Life and Style on a Dime (Lily Online Magazine's Blog): Halloween 2012....

Thursday 25 October 2012

Halloween 2012....

Image: Blush Printables

Halloween is a good excuse for a bit of G rated, inexpensive family fun...
Too many have presumed what is actually quite a fun community celebration of the seasons is some gruesome Hollywoodized day. It's quite sad that our society takes its history and traditions from Horror movies and don't actually learn the true meanings. So here is some information to help explain it.

Image: Carbonated Halloween 1924

Families have been celebrating All Hallows by decorating and having a fun feast for generations. Just take a look at this photograph from 1924.

These adorable vintage Halloween postcards depict a time before Halloween celebrations were associated with 'Horror' movies.

Image: Riptheskull

So what is a Jack-O-Lantern and Trick or Treating?

Carving a Jack-O-Lantern specifically to celebrate Halloween was first recorded in 1866. There is a common belief that its carving came from Ireland, where turnips, mangel-wurzel or beets were supposedly used in the 19th century. In Scotland and Ireland, "guising" what we know as Trick or Treating children going from door to door in disguise is traditional, and a gift in the form of food, coins or "apples or nuts for the Halloween party" (in more recent times chocolate) is given out to the children dressed up in various costumes) In the Scottish Highlands jack-o'-lanterns were used by these’ guisers and often carved with grotesque faces to represent spirits or goblins". In these areas, 31 October–1 November was known as Samhain and it was seen as a time when spirits or fairies were particularly active. Some claim that the Jack-o'-lanterns originated with All Saints' Day (1 November)/All Souls' Day (2 November) and that they were sometimes set on windowsills to keep the harmful spirits out of one's home.

Why not put some STYLE into your Halloween?

Create a show stopping feather wreath! Image: Love Maegan

Halloween can be infused with as much style as all your other home decor ideas. Ok, there might be a little bit of sillyness thrown in, but there are plenty of ways to maximise the whimsy and avoid the tacky.

Some silhouettes are a simple way to add some spooky.
Image: Timmygunz

Here in Australia it is often referred to as an American tradition. However, Halloween or All Hallows is thought to have originated in ancient Celtic times when the Festival of Shamhain (Summers End) was celebrated. Not nearly as morbid and gruesome as many Hollywood movies would lead us to believe. The tradition goes on to say that on this evening the veil between the spiritual and the human world is thinnest.....hence the ghosts.

Brian Negas Lacock Abbey

It is a perfect time to remember your lost loved ones, maybe leave them a little note or a gift, create a special shrine to them out of things they love, and just maybe they will come for a visit. If nothing else it’s an opportunity to pay your respects and remember them, which adds quite a beautiful aspect to Halloween that you might never have considered.

Create a glowing centre piece collect all your candlesticks and place them
on a mirror tray Image: Love Maegan

In Australia we live in the Southern hemisphere, so our seasons don’t align with the traditions of Halloween, being the Harvest Autumn Equinox associated with pumpkins, scarecrows and wreaths made of corn husks.

Image: Susan402

In Australia we have entered the Spring Equinox (started 23 Sept) and are approaching the beginning of Summer Equinox (starting 21 Dec)...so our Australian themed Halloween might also include all things SPRING! Flowers, green foliage, floral garlands and wreaths, flower pot arrangements, daisy chains. If you have a little girl they will love this.

Try making the base of the wreath out of fallen branches. I made this from branches off my Silver Birch tree in the front garden. Now I just need to add fresh flowers on All Hallows Eve.

I made wreaths with my nephews one year with a collection of flowers from my garden and they loved it! This year my 3yr old son is old enough to get in on the fun too! He loves to collect flowers so he will have a ball!

Make floral garlands to wear or hang on your front door from
your home grown flowers Image: Coco + Kelley

Why not have fun making crafts with the kids, decorate the house, have a little party, dress up, go trick or treating, and maybe learn a little about this tradition along the way.

Pumpkin table decoration. I bought these from the local supermarket and the leaves are from the garden.

You can make decorations for the cost of a trip to the green grocer for pumpkins and some orange and black paper from Spotlight, Lincraft or an Art supplies store.

All you need to make this Halloween bunting is coloured paper, glue and string....
and some imagination. Image: Bunches and bits {karina}

Print out your own Halloween images from the millions online and create your own Halloween theme.

Image: Constancetaylor

If your kids are a bit bigger they might like to help you make or decorate cakes, chocolates or truffles like these.

Image: Ana_fuji - Boo Pops

Image: Ana_fuji -Pumpkin truffles

Image: Ana Fuji

Image: Nakita

Make a Jack-o-lantern with the kids or just buy black cardboard and make your own silhouette bats.

Image: klmontgomery

Decorate the entry of your home...but don't go too crazy!

Image: kimncris

Image: Hazelisles

Image: Theloushe

Image: Atelier teee

Halloween does not have to be tacky with a gory, bloody theme. Celebrate All Hallows with some STYLE .

Image: Pipnstuff

Continue your 'stylish' Halloween outdoors...

Why not create a Halloween themed picnic table at a park or in the garden.

Image: Shauna Younge Dessert Tables

Image: Blush Printables

Break out the cocktails and have the girls over for a 'spooky' drink!

Image: Blush Printables

You only need to add a few little touches to give it that All Hallows theme.

Some subtle skeletons and the odd tiny mouse on your pumpkins will do it!
Image: Love Maegan

Hollow out a pumpkin and use it as an ice bucket.

Image: Love Maegan

Image:
Love Maegan

Image: Love Maegan

Maybe create a black and white theme. Bring out all the old crystal, silver tea service and throw in some black feathers. You can even spray paint your pumpkins black or white.