties, certain images come to mind – pumpkins, ghosts and witches. However, as Halloween has become big business, and the variety of decorations available has increased dramatically. Halloween stores now take inspiration from sources as diverse as historical black spots, such as the Great Plague, and Hollywood Horror movies to offer a fantastic selection of Halloween tableware and decorations guaranteed to get your guests talking.
The atmosphere of the traditional haunted house has led to the creation of many decorations aimed at turning your humble abode into a house of horrors. Signs such as ‘Beware’ and ‘Point of No Return’ on ragged materials can create a creepy themed entrance experience and help direct lost guests to the right address. If you have a front garden, you may like to mock up a graveyard for extra effect with cheap but effective tombstone scene setters.
Inside the house consider hiding unusual decorations, such as realistic rats, in dark corners and unexpected places, increasing the scare factor for your party. Rats originally became an object of horror during the 1665 London plague and are still strongly connected with death and destruction through popular superstition. Other items which may have the same effect are tactile objects such as squishy balls, preferably painted to resemble an eye or rubber snakes, bats and spiders.
Finally, consider your lighting. You may wish to invest in some black light technology for a full-on spooky effect; alternatively, lighting gels are available in a variety of Halloween colours, can be obtained relatively easily and affixed to most standard lighting fixtures without fuss for a strong impact.
Tags: Halloween decorations, Halloween parties, Halloween stores, Halloween tableware, online Halloween store
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November 26th, 2009
In honour of the late Edward Woodward, who died this week aged 79, we’re taking a look at the five greatest British horror films that will surely inspire next year’s Halloween costumes.
1) The Wicker Man – One of Woodward’s most famous roles was as Police Sergeant Neil Howie, investigating the mysterious disapperance of a woman on the Hebridean island of Summerisle. The film has one of the most legendary twists in British cinema and co-stars Hammer Horror stalwart Christopher Lee.
2) 28 Days Later – The most haunting shot in Danny Boyle’s intense zombie movie is a dazed Cillian Murphy wandering through an utterly deserted London, but this is one of the few quiet moments in Boyle’s fast-paced jump-fest.
3) The Descent – Neil Marshall’s second film, after the acclaimed Dog Soldiers, confirmed him as one of Britain’s greatest horror directors. Unusually for this genre the film has an entirely female main cast.
4) Witchfinder General – A highly fictionalized account of a true horror – Matthew Hopkins, who was responsible for the execution of numerous innocent women accused of witchcraft during the English Civil War. Hopkins was portrayed by the legendary Vincent Price and the film was highly controversial upon its 1968 release.
5) Hammer Horror – Not one British horror film, but an entire house of them! Hammer Horror created seminal versions of classic horrors, including Dracula, Frankenstein and the Mummy and their equally popular sequels.
Tags: British horror films, Edward Woodwood, Halloween costumes, horror movies, monster mask, monsters, scary movies, zombie costumes, zombies
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November 19th, 2009
Vampire bat
New Moon, the sequel to the overwhelmingly popular Twilight, hits cinemas this week. So, in honour of the film’s vampiric lead character Edward Cullen, here’s a look at his ‘family history’.
Vampires are one of mankind’s most enduring legends and still feature heavily in art and literature today. The myth was inspired by a rather nasty man called Vlad the Impaler, a bloodthirsty Wallachian prince who also went under the name Dracula. He received this title, which translates as ‘son of the dragon’, as a reference to his father’s membership of the chivalric Order of the Dragon. Vlad himself was a feared and very unchivalric character who tortured and executed his way across Europe. His preferred method of execution was impalement, a slow, agonising death, and it is clear Vlad had a strong blood-lust; however, there is no evidence that he literally drank the blood of his victims. This part of the myth is a later invention.
The vampire who stalks our culture today was invented by John Polidori in his 1819 novel The Vampyre. Polidori created the supernatural, charismatic being of which Edward Cullen is arguably the latest incarnation. This interpretation was taken to new extremes with Bram Stoker’s seminal Dracula, published in 1897. The book was immensely popular on its publication and remains so today, exerting a strong influence over the continuing vampire sub-genre, including Buffy the Vampire Slayer, True Blood and the Twilight saga itself.
Unsurprisingly, Dracula remains a popular Halloween costume. If you wish to join in this scary tradition, the most popular outfit is one of decaying decadence; a smart suit with bloodstained shirt and cape for example. Whatever you decide to wear, the key element to this outfit will be the teeth; only with vampiric gnashers can you be assured of a fangtastic evening.
Tags: Dracula, Dracula costume, Edward Cullen, Halloween costume, John Polidori, Vlad the Impaler
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November 12th, 2009
The Little Ghost: The simplest, but still one of the most effective Halloween costumes for kids. The basic set up of a lightly tailored sheet with bat wing arms, eye and mouth holes, plus a painted on face reminiscent of Casper is a guaranteed winner.
Pumpkin: Dark green tights complete with puffball orange top with black felt shapes sewn on to create the Jack O’Lantern’s face. A green hat for a stalk sets the costume off nicely. For those feeling a bit lazy with the sewing machine, this costume can be purchased easily ready made.
Headless horseman: A tricky one, the basic costume is really an old shirt of Dad’s and some smart trousers. However, by placing a coathanger above the child’s head to support the shirt, you can create an illusion of headlessness. Eyeholes are made through the button openings at the front of the shirt and a football, painted with a face, makes an excellent prop head.
Mummy: This costume is a lot of fun for a Halloween party. With as many bandages as you can get your hands on, wrap your little one from head to foot, leaving room for eye, nose and mouth holes. Don’t wrap too tight or the costume will be uncomfortable, and anyway a couple of trailing bandages just adds to the effect. Fake blood effects really set this outfit off.
A Witch: The basic costume is black, although you may wish to rag the sleeves of a top or the skirt of the costume to create that ‘just left the hovel’ effect. This costume is all about the props: warts, fake noses and broomsticks.
Tags: children's Halloween costumes, children's Halloween outfits, Halloween costumes for kids, Halloween outfits for kids, Kids Halloween costumes, Kids Halloween outfits
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