From spooky tablescapes and apple bobbing, to indulging in a spellbinding bath, read on for inspiration on lifting the spirits this All Souls Night.

With little witches and wizards likely to face fines for soliciting Haribo from the neighbours, the American tradition of trick-or-treating, like many delights, feels best shelved for this year. But before you get the frighteners on or threaten to sell your soul, rest assured there are plenty of ways to mark the season, that don’t involve forking out for polyester costumes, or traipsing the streets on a dreich night.

Autumn celebrations have always held real magic for me, with Hallowe’en symbolising both the night of All Souls and the end of the fruitful harvest season. Here in England, with bonfire night landing shortly afterwards on 5th November, we also bear witness to the last display of light - literally going out with a bang, before the cold of winter sets in.

Unlike other calendar feast days, Hallowe’en is the one mash-up that literally allows each to their own: Drapes closed for a sophisticated cocktail hour? Negronis at the ready. A hearty, one-pot dinner for six? Boston beans are on the stove. Candlelit bath with laced hot chocolate and a novel? M.R. James awaits.

Point is, unlike other feast days, the 31st October demands little, but gives a lot. With no extended family descending and little spending warranted - bar perhaps buying a pumpkin, it is the one feast day reserved for just your dearest souls.

Pick Your Poison

Steering clear of brightly coloured eye-of-toad concoctions, or anything that requires dry ice, for me a clean, chilled glass of champagne or a warming Negroni will be on the menu. Whatever your preferred poison, it’s been a year, and this is the last feast day before Christmas, so gather the necessary ingredients and enjoy mixing and serving your favourite drink.

Hang Simple Decorations

Hallowe’en decorating brings me real joy - particularly as we fold away garden chairs and summer dresses, October can feel like the end of something, rather than a beginning. I’m lucky to have inherited a hamper full of delights from my Mum, who visited Mexico during the seventies, enjoying various Day Of The Dead parties. Sadly, the sugar skulls have now disintegrated, but the wooden skeletons and laced dresses remain.

When adding in decorations, rather than draping a cacophany of plastic bats and glow-in-the-dark skeletons around your front door, opt for subtle nods in each room. Lean towards colours and textures that complement the season, as much as the theme, such as sulptural wicker pumpkins on staircases or skull-shaped candles atop a mantlepiece.

Flower markets are glorious right now, or perhaps you could forage a spray of leafy branches, to stand proudbeside a bowl of mishapen gourds on the kitchen table? I find these organic-style add-ins easier to live with and enjoy on into November.

Make Your Own

The simplest decorations are always the best, so why not make your own? A collection of silhouetted bats cut from black paper look dramatic hung around a fireplace and pumpkins are as much fun to carve, as they are to see grinning out of darkened windows.

If you’re wanting to keep things low key, focus on one aspect, such as heaped pumpkins in varying shapes and colours, then spending an evening carving and arranging them.

Sugared treats are an essential part of a good afternoon tea ritual, so why not bake some sugar biscuits and cut them into skulls, cats or ghouls? Once cool, these can be decorated with glistening, coloured icing.

Lay A Spooky Tablescape

Whilst I relish a bit of ‘ham’ decor, I do like my tables to be enticing, rather than chaotic. Aim for a style that complements the space, but with a sense of whimsy and humour that reflects your personality.

White linen with black details on napkin rings, glassware or candles brings failsafe elegance. This year I plan to add in some seasonal tones with burnt orange velvet butterfly bows tied around napkins and candlesticks. I always include some black taper candles of varying heights, to pay homage to that fabulous gothic Victoriana style.

Please remember though, dark wax can be a nightmare if dripped onto tablecloths!

Play A Parlour Game

Whether you believe the tradition of bobbing for apples dates back to the Romans, or to the Pagan myth that apples kept the evil spirits away, the story goes that the first person to bite into the apple will prosper is a fun legend and makes for an easy half hour of entertainment.

Choose a good, heavy bucket with a wide top, fill with water and a handful of apples, then simply take it in turns to try and pull out an apple using just your teeth.

Watch A Freaky Film

Whether you’re into the classics - (The Shining, The Omen), 90s nostaglia (Hocus Pocus, Practical Magic), or younger family fun (The Corpse Bride, Harry Potter), October is a wonderful time to hunker down either on a treat of a weeknight or a drizzly saturday afternoon.

Little ones can enjoy hot chocolate with marshmallows, and grown ups can enjoy theirs ‘Irish’, with a dash of dark crème de cacao (or crème de menthe if you like a peppermint flavour), or may I recommend a generous dash Amarula for the ultimate fireside treat?

Soak In A Spellbinding Bath

It’s pretty scary out there, so retreating to a steaming bath with a stack of paperbacks within easy reach may well be your ideal night. Light a candle or two, pop a towel on the radiator in readiness, and add this mixture to running water for a relaxing, energy-renewing spell whilst you soak:

1 cup sea salt
3 drops geranium essential oil
3 drops pine essential oil
6 drops rosemary essential oil

It can feel there is little to look forward to right now, but by enjoying the simple things and building up our resilience with all that we hold most dear, there is still time to make the most of this middling, winding-down season.

Happy Hallowe’en my loves. x