We’re flying through October at top speed, and the closer we get to the end of the year, the more stores we have prepping for the Christmas season. Christmas is my favorite holiday. I enjoy the lights, the movies, the food, the decorations, the spirit of family. I’d pretty much give up any day of the year for it to be Christmas every day. But I wouldn’t give up Halloween.
It’s easy to forget about Halloween and Thanksgiving when you have Christmas shoved in your face every place you go. With the decorations come the pressures to purchase gifts, mentally prepare for the meals you’ll need to cook, and tackle the list of things you need to get done before year’s end. This much stress takes the enjoyment out of the holiday season until we’re practically screaming for it to be over and done.
But I’m not one to let the spirit of the holidays get lost or forgotten. So with 13 days remaining until Halloween, here are 13 ways to get into the spirit again.
1. Read up on the history of Halloween
Did you know that Halloween can be traced back to the ancient Celtic’s festival of Samhain? The history of this holiday is fascinating and full of information we don’t normally discuss. Have you wondered why we dress up in costume, or why we bob for apples? You can read all about it here.
2. Decorate around the house
3. Watch Halloween movies
Every year ABC Family (now Freeform) puts on their annual 13 Days of Halloween movie marathon. You can either tune in, or check out the selection available on Netflix. Some of my favorite Halloween movies are Hocus Pocus, Beetlejuice, and Addams Family Values. If you’re looking for something a bit more intense, keep an eye out for horror movies playing on AMC.
4. Read creepypasta
‘Tis the season to be scared out of your wits, folks. Creepypasta, or internet horror stories, is a great way to get your scare on if you’re like me and can’t handle watching horror movies. Both of these websites offer great submissions that are conveniently rated, so you have a sense of what you’re getting into ahead of time.
5. Visit a haunted house or corn maze
Why read about horror when you can live it? Research your local haunts, gather a group of friends, and see who can go the longest without jumping of fright. Just remember not to attack any of the actors, who are just doing their job.
6. Bring harvest scents to your home
7. Bake pumpkin pie
Get your tastes buds going with this traditional fall treat. Pinterest is a great source for dessert recipes, and this one is a particular favorite of mine.
8. Order a pumpkin-flavored drink
9. Visit a pumpkin patch
This is probably the second most obvious Halloween to-do on the list. And as cliche as it is to visit the pumpkin patch each year, it’s still fun to pick out the perfect pumpkin along with all the other families doing the same. It’s also a great backdrop for fall-themed pictures. Grab a camera and wear your best smile, and you’ve got some great memories at the patch to post on social media.
10. Carve a pumpkin
And now we have the most obvious Halloween activity. You spent all that time picking out a pumpkin, so choose your carving design with care. While it’s easy to fall back on those cheesy store-bought stencils, it’s more creative to google search a stencil to print or hand draw. It opens up the possibilities so you can make your pumpkin unique and speak to your personality.
11. Create a costume
12. Attend a Halloween party
You put together that awesome costume, now find somewhere to show it off! If you don’t have family or friends who will be hosting a party, search the local bars and restaurants where you live. You’d be surprised by the number of places hosting themed-nights at this time of year. You might even win a costume contest!
13. Gobble up candy
Real talk. We all loved trick-or-treating because we loved to see all the good candy we could score in one night. It might be frowned upon for adults to go begging door-to-door, but that doesn’t mean you can’t indulge. Buy a bag from Costco and eat up (in moderation, please). The best part is you get first pick of all the good candies, so no more getting stuck with the unpopular flavors (I’m talking about you Almond Joy).
These are just a number of ways to celebrate Halloween, but there is no right or wrong way to do so. Enjoy the holiday anyway you choose, so long as you’re having fun then I think that’s pretty great.
Have Halloween plans already? Feel free to let me know! I’ll be at the Hollywood Bowl watching Nightmare Before Christmas live. Maybe I’ll see you there.
-Ciara
Please feel free to send any unloved almond joys my way
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