As you are busily gearing up to get out and celebrate Halloween with your friends and family, perhaps you’ve actually wondered where on earth did this somewhat bizarre holiday come from?  Who thought of trick or treating?  Why do we dress up in costumes anyway?  For all you curious folks, we’ve compiled a top 10 listing of the most important details of the history of Halloween.  The holiday has changed a lot through history but one fact will always remain the same, Halloween is one of the most beloved holidays we celebrate every year and is considered to be the 2nd most commercially successful holiday celebrated in the U.S.  As you don your best Halloween costume and hit the streets to do some serious trick or treating, here are some fun facts for you to keep in mind! 

Pumpkins:  Pumpkins are plentiful in the U.S. and are actually indigenous to the Western hemisphere.  Normally harvested in October, pumpkins are most commonly orange, but these members of the gourd family also can be found in green, yellow, white, blue and tan!  When the Irish immigrated to the U.S. they had been formerly making lanterns with scary faces in them out of turnips to use on ‘All Hallows Eve’, but they quickly switched to pumpkins because they were far easier to carve than turnips and were more readily available.  A Halloween tradition was born!

Jack-o-Lanterns: The legend of the Jack-o-Lantern is actually based on a man named Jack.  Legend states that a miserly, angry as well as evil man named Jack liked to play pranks on his fellow townspeople.  One day Jack decided to mess with the devil himself and tricked him, trapping him up in a tree.  Jack circled the tree trunk with crosses and other religious symbols and would not let the devil escape until he agreed that he would never take Jack’s soul into hell.  Of course the devil had no choice but to agree to this bargain and he was allowed to go free.  When Jack eventually died, he was far too evil to go to heaven but the devil was true to his bargain and did not take Jack’s soul into hell.  Jack was forced to roam the earth for eternity.  The devil did leave Jack with an endlessly burning ember, which Jack placed inside a turnip lantern to carry on his way as he eternally searched for his final resting place.  The tradition of the lit Jack-o-Lantern carries on to this day!

Halloween Parties:  Back in ancient days, villagers would gather on All Hallow’s Eve for a celebration called Samhain, which marked the end of the Harvest and the beginning of their new year, which was November 1st.  Large bonfires would be made and various rituals would be performed around these, including throwing the bones of slaughtered animals into the fire as an offering.  This celebration was also thought to honor the dead, which these people believed could roam the earth freely in spiritual form on this night.  It became commonplace to dress as one were dead in an effort to fool the spirits in hopes that any malevolent amongst them would leave them alone.

Immigrants:  Most of the traditions we have surrounding Halloween come from the Irish or other European immigrants who brought their ancient customs with them when they immigrated to the U.S.  Halloween is an eclectic mixture of customs of the Irish, Catholic and the Romans.  In particular, the highly superstitious Celts gave us many of the ideas for what we now know as Halloween.  The Celts believed that the lines between the living and the dead were completely blurred on October the 31st and they were fearful of any mischief or problems that might be caused by these spirits when they returned.

Ghosts:  Because of the ancient beliefs that the spirits of the deceased were out running rampant on All Hallows Eve, Halloween will always have a close association with ghosts and spirits.  Throughout history it has been common to tell ghost stories and folk tales involving spirits around the time of Halloween.  These traditions have carried on today and it is common for people to create and visit attractions that are designed to appear ‘haunted’ as part of a way to celebrate Halloween.

Monsters:  Aside from ghosts, over the years many other monsters have become associated with Halloween.  Two of the most common are vampires and werewolves.  Vampires are part of ancient folklore that tried to explain away why random plagues would cause groups of mysterious deaths in various villages.  Superstitious people thought that these deaths must be due to a newly deceased person being actually ‘undead’ and rising from the crypt in order to feast on the blood of the living in order to maintain their life force.  Potential werewolves, another mythological being, were picked out from amongst others by features such as uni-brows, hairy palms and having a middle finger that was longer than the other digits.

Costumes:  The first Halloween costumes were made in Ireland and were made of various types of make up and animal heads or skins.  These costumes were made in an effort to ward off evil spirits, but during the celebration of All Hallows Eve, were also used in the ceremonies that were performed during various festivities.  Fortunes were often told and it was common for various rituals to be performed during this time.  Nowadays, although scary costumes are still worn on Halloween, the variety of costumes you will see cover many different categories including superheroes, pop stars, humorous costumes and historical figures as well.

Witches:  The word witch comes from the Old Saxon word ‘wica’, which actually means ‘wise one’.  In ancient days, witches were originally considered to be healers who were very familiar with the use of herbs and other remedies to help the sick and otherwise afflicted.  As Christianity spread throughout Europe, the church clergy unfairly labeled these ‘healers’, calling them devil worshipers or sorcerers, even though that was hardly the case.  Early immigrants that still believed these old ancient superstitions regarding witches brought these rumors with them into the U.S.

Trick or Treating: In the ancient days of Scotland and Ireland, it was common practice on All Hallows eve for the poor or less fortunate to go to the homes of more affluent people and offer prayers for the dead in exchange for food or money.  This practice was once again brought to the states by immigrants and eventually evolved into the custom of trick or treating, as we know it today.

Candy: Candy is the preferred ‘treat’ of trick or treaters, the most favored of all being chocolate bars.  The number one chocolate bar favorite amongst trick or treaters is Snickers.  Consumers will spend over two billion dollars on Halloween candy this year. Over twenty five percent of all candy purchased annually in the U.S. is bought for Halloween purposes.

Halloween is one of the most beloved holidays out there.  Knowing a little bit of the facts surrounding its magical history will help you to understand and enjoy it all the more!  Happy Halloween!

Each year at this time thousands of new Halloween costumes hit the store shelves. Costume manufacturer’s produce these costumes hoping to capture the attention (and disposable income) of the consumer. Many of those new costume designs are based on the latest Hollywood movie blockbuster, a trendy children’s TV character or even the hottest video game of the year. This year it’s Angry Bird costumes. Last year it was Lady Gaga costumes. The year before that it was vampire themed costumes … and so it goes. Seems there’s a never ending stream of gimmicks or trendy costumes introduced each Halloween. However, there’s a segment of the market who prefer the more traditional, classic Halloween costume. These are the costumes based mostly on the past 500 years of cultural inspiration. From princesses to witches to pirates, these costumes have been in existence for nearly 500 years and remain popular to this day.

Here’s an infographic that takes a look back at the costumes of the past 500 years — starting with the 16th Century. This Halloween when you’re out trick-or-treating, take a look around. You’ll be amazed at how many of these costumes are still being worn by today’s trick-or-treaters!

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.  Halloween makeup 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!

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!

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!       

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!  

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!

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.

I really think it’s important to give your kids something to eat before they head out. For us, pizza on Halloween night has been a tradition that’s been in my family for years. It’s usually a pretty hectic day and the kids don’t want to sit down to a big dinner when they’re biting at the bit to get their costumes on. During the month of October I’m usually always making some kind of Halloween treat – either for the kid’s school parties or just treats to have around the house for my children and their friends.

There are two cookie recipes that I have made every October for the last eight years and plan to keep making then for years to come. The first are shaped like little ghosts and the second ones are shaped like little pumpkins. They are truly the easiest cookies to make and the kids love them! If you need more for class parties then go ahead and double (or triple) the recipe.

Frightfully Easy Ghost Cookies (look like ghosts)

12 oz. vanilla-flavored candy coating, cut into pieces
1 (1-lb) pkg. peanut butter-filled sandwich cookies (I use Nutter Butter)
64 miniature chocolate chips (4 teaspoons)

- In a small saucepan, melt candy coating over low heat, stirring constantly until smooth.

- Line cookie sheets with waxed paper. Holding cookie with tongs, dip entire cookie into melted coating, letting excess drip off. Lay flat, coated side up, on waxed paper-lined cookie sheets. Place 2 chocolate chips in coating to form eyes. Let stand about 10 minutes until set.

Jack-O’-Lantern Cookies (look like pumpkins)

½ can Pillsbury Vanilla Creamy Supreme Frosting
2 oz. vanilla-flavored candy coating
Orange paste food color
14 crème-filled chocolate sandwich cookies (I use Oreo’s)
Tube of chocolate decorator icing
7 small green gumdrops cut in half

- In a small saucepan, combine frosting and candy coating; melt over low heat, stirring occasionally until smooth. Remove from heat. Stir in desired amount of orange food color.

- Line cookie sheets with waxed paper. Using tongs, dip each cookie in melted frosting mixture, coating completely. Lay flat on paper-lined cookie sheets. Let stand about 10 minutes until set.

- Decorate coated cookies with jack-o’-lantern faces using decorator icing. Top each with 1 gumdrop half for stem.

My daughters love to help make these cookies. I let them draw the faces on the pumpkins with the chocolate icing. They make them spooky, funny, mean and silly. I dip they decorate! It’s a great and easy way to spend some time with your children.

Check out our website for some more wonderful October recipes: Halloween Recipes