It is basically October and Halloween all year round at HorrorStumble. But when the date does arrive, it will be more so.
Not everybody celebrates this occasion and that is fine. There are many reasons one wouldn’t or shouldn’t (religious, cultural, personal, etc.). Or merely as a matter of preference and priorities, one might not be that into it. But for the rest of us, it is another opportunity to make things special and rejoice within the moment. Better not to miss out on that.
You can go all in on it, making purchases and preparations for it. Depending on your budget and how you are in terms of time and energy. But chances are that you’ve got it covered regardless, with countless events and content made for this date (actual and/or virtual) that you can easily access while the weather gets spooky for it.
Quite fittingly, October, the month of Halloween, coincides with Autumn. A rainy and windy season with gray skies, falling leaves, and chilly temperatures. Which, in nature, represents death and, in the spirit, the deepening of the soul. (Astrologically, it also marks the arrival of the Scorpio season, the darkest sign of the Zodiac.)
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Although widely celebrated today, with modern twists and adaptations, reduced to fun activities, Halloween goes far back in time…
Apparently, as it’s told, Halloween has its origins as a pagan holiday to welcome the harvest after the summer. It is also said that lighting fires and wearing scary costumes were rituals meant to scare off ghosts. Real or imagined? Who knows. This time of the year is one of haunting beauty, for sure. Some would say that it is when the veil between the living and the dead thins, so they may cross over. And likewise, practicing magic in regard to the spirit realms may prove more efficient. Monsters and other frightening creatures, including symbols of bad luck such as black cats, could take over.
Carving pumpkins into Jack-o-Lanterns became emblematic of this holiday. Not only do pumpkins abound to turn or mix into drinks, meals, desserts, and snacks in your cooking, but also to craft with them as an essential part of the celebration. Allegedly, carving pumpkins into Jack-o-Lanterns began as a way to keep the soul of a man named Jack from being taken to Hell. However, as Heaven wouldn’t have it, it was left to wander. And Jack-o-Lanterns continued to be made in hopes to ward off evil beings.
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Nowadays, whether you believe in all this stuff or not, there are a few activities you can partake in to celebrate Halloween, at the end of the month or any time during October.
• Pumpkins
You’ve heard it. To the kitchen with this ingredient! Pumpkin spice, pumpkin juice, pumpkin latte, pumpkin soup, pumpkin purée, pumpkin cake, pumpkin pie, pumpkin chips, pumpkin seeds, PUMPKIN! Whatever your taste buds like. Plus, pumpkin carving if you may!
• Themed Decorations
Anything from cheap and simple (and even tacky) to expensive and elaborate (and even luxurious) decorations to make the inside and the outside of your home look and feel as part of the aesthetics. Black and orange are the go-to colors but you can try other color combinations that also work.
• Wearing Costumes
Do you enjoy dressing up? You can dress up as practically ANYTHING! Get in the shoes of different characters or reveal your own hidden character through what you wear. Day-to-day fashion can get boring and repetitive, not to mention restrictive, but you can go wild with costumes!
• Trick or Treating (or Extra Candy)
Candy, given its high amount of sugar and artificiality, can be considered a guilty pleasure. Something forbidden in strict cases. So having lots of candy is a form of indulging mischief. Yet, as long as you are well nourished from other sources and brush your teeth afterward, it is relatively harmless. And hey, if they’re being handed out, if you can go Trick or Treating, that’s a wonderful experience of sharing.
• Dinner/Cocktail/Dance Parties
Maybe you’re social or have a few close ones you’d be happy to share with for a few hours. Maybe throwing or going to parties is your thing. And if such, get ready for it! There are amazing party ideas that can be implemented that set and maintain the perfect mood. Impressive hosts, chefs, mixologists, and DJs with a flair for drama steal the show. But regular folks can still make it memorable!
• Scary Movie/Show night
If you’d rather not do much or, on the contrary, you still crave more after everything, you can pick out scary movies or shows to watch. Watch one or more films or episodes. Keep it casual or make it a marathon. Oldies or new releases. Something you have not seen before or something you’d be content to see again. It is up to you what would make it significant.
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In order to ensure that celebrations do not turn into regrets and are instead carried with fondness, some degree of safety must be put in place. There are measures that are not killjoys unless you have a serious issue with boundaries. In which case, that is a YOU problem.
- Do not do anything illegal.
(Trespassing, stealing, destroying others' property, etc.)
- Put brakes on extremes.
(When unusual or inappropriate behavior is indeed getting out of hand.)
- Exercise kindness and respect.
(Have a conscience if you’re pulling pranks or making jokes, not everything is justified or excusable.)
- Be wary of strangers.
(Malicious and ill-intended people exist and will take advantage of any situation they can.)
- If it’s messing with your health, it’s not worth it.
(Mental, emotional, physical… Taking care of yourself comes first.)
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With all that said, wishing you a fun October/Halloween!
Do you LOVE Halloween? What are you doing for Halloween?