Hallowe'en For Grown Ups
From where to pick your own pumpkins, to the scariest novels to read by candleight. Read on for the best Hallowe’en
ideas for grown ups.
Maybe it was because I grew up in a small village, that trick-or-treating passed me by. Nevertheless, my family always celebrated the night of all hallows by hosting a party.
The week leading up to this was spent drawing and cutting out silhouettes of bats, which my father, the tallest, would blue-tack onto the whitewashed stairwell until it resembled a haunted belfry, whilst Mother set to the more intricate task of carving toothy-grinned pumpkins.
I was of little use, but loved pulling out the old - often terrifying - sugar skulls and lace dresses that the two of them had brought back from a trip to Mexico in the 70s. I still have the Mexican wedding dress that I wore as a bride of Dracula one year.
The low ceilings and linglenook fireplaces of the 16th Century cottage in which I grew up, lent itself eerily well to becoming a haunted house, and I would always try to coerce our black cat into accompanying me for the evening.
Where to start
I love getting into the spirit {sorry} of things each October, as much to simply celebrate the change of season with its damp leaves and mulching fruit, as the festival of the Day of the Dead. So if you fancy embracing Hallowe'en, but aren't fulfilled by plastic buckets and chewy fangs, here are a {severed} handful of inspiring ideas for this time of year.
Pick your own pumpkin
One American interloper I am thrilled to embrace, I’ve gladly inviting the tradition of picking our own into my own annual celebrations. Involves being out-of-doors and fresh produce, what’s not to love?
Crockford Bridge Farm in Surrey offers up a plentiful parade of the buxom beasts, including the chic, grey ones and multi-coloured gourds - most of which are now happily filling my fireplace.
Dress up
If you’ve outgrown the plastic teeth and tangled polyester wig, why not rock out something floor length and black or high necked and lace? I love that gothic, Victoriana look. Try fastening a feathered raven onto one shoulder (use velcro if your sewing is as bad as mine), then layer up some green shadow or liquid liner for stylish, spooky look.
If you’re more laid back or likely to be traipising about after dark, a simple nod in the form of monochrome striped tights or a Mexican-inspired floral headbands is equally fun.
Revisit some classic horror films
In a tough modern world, contemporary, psychologically-charged thrillers are too haunting for me. Give me a harmless, 90s American teenagers-in-peril flick any day, and now that most of the genre is readily available to stream, why not revisit some of these classics:
Practical Magic - Nicole and Sandra at their 90s best
Hocus Pocus - aka SJP The Early Years
The Craft - a veritable feast of 90s fashion nostalgia in the form of velvet chokers and spaghetti-strap dresses worn over white tees.
Scream {1 , 2 & 3}
I Know What You Did Last Summer
Friday 13th
Read ghost stories candlelight
The real horror being that artificial light is apparently slowly warping our DNA {or something}, so put down the Netflix remote and get thee to a really frightening book. I will always remember reading The Woman in Black at school and, along with most of my class, being captivated by how terrifying a 'mere book' could be to semi street-wise teenagers. NB. If you want real terror, go and see the stage show. You have been warned.
Other titles I favour include Mary Shelley Frankenstein, Bram Stoker's Dracula, as well as The Turn of the Screw by Henry James; and if the above films got you feeling nostalgic, there is the teen-terror of the Point Horror books, whose highlight had to be R.L. Stine's The Babysitter Series. FYI these are mostly available as audiobooks on YouTube now!
Practice homemade spells {with care}
Feel free to practice the spells recited in The Craft, which were actually spells scripted by a Wiccan elder, but if you're wanting to keep it safe and use up what's in the kitchen, then give one of these a try:
Burning white sage is said to rid a space of negative energy. Just make sure it's properly dried, as burning the fresh stuff will see your freshly-painted walls smelling of weed…true story.
Take a bath on a new moon
Try adding this mixture to the water:
1 cup sea salt
3 drops geranium essential oil
3 drops pine essential oil
6 drops rosemary essential oil
Then relax while visualising your own ideas of success and new beginnings.
Alternatively, if the above list isn't kicking around at home, feel free to shower with salt, which is said to cool and calm, whilst also renewing energy.
No tricks, just treats
Solid caramel skulls and boxed rows of 70% cocoa bats are far better dinner party fodder than an emergency corner shop bottle or tub of Haribo fangs, so keep it classy. If in doubt, get thee to Hotel Chocolat who create tasty and beautiful seasonal treats.
And as with all celebrations, it should always about choice. So if you live in a built-up area and don't wish for your doorbell to be rung every half hour, there is no harm in extinguishing the lights off and popping up this elegantly inked note on your door:
‘Our coven recognises tonight as one of private worship, so we are currently in session. Thank you for not disturbing…..'.
Carrie on.... x
