Halloween Express

With Halloween this Friday everyone is excited and running around picking up last minute costumes and candy, but in all our rushing around let’s not forget one of the most important priority’s for children - safety!  All children can think about is getting out there Friday night and grabbing up all that sugary candy in the time frame they get for trick-or-treating.  The heck with the little orange plastic pumpkins to carry their candy, now a days kids want a pillowcase to use because they can get a lot more candy in one of those! 

So when the kids (especially younger children) are getting ready to run out your door Friday night to head out into the neighborhood for some good old trick-or-treating it’s going to be up to us as adults to make sure our children are safe.  You can tell them time and time again to look both ways before crossing the street or don’t go into anybody’s house they don’t know, but all that goes in one ear and out the other Halloween night.  So again, you have to be their eyes, ears and voice of reason while you follow them around the neighborhood. 

Here are a few ways that we as parents can do to protect our children and keep them safe this Halloween:

• If you’re driving, you have to drive slowly and be aware of the children.  Watch for them to run out between cars or even the middle of the street.  When backing down your driveway be careful and look twice to make sure it’s clear.
• Have your child wear clothing with reflective markings or tape.  If your child’s costume doesn’t have any, have them wear a glow stick around their neck or pin it to their costume. 
• Check your child’s costume and make sure it’s not dragging the ground where they could trip and hurt themselves.  Face paint is always a good substitution for a mask, however if they do wear one make sure they have nose and mouth openings and large enough eye holes so they can see clearly.
• Have them bring their candy home first before eating anything.  Go throught it with them and throw out anything “homemade”, wrappers that are opened, or anything else you’re not sure about.

Just remember your kids can have a great time trick-or-treating AND be safe at the same time.  And because safety is not your child’s priority Halloween night, it has to be yours!  Happy Haunting!

Every year the amount of money spent by consumers on Halloween costumes, decorations and candy rises.  Even with the economy the way it is, experts predict spending for this Halloween will leap by double digits.  With everything going on in the world right now the fun and youthfulness of Halloween couldn’t have come at a better time.  The holiday gives everyone a “pass” for the day to slow down, have fun and be a kid again!

The National Retail Federation projects that this year, $5.77 billion (yes, that’s billion with a “B”) will be spent on the holiday, rising from $5.07 billion in 2007, a 14 percent increase.  This is how it breaks down:

• $2.1 billion on costumes
• $1.77 billion on candy
• $1.58 billion on decorations
• $320 million on cards

Halloween sales going up is a good thing here at HalloweenExpress.com.  It just shows that everybody enjoys the Halloween holiday as much as we do!  And who are we to argue with that?  However, HalloweenExpress.com does understand that not everyone has an unlimited budget to spend on Halloween costumes, accessories and decorations, so we’ve come up with a line of “Discount Costumes and Close-Out Costume” items with extra special low prices.  

You’ll find womens costumes such as; Buccaneer Beauty or a Fashion Flapper.

Or perhaps you’re looking for a man’s costume such as; Mark Antony or a Valient Knight.

If super low prices and deep discounts are what you’re looking for be sure to check out our discount Halloween costume section.  You’ll find something for every Halloween enthusiast on your list!

I’m sure there are many people out there today that are afraid of the dark.  I know I am to an extent.  My fears of course are mostly irrational and caused from watching way too many scary movies.  Just think, if there were never any horror films made would you really be that afraid of the dark?  Fear of darkness is known as Achluophobia and it is definitely a real phobia for some people.  The fear is unwarranted and persistent and the reason for a lot of unnecessary distress in many peoples lives.

Horror films have been around since the late 1890’s and since that time have strived to elicit this fear from the viewers (and they do a darn good job of it).  Halloween is known as a time of year when scary movies are in abundance.  It’s the whole Halloween haunting mentality that brings out the ghost hunters and thrill seekers.  Haunted houses, haunted woods, haunted graveyards…they all thrive on darkness and bringing out your deepest fears of the unknown.

Haunted houses are definitely not for you if you have any fear of darkness.  The whole premise revolves around darkened rooms, basements, attics and even darkened corners!  Many people love the fear they get when entering a pitch black haunted house where you don’t know what’s waiting for you in the darkness.  The not knowing is what causes your palms to sweat, your heart rate to speed up and your imagination to run wild.  Me, I think I’ll stick to the good old tractor hay rides and pumpkin patches - you know, the kind of things you do at Halloween during the daytime!       

Safety should be at the top of everyone’s priority list this Halloween.  I’ve talked about it in some of my earlier blogs, but wanted to reiterate how important safety is when out trick-or-treating; whether you’re a child or an adult.  But as adults, we have the responsibility to make sure our children are safe.

How many times have you seen on the news, stories about children being hit by a car on Halloween night?  That breaks my heart when I hear something like that.  For a child Halloween is such an exciting and fun night that sometimes they are so excited to get to the next house that they shoot across the street without thought of even looking both ways.  I’ve seen it many times in my neighborhood (thankfully no cars were coming); especially when kids are following each other and one falls behind.  They dart across the street just trying to catch up with their friends. 

There are many things we as parents can do to protect our children on Halloween night and keep them safe:

• If you’re driving, you have to be aware of the children.  Drive SLOW!  Watch for children to run out between cars or in the middle of the street.  When backing down your driveway be careful and look twice to make sure it is clear.
• Have your child wear clothing with reflective markings or tape.  There are also glow sticks (and similar items) that you can buy to have your child wear around their neck or pin to their costume.  Accompany your child around the neighborhood.  If you can’t, make sure another adult is with them.  As a parent you know if your child is “old” enough to go around the neighborhood with their friends without you, however it helps to have them wear a watch so they know when the trick-or-treat hours are over and when to head home.  Always know exactly where they will be and what route they’re taking.
• When picking out a costume, look for one made of flame-retardant material.
• Check your child’s costume and make sure it’s not dragging the ground where they could trip and hurt themselves.  Face paint is always a good substitution for a mask, however if they do wear a mask make sure they have nose and mouth openings and large enough eye holes so they can see clearly.
• Make sure they know to only go to houses that are well lit and ones that they know someone is home.  They should never enter a stranger’s home.
• Have them bring their candy home first before eating anything.  Go through it with them and throw out anything you’re not sure about.  Have them eat dinner before they go out trick-or-treating - that way they’re not as hungry and won’t be eating all their candy before they get home.  On Halloween night we always order pizza.  It’s such a hectic night with trying to get everyone situated that it just seems easier than fixing dinner – plus they kids love it.  But remember to order early because I think a lot of people do pizza night on Halloween.

I hope these safety tips help and remind you to be extra careful this year. You can find some more here on our website at HALLOWEEN SAFETY TIPS.   As parents, we all want our children to be safe.  Just use common sense on Halloween night.  I think it’s really important that you go out with them, especially for younger children, so that you can be their eyes and ears.  They’re so excited to be running around to all the houses getting candy that safety is not their top priority – so it has to be yours!  

We all know that Halloween is exactly one week from today, but do you know what age old tradition is “celebrated” the night before Halloween? You guessed it - Cabbage Night!  However, many of the adults that look forward to the festivities of Halloween night do not look forward to having to keep watch on Cabbage Night.  That is one night that mostly teenagers look forward to. 

In parts of the U.S. it is known as Cabbage Night, Goosey Night or Doorbell Night and is always on the evening of October 30th.  Tricks like toilet papering yards and houses, powder-bombing and egging cars, and smashing pumpkins are just a few of the tricks played by teenagers on that night.  In Northern England it is also known as Miggy Night, Goosey Night, Tick-Tack Night, Corn Night or Trick Night.  In Liverpool UK, it is known as Mizzie Night. In Ireland, it is called Mischief night and is becoming so popular that teenagers get the week around Halloween off school.  

While reading my Good Housekeeping magazine there was an article from “Ask Heloise” on how to survive the many Halloween pranks we see occur on Cabbage Night.  She suggests that if your property gets trashed try cleaning up in this order:  First, tackle your vehicles; second, your house - front door, steps, windows; third, clear trees, shrubs and lawn. 

You got egged:  If you have egg splattered on your car or house act quickly.  Both yolk and white can corrode painted surfaces.  If your car is egged, hose off the gunk.  Be careful with the shells, rubbing them can cause scratches.  Continue to spray and they’ll loosen and wash away.  If your house is egged, pressure-wash with a hose.  To remove dried egg from siding, mix a teaspoon of enzyme-based detergent in a cup of warm water and apply with a soft brush until it dissolves, then rinse it off.

Toilet-Papered:  Clean this up before it rains.  Wrap duct tape (sticky side out) around the end of a yardstick to pick up small pieces.  Knock wet toilet paper balls out of trees with a broom and sweep up the rest.

Soaped-up Car Windows:  Use lots of water and a soft scrub brush or nonabrasive pad to protect the glass.

There are ways to make your home less of a target for teens on Cabbage Night:

1. Keep exterior lights on all night
2. Bring in any pumpkins that you have on the porch
3. Put cars in the garage or cover them with a tarp
4. Put trash cans, bikes, and lawn equipment inside
5. Keep your pets indoors

To some teens Cabbage Night is like a right of passage and for the most part they’re just out goofing off, having fun and they don’t mean any real harm.  But to the children whose pumpkins they smash or the adults who have to pay to have their car cleaned it doesn’t seem that way.  So play it safe this year on Cabbage Night and be sure to bring in anything from outside that you or your children don’t want damaged.  It’s just one night a year.  We can get through it and then on to the real fun of trick-or-treating on Halloween night!

What is Halloween without all that wonderful, sugar-filled candy?  Ask just about any child what their favorite part of Halloween is and I’m sure you’ll get a hands down vote – it’s the candy!  I know it’s one of my favorites and I’m sure there are a lot of parents that dip into the trick-or-treat bags when their kids aren’t looking. 
In a national survey done by The National Confectioners Association, it shows how adults and kids alike will enjoy their treats this year.

1. Plastic pumpkins with handles remain the trick-or-treating container of choice, followed by plastic bags and pillow cases. You can check out our pumpkin trick or treat bags here: Halloween Trick or Treat Bags
2. Personal favorites will dominate candy purchases with 35% of adults planning to hand out their candy favorites; 21% planning to buy what is on sale and 16% buying their children’s favorites.

3. Almost half of those planning to hand out candy said they decide how many pieces each trick-or-treater will receive, followed by 40% who said would leave it up to trick-or-treaters to make their own selections.

After reading that, I realized that I’m usually a mix between buying what’s on sale and buying my favorite to give out on Halloween night.  I never buy my children’s favorite candy to give out because I know that it would be all gone before Halloween even got here!  If it’s candy that they think is gross, then I don’t have to worry about hiding it so that it doesn’t disappear before Halloween. 

My all time favorite Halloween candy is definitely Candy Corn.  It’s been around for more than 100 years.  The only time I crave it is around Halloween.  It’s weird because at Easter I crave Malted Milk Eggs, Christmas is Peppermint Bark Candy and Halloween is Candy Corn.  I guess you could say it’s a tradition thing with me and candy.  Anyway, did you know that October 30th is National Candy Corn Day?  Isn’t that great!   And get this - more than 35 million pounds of candy corn will be produced this year. That equates to nearly 9 billion pieces! 

Remember, whether you’re buying candy that you like or that you’re children like, it’s better to start buying now.  That way you can get a little at a time and before you know it, you’ll be all ready for those trick-or-treaters.

Did you know that Halloween is one of the oldest holidays?  The American tradition of “trick-or-treating” dates back to the early All Souls Day parades in England.  During the festivities, poor citizens would beg for food and families would give them pastries called “soul cakes” in return for their promise to pray for the family’s dead relatives.  The practice, referred to as “going a-souling” was eventually taken up by children who would visit the houses in their neighborhood and be given drink, food and money. 

In Ireland, where Halloween originated, the day is still celebrated much as it is in the US.  Bonfires are lit and all over the country, children get dressed up in costumes and go trick-or-treating.  Afterwards, most people go to parties with neighbors and friends where they bob for apples, go on treasure hunts and play card games.  A traditional food eaten on Halloween is barmbrack, a kind of fruitcake that can be bought in stores or baked at home.  The Halloween Brack traditionally contains various objects baked into the bread and was used as a sort of fortune telling game.  I love the idea of having a tradition like that!

In various parts of England there is a festival called holy day which falls on  November 4th.  On this night, children play tricks on adults which range from the minor to more serious such as taking garden gates off their hinges. Throughout England, as is common in much of the British Isles, children carve faces or designs into pumpkins. Usually illuminated from within, the lanterns are then displayed in windows in keeping with the night’s theme of fright and horror.  Before the introduction of pumpkin carving from the USA, they would carve large yellow turnips and this is still done today in some areas.

And who can forget the age old tradition of Cabbage Night?  In parts of the U.S. it is known as Cabbage Night, Goosey Night or Doorbell Night and is always on the evening of October 30th .  Tricks like toilet papering yards and houses, powder-bombing and egging cars, and smashing pumpkins are just a few of the tricks played by teenagers on that night.  In Northern England it is also known as Miggy Night, Goosey Night, Tick-Tack night, Corn night or Trick night.  In Liverpool UK, it is known as Mizzie Night. In Ireland, it is called Mischief night and is becoming so popular that teenagers get the week around Halloween off school.  I remember thinking it was pretty cool to go out on Cabbage Night when I was a teenager, but now that I’m older, I’m keenly aware of when Cabbage Night is so that I make sure to pull my car into the garage, bring all the pumpkins inside, and keep all my outside lights on.  Plus, I try not to go out on that night so that my car doesn’t get “egged”.  So remember to watch out for yourself on October 30th  because it’s Cabbage Night!