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Halloween activities for
children :-
Every year, on
the night of 31st October, people in the United States, Canada, and the
British Isles, amongst other countries, celebrate what is known as Halloween
night. It is also known as the eve of All Saints' Day – Hallow; thereby
implying All Hallow’s Eve.
While it marks All Saints Day, the special eve is also known as the Day of
the Dead amongst the Pagan Celts of Great Britain. Wiccans and other modern
pagan sects celebrate this day with much fanfare. In some part of Ireland it
is known as Pooky Night, dedicated to a naughty spirit that is known by that
name. Though historically this may have begun as a religious celebration, it
has moved into becoming just another reason to celebrate, differently.
Though it is widely celebrated in the United States of America, it is not an
original festival of this nation, as such. It was in fact brought to this
nation by the Europeans who followed this tradition. Yet, because of the
magnanimity of celebration, Anoka – a small town in USA, is considered the
‘Halloween Capital of the World’, as its celebration includes a large
parade. Nonetheless, it is one joyous evening, pouring into the night for
children and adults, alike, all over the USA.
After understanding the roots of Halloween, the customs and traditions need
to be looked at. Basically, the customs practised on this particular has its
roots in the Celtic practises that have been a part of the 1st November,
celebrations for All Saint’s Day. This day has traditionally been hailed as
that day of the calendar that heralds the winter season, also marking the
Celtic New Year. As tradition would have it, it was believed that on the
night of 31st October the witches and wizards would roam around free
practicing their craft on human beings to celebrate the season when the
sunlight on earth diminishes, while darkness takes precedence.
Believing this to be true people would light bonfires and offer food and
sweets, putting on the garb of witches and wizards, as a means of preventing
harm being done by the so-called evil wanderers. While this was the Celtic
belief, today, Halloween is celebrated following almost the same customs.
Today, bonfires may not be as common, but yet people; mainly children dress
up in witch-like costumes and go door-to-door claiming ‘trick or treat’, and
receiving candies in return. In fact people have special treats for the
visiting children. Then they all collect at a common venue and celebrate the
occasion with a party.
There are various creative spooky activities for children that could be
implemented to mark the festivity of this special occasion. While some are
the traditional ones that have become a commonplace part of Halloween
celebrations, there are others that could become a part of this year’s
freaky celebration.
They include the following:
- Carving lanterns: During the day people involve themselves in carving
lanterns from pumpkins. They carve out funny faces that also have an eerie
look. These lanterns are then used at night to light up the night instead of
the electric lights. These lanterns were created to apparently scare off the
wandering evil casters. Children enjoy carving their own lanterns that the
carry with them when they go door-to-door claiming ‘trick or treat’.
- Costume
dressing: Halloween celebration is incomplete without the peculiar costumes
that mark the occasion. In fact organising a costume competition adds to the
excitement of the occasion.
- In some
neighbouring counties of England children are made to perform before they
are given their treats. In fact, this could be a lot of fun, as going around
‘trick or treat’ gallivanting, each year, could be boring for both the
children and households. It’s more fun having the young costumed visitors
perform in some way or to other, as if to say that they need to earn their
treat.
- Following
tradition, tricks and pranks are an essential part of the celebration, so
creating a haunted feel in the home could add to the excitement for the
visiting children. Let them feel as though they are laying foot in a haunted
home. So while they roam around wanting to haunt householders, how about
haunting them instead?
- The party
activities: Hosting and organising a Halloween party is one thing, but
seeing that children are enjoying it throughout is another challenge all
together. And like they say keeping children occupied excites them the most.
Keeping that in mind here are some of the popular Halloween games that have
been played through the years. These include:
o Picking apples: In this game the children are supposed to pick apples out
of the bucket or tub full of water, not with their hands, but using their
mouths
- Candies from
the rope: Here tie a rope from wall to wall with candies hanging from it and
have the children eat them, without pulling them out with their hands, but
only using their mouths. A fun-n-sweet competition!
- Púicíní – pronounced as ‘pook-eeny’ is an Irish Halloween game wherein one
of the participants is blindfolded and made to sit at a table on which
several plates containing various objects are kept. The plates are shuffled
and then the person touches any one, and then in accordance, someone
predicts the blindfolded person’s coming year. The contents include: soil,
water, coins, beans, etc., interpreting to signify varied fun aspects.
- Ghost story
time: Children of all ages enjoy ghost stories, and if they are well
narrated than it is all the more fun. So apart from getting the children al
dressed up, maybe even the elders can costume-dress themselves up to bring
to life ghostly tales, with some kind of haunting music to set the right
kind of setting.
- Penning ghostly thoughts: Getting kids to let their imagination run freaky
could be a lot of fun for one and all. Maybe you could have a competition
where children can create a scary poem or story or even picture. See how
spooky they can get!
Adults have grown up enjoying Halloween, but to give children more than
routine thrills of this spooky festive night, it is a matter of freaky and
yet safe and realistic imagination! ~ author Karishma Bajaj.
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