Halloween
For many people, Halloween  marks the start of the holiday season, if by "holiday season" you mean the non-stop festival of sweets, parties and fun that extends from early October through New Year's Day. Although it has origins in several religions, Halloween is largely accepted as a secular celebration of sweets and spooks. Like many other holidays, there is a huge shopping component to Halloween, from Halloween decorations to host gifts to safety gear for small trick-or-treaters. The guides below will help you find anything you need to make Halloween an eerily good time. |
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Costumes
Halloween is all about dressing up! You can get creative or go with something traditional. Whatever you're planning, the Internet is a great place to find some unique Halloween costumes. Make sure you have everything you need: costumes, wigs, makeup or face paint and accessories. Whether you're planning to purchase a costume or are looking to make one, the guides below are sure to get the ideas flowing.
Halloween Entertaining
Halloween is a great time of year for parties, not to mention all the haunted houses and slumber parties. All this ghoulish entertainment requires you decorate your house to the correct fright level for your theme. Be nice on the kiddies, now. And don't forget the pumpkins, treats, Halloween music and scary stories -- no party is complete without them.
Safety
There are a lot of things you can do to promote a safe, fun Halloween for everyone. Despite what some might believe, the biggest danger comes from the dark, not from poisoned candy or malevolent pranksters. Make sure everyone in your family is highly visible at night to keep them safe while trick-or-treating.
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Glow Sticks
Glow sticks are fun, kids won't mind wearing them, and they make kids visible to cars. |
Reflective Tape
Reflective tape can add some highly reflective stripes to any costumes. These come in lots of colors so you can probably find something to match any costume. |
Flashing Lights
Some armbands come with blinking LEDs. Usually worn by joggers and cyclists, but great for anyone active at night. |
Glow-in-the-Dark Face Paint
Glow paint doesn't last as long as a glow stick, since it needs to be exposed to light for a while before glowing. Still might be fun for the time it lasts. |
Halloween Flashlight
There are plenty of inexpensive, fun Halloween-themed flashlights out there. Some come with a cord to prevent loss. Make sure to put in fresh batteries! |
Remember, accidents can happen, even with good lighting. Scrapes, bumps and bruises are almost inevitable when small children walk around in the dark. It's best to be prepared, so keep some of these on hand. You might also want to read up on first aid kits and make sure your kit is well stocked.
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Fun Bandages
Scrapes and cuts hurt less when you have fun, printed bandages to cover them. |
Instant Cold Pack Falling down on Halloween is no fun, but if it happens make sure you put a cold pack on the injury right away. |
All-Purpose Stomach Aid In case someone overdoes it on the candy! |
If you're planning a party, make sure to take a few basic precautions to ensure your guests' safety without wrecking the spirit of the celebration. This will ensure everyone enjoys the party, without worry.
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Luminaria
Keep your walkway well-lit without adding too much light with some well-placed luminarias. |
Fish Bowl Planning on serving alcohol at your party? Tell your guests to put their keys in a fishbowl and then hide it. That way, no one can get behind the wheel without your approval. |
Snacks
If you're serving alcohol, make sure to also serve plenty of snacks as well. |
Fire Extinguisher
You should always have one handy. On a night with so many lit candles around, you should make sure you know where it is, that it is in working order, and how to use it. |
External Links
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