 How to Make Halloween Fun: Costumes,
Treats and Sound Effects
(ARA) - Scariness and spookiness
are upon us. And we're not talking about opening 401(k) statements.
Ghouls and goblins will be running through neighborhoods searching
for candy and scares alike. Trick-or-treaters will be heard screaming
and screeching while being haunted by neighborhood houses decorated
for one of the most anticipated holidays for children -- Halloween.
Halloween's history has changed
over the years. Centuries ago, Halloween night was known as "devil's
night." Superstitious people associated this day with death
and supernatural happenings, such as bad omens, black cats, and
bats or spiders. Halloween night was known to be one filled with
vandalism as well.
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Fast forward several hundred
years, and you have a more modern, contemporary holiday of fun,
food and decorations. Today, Halloween has turned into one filled
with lavish costumes, home decorations, and more candy than a
dentist cares to know about. Party-goers of all ages dress up
in fun, scary or outrageous costumes for school, college and
other celebrations.
If you're getting back to the
simple ways of life, nothing's better than an easy costume for
kids and adults. How about the chiton?
"OK, so not everyone recognizes what the term 'chiton' means,"
says Kathy Colussy, fashion design instructor, The Art Institute
of Fort Lauderdale. "But if I mention the word, 'toga,'
we can recall images of togas from movie epics or from college
fraternity parties. Our mind conjures up bodies draped, swathed
and pinned in bed sheets." The gown is remarkably simple
to construct and designed to be belted or draped to flatter any
figure. By following the steps below, you're sure to impress
everyone at your Halloween party. |
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Now, it's on to the food portion
of your celebration. According to Michael Holderfield, chef instructor
at The Art Institute of Houston, families are looking for more
creative recipes to entice children to eat more traditional and
seasonal favorites, such as pumpkin muffins.
Party and baking instructor Kim Smith, of The Art Institute of
Seattle, recommends her pumpkin muffins to start Halloween morning
off right. "These are a great start to anyone's morning."
For those wanting to create their own spooky haunted house sounds,
they can use tapes or CDs of graveyard sounds, doors slamming
or screams. "It's fun to make your own tape of Halloween
sounds," says Rob Lehmann, chair of the Audio Production
Department at The New England Institute of Art & Communications.
"Popular sound effects include doors slamming and people
screaming. Kids, and adults, can have so much fun creating their
own haunted house sounds." Simply recording such sounds
on your tape or CD recorder will allow you to spook those trick-or-treaters.
>> How to Make a Toga Costume
>>
Pumpkin Muffins |
