HALLOWEEN COSTUMES

For anyone in their 40s and 50s the idea of halloween costumes can seem like something from another era. Halloween is now a big event and has grown massively since the 70s and early 80s. Even though it has grown in popularity there are still a few fundamental ingredients that go into celebrating the scariest night of the year. Just becuase the decorations are bigger and better does not mean that the traditional outfits and games should be ignored.

HALLOWEEN COSTUMES

The first thing to remember about halloween is that it is not just for children. Even busy parents can enjoy the celebration and dressing up will give the kids a laugh. Seeing parents dreesed up in a halloween costume will generate lots of excitment and something to talk about with their friends. It is also a sort of “green light” for children who maybe a little nervous about the evening itself . If parents are getting dressed up then it must be OK.

CARE OF HALLOWEEN COSTUMES

The first thing we recommend when choosing a halloween costume is to think back to last year. Hopefully you stored your outfit in a safe place and mended any small tears or stains before putting it away.

There is no need to go to the expense of getting a new costume every year. If you have children it is more than likely that you will have fancy dress gear for various events, such as school plays. Why not get a sealed storage box and keep all the family costumes in one
place. It will save money in the long run.

HALLOWEEN COSTUME ACCESSORIES

Halloween costumes do not have to be elaborate or expensive to be effective. For many parents halloween fancy dress was based on variations of a white sheet with holes for the eyes and mouth. If you stick to a basic costume you can liven it up with accessories and make up. Some white make up and a bit of “blood” ozing from a wound can transform a look.

Whatever you decide to dress up as, try to be creative. Adding a few accessories or taking a different angle on a particular theme can make your costume stand out. If you are going to a party as a couple then you can consider some alternative themes. For example you may want to go a a famous movie couple. Dorothy would never bee seen without toto, for example.

Whatever theme or type of fancy dress costume you decide upon it is important that you are realistic about what you can afford and also how good your greative talents are. you should also have a think about how much time you have to put into assembling your costume. if you have a busy schedule around Halloween then it might be best to buy as much of the costume as possible. Even with the best of intentions if you do not have the time to stitch and sew then there is not point in planning a show stopping costume.

ORGANISING A HALLOWEEN PARTY

No matter what type of event or party you are organising it is essential that the basics such as invitations, decorations, food and drink are organised. At Halloween there are a few extras to keep in mind.

SAFETY
Becuase the night itself is dark and children are going from door to door safety should be at the top of everyone’s mind. Fireworks, crossing roads and a general lack of routine mean parental supervision is essential.

FIREWORKS
Even though some fireworks are sold as “easy to use” make sure you treat them with respect. do not be “over familiar” with fireworks no matter how often you have used them.

PREVENTING HALLOWEEN FIREWORK ACCIDENTS

Taking measutes to ensure everyone is safe at Halloween does not mean that guests and children will not have a good time, in fact
quite the contrary, a safe halloween party is an enjoyable party. From experience there are three main areas or groups of accidents, namely

Those relating to fireworks
Those relating to road safety
Those relating to incorrectly sized halloween costumes

Dealing with the first category the following should be adhered to

1. Minors, and by that we mean people under the age f 18 should not be allowed to purchase fireworks
2. Ensure any fireworks you purchase come from a recognised source and have all the appropriate safety marks
4. Follow all instructions carefully
5. Store the fireworks in a metal box
6. Never put fireworks in your pocket
7. Have a bucket of water or fire exteinguisher close at hand
8. Never throw a firework
9. Never return to a firework that has bben lit but failed to ignite
10.Keep pets indoors

The list of precautions above may seem very obvious but generally it is when people skip the basics that accidents occur.

HALLOWEEN DECORATIONS

There is no doubt that halloween costumes are top of the agenda when it comes to organising the celebrations but decorations must come a close second, particularly if you are hosting a party.

There are lots of decorations available online, including headstones, dead bats and zombie figures but there is one that you will definitely need and that is a pumpkin for carving.

When you are selecting a pumpkin to be used as a halloween decoration then keep the following points in mind

1. Don’t grab the first pumpkin you see
2. Try and find one that is relatively smooth, without too many lumps and bumps
3. Look for signs of damage that may result in the pumpkin rotting quickly.
4. Give the pumpkin a good clean
5. If you have young children you may want to paint the pumpkin instead of carving it
6. If you do decide to piant the pumpkin then try and apply an “undercoat” of orange paint.

If you like the idea of using pumpkins as decorations why not go the whole way and have a pumpkin themed party. There are some great halloween pumpkin costumes for kids and you do not have to worry about the “scary factor”