If you’ve found yourself on this post, you’re probably looking forward to the scariest day of the year – Halloween. It’s a day and celebration that’s been recognised for many years, and one that countless people the world over look forward to. For some people, it’s Halloween costumes. For others, it’s the Halloween movies.
No matter what you’re looking forward to most, there’s something for everyone to enjoy on this terrifying (and terrific) day. Let’s take a look at some of the most commonly asked questions surrounding Halloween, and the various components that are involved in celebrating it.
What Is Halloween?
Halloween is an annual celebration observed in many countries around the world. It is a day where people celebrate and share in all things scary and spooky. It gives people an opportunity to dress up in their favourite spine-chilling costumes, set up some frightening decorations, and revel in the opportunity to scare and be scared. Some less common names for Halloween include Allhalloween, All Hallows’ Eve, and All Saints’ Eve.
When Is Halloween?
Halloween is celebrated every year on October 31st. This is the official Halloween date. But, those who are more passionate about it celebrate during the entire week leading up to the official date. This is often referred to as Halloweek.
Is Halloween A Holiday?
Halloween is not recognised as an official public holiday in South Africa. Although it is seen as a day to be celebrated by many, businesses, schools, and other organisations are still open on October 31st.
Why Do We Celebrate Halloween?
There are various reasons for Halloween celebrations in the modern day. The most common of those is the opportunity for people to dress up in their favourite Halloween costumes, gather with friends, and enjoy a day of festivities that puts a smile on their faces (and a fright in the mix here and there).
Dating back, the tradition of Halloween first began from the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain. People at the festival would wear costumes and light bonfires to keep ghosts away. In the eighth century, Pope Gregory III declared November 1 as All Saints’ Day, a time to honour all saints. This day began including some of the traditions of Samhain, and soon after that, the evening before was recognised as All Hallows Eve.
Halloween Costume Ideas
One of the most popular traditions of Halloween is dressing up in a scary/iconic costume. There are endless Halloween costumes that you could choose to embrace and scare people with. Little Red Riding Hood, Men in Black, and the cast of Scooby Doo are just some ideas to spark your imagination. Head to your nearest costume store or see how good your hands are at making these 12 DIY Halloween costumes made with household items.
Halloween Movies
Most movie streaming services and TV channels start showing Halloween movies from the beginning of October. You can look forward to classics like Scream and Friday the 13th to modern thrillers like The Black Phone. Sit back, (try to) relax, and enjoy our picks of Halloween Movies – The 12 best picks for a thrilling night in.
Halloween Decorations
Another way to add to the spirit of Halloween is through decorations. You can get really creative and test your handiwork with some recyclable items. Get some inspiration from our 10 creative DIY Halloween decoration ideas and get your house looking haunted this Halloween.
Conclusion
Once all the other Halloween boxes are ticked, don’t forget to add fun Halloween games to play this spooky season. Enjoy the day of thrills and scares that only happens once a year!
