HALLOWEEN CREATIVITY
October 27, 2022
It's that time of year again! The leaves are changing, the fall is upon us, and Halloween here. For many, Halloween is a time to enjoy creative costumes, spooky décor, and maybe even a frightful movie. But did you know that Halloween also has a long community involvement and cultural significance history?
This blog post will explore how communities have used Halloween as a platform for creativity, self-expression, and coming together. We will also share some last-minute costume inspiration or knowledge about this festive holiday.
Halloween Community Culture
Halloween has always been a holiday that encourages community participation. Some of the most popular Halloween traditions, like pumpkin carving, bring people together.
Carve pumpkins
Pumpkin carving is an excellent example of how Halloween can be creative and communal. This tradition started in the 1800s when Irish immigrants brought the practice of carving turnips, gourds, and potatoes to the United States.
Over time, pumpkins became the preferred medium for this spooky art form, and today, they're an essential part of Halloween décor. If you're not into carving, you can also paint pumpkins or use markers to draw on them, or you consider wrapping One Long Zipper Pouches around them to create a unique holiday monster.
You could also host a carving party. Invite your friends, family, or neighbors to see who can create the most creative or gruesome jack-o'-lantern. It's also a great opportunity to bond with your loved ones.
Trick-or-treating
It is another Halloween tradition that's all about collaboration with the community. This activity originated in ancient Celts, early Roman Catholics and 17th-century British politics, where children would dress up in costumes and knock on doors saying ‘trick or treat’.
Trick-or-treating eventually made its way to the United States, where it became a popular activity for kids. Today, trick-or-treating is still fun for kids to actively involve with people living around them, meet them, and collect some tasty treats.
Of course, trick-or-treating isn't just for kids. Adults can have fun, too. In recent years, more and more adults have been participating in Halloween activities like costume parties, hayrides, and haunted house tours.
So, now, if you're looking for some inspiring ideas, check out these incredible examples of Halloween creativity:
Make a scarecrow
It is a classic fall activity that can easily be turned into a Halloween decoration. Stuff an old pair of jeans with hay, add a plaid shirt, and top it off with an old pumpkin for a head. Give your scarecrow a spooky makeover by adding some fake blood or black clothing.
Decorate your front door
This is how you welcome trick-or-treaters and show your holiday spirit. You can hang streamers, decorate Halloween lights, or add a wreath to your door.
Make a Halloween banner
Find some black construction paper and cut out different shapes like ghosts, bats, or spiders. Then string them together to make a banner you can hang up inside or outside.
Set up a spooky scene in your yard
Decorate for Halloween if you have some extra space in your yard. You can use props to create a graveyard scene or set up a haunted house. Get creative and have fun with it. And if you have any of our ZIPIT Monsters they are guaranteed to fit right in!
Hang Halloween lights
Add some holiday cheer to your home. Find Halloween-themed lights. Put them up around your windows or porch for a festive touch.
Make a ghost out of sheets
This is a classic decoration that's easy to make. Drape a white sheet over a hanger and cut out two eye holes. Then hang it up in your window or front door for a spooky effect.
Hang Halloween paper lanterns
Add some light and color to your home. Find paper lanterns at nearby stores. Hang them up around your house for a festive touch.
Convert your everyday pencil case or backpack for Trick-or-treating
This easy DIY project is perfect for kids. decorate your child’s pencil case or backpack with Halloween-themed stickers. Or get a ZIPIT Monster pouch, box or backpack to tag along to gobble up the treats as they are handed out.
Set up a photobooth
Add fun to your Halloween party. Set up a backdrop and props, then let your guests take turns posing for pictures. You can even create a Halloween-themed photo album to remember the event.
Witch's hat Luminaries
Cut the bottom off of a clean gallon milk jug. Turn it upside down and paint it black. Next, use a hot glue gun to attach a strip of LED lights around the rim. Finally, cut out a star shape from black construction paper and glue it to the front of the hat.
Mummy Mason jars
A cute and easy decoration you can make with mason jars. Wrap them in white gauze or fabric and add googly eyes. These make great candle holders or vases for Halloween flowers.
Halloween and Cultural Appropriation
As Halloween has become more commercialized, it's also become more popular worldwide. However, some people have criticized Halloween for being "too American" and appropriating other cultures.
For example, the tradition of dressing up in costumes on Halloween has its roots in Celtic culture. Celts would dress up in costumes made of animal skins and leave food and drink out for spirits they believed were visiting from the other world.
Today, people of all cultures dress up in costumes on Halloween. However, some criticize costume choices that appropriate other cultures, such as Native American headdresses, Geisha dresses, and "Mexican" stereotypes like sombreros and ponchos.
When choosing a Halloween costume, one must be aware of the potential for cultural appropriation. If you need to figure out whether or not your costume choice is appropriate, do some research or ask a friend from that culture for their opinion.
Parting Thoughts
Halloween is a holiday with deep roots in community involvement and cultural importance. So, whether you're looking for some last-minute costume inspiration or want to learn more about this festive holiday, we hope this blog post has been informative and engaging.
And we invite you to share your ZIPIT Halloween fun at #just-zipit