"Protecting our environment is a year-round effort that is getting increasing attention from people from all age groups."

Halloween is the season of dress-up, make-believe and fun. Great preparation goes into buying costumes that transform young children, teens, college students and even adults into an array of characters including ghosts, goblins, witches, devils, superheroes and storybook characters. It’s a time when it’s okay to be something or someone other than yourself for a day.

This year some thrill seekers may want to consider Halloween alternatives to provide a new twist on an age-old event. During this season of green witches, slime and other spooky characters, going green for Halloween can extend the positive theme of protecting the environment even during this season of dress-up and make believe.

“Halloween is a perfect time to demonstrate commitment and concern for the environment,” says Dr. Debra Huntley, program chair of the BA Psychology Program at the Argosy University Twin Cities Campus. “Protecting our environment is a year-round effort that is getting increasing attention from people from all age groups.”

While the traditional ritual of trick or treat has its place, going green for Halloween is an opportunity to host a costume party and serve treats without food coloring or preservatives. Guests can enjoy healthier snacks like popcorn balls with salt and butter substitutes or caramel apples and fudge with sugar substitutes. The host can serve juice drinks, flavored water and apple cider instead of sugary soft drinks that are loaded with calories and caffeine. By preparing treats, money and the environment are also protected by not using extra packaging and wrappers. And with fall harvests, it’s a great time to shop at a local farmer’s market for nutritious, local snacks. Buying locally is not only a healthy choice, but patronizes vendors that are nearby as opposed to those that require resources to transport.

Going green for Halloween can also mean deciding not to drive that evening or identifying activities and events closer to home to reduce driving time and air pollutants from vehicles.

Dr. Huntley explains some youth or college-age groups may want to share the green Halloween spirit while lifting the spirits of senior living and nursing home residents. They can visit residents and share wholesome snacks, play music and lead a ghoulish and festive dance around the facility. In addition to enjoying the costumes, the residents can enjoy healthful snacks and the afternoon with friendly little ghosts and characters.

For those partaking in traditional trick or treat activities, Dr. Huntley encourages everyone to remember it is important to maintain safety and caution to ensure this is a fun and safe experience for young trick or treaters. Children should be accompanied by a parent, guardian or responsible older sibling. Costumes should not be too tight or obscure vision. Children must be encouraged to cross streets carefully and always with a traffic light when present. Trick or treat in familiar neighborhoods or at homes with whom you are acquainted. Many malls and shopping centers enjoy hosting trick or treaters as a fun community service initiative. Often schools help promote safety by encouraging teachers to let students trick or treat at various classrooms in the building. Some schools host a costume parade in the building or a fun assembly.

Whatever you decide, make this Halloween season a fun, safe, nutritious and tasty experience for all participants.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

"Fall Fun" by Ginger Garvey

As Halloween approaches, the seasonal “to-do” list, typically marked with finding the perfect costume and trick-or-treat route, is a bit more complicated with the growing need to protect the environment and manage household budgets. In preparing for your neighborhood ghosts and goblins, try these easy tips and tricks to “go green,” and spend less on your families’ spook-tacular celebration.

Howl to be Green
Incorporating small changes into your holiday preparation will go a long way to create an eco-friendly Halloween. Whether you’re hosting a party or adding colorful flare to the home or office, take inventory of your decorations and go back to nature by using locally-grown pumpkins, apples or fresh gourds to create tabletop and front porch accents. Organic, pesticide-free produce is widely available at farmers markets, grocery and specialty stores and leaves little waste once the celebration ends.

Also look for ways to “re-use” your Halloween accessories. Cloth or canvas shopping bags and pillowcases are great alternatives to paper, plastic bags and more traditional plastic jack-o-lanterns used by many trick-or-treaters to collect candy. Gather fall-colored scraps of fabric, ribbon, buttons or food coloring and spend the afternoon with the kids decorating a recyclable trick-or-treat bag. Use the custom creation to hand out candy at your door and your house will be the hit of the neighborhood.

Howl to Save
Spend less this Halloween by using old or outgrown clothes, sports equipment or dress-up items to make one-of-a-kind costumes. Unpack your graduation gown and buy a gavel at a thrift or prop store to transform your trick-or-treater into a judge. Dust off a wedding gown or bridesmaid’s dress, polish an old pair of pumps and grab a wig from a costume store and you’ve got a princess. Host a costume trading party and make sure everyone comes with old clothing or accessories to trade. Let the kids use their imaginations and see how many new and different costumes come to life.

You can also save by using recyclable household materials to decorate. Bed sheets hung from the ceiling or tree branches make convincing ghosts, as do balloons covered with a white sheet, tied with a ribbon around the neck and black felt tapped on for eyes. The sheets can be taken down, laundered and returned to the linen closet once Halloween is over.

Howl to Have Fun at Home
Consider baking at home this year to get everyone in the Halloween mood. Find unique recipes for Halloween treats that can be used as decorations or centerpieces before you indulge.

Gather everyone around and make creepy “edible eyeballs” with mini white powdered donuts, Life Savers Gummies, red icing and chocolate chips. Cover the hole in the center of the donut with a thin layer of icing and top with a gummy. Next, dip the bottom of a chocolate chip in icing before layering it on the gummy. Make the eyeball scary by drawing lines from the center of the donut to the outer edge with red icing. Finish the treat by poking each donut with a lollipop stick and arranging them in a bowl of candy corn to make a freaky yet tasty centerpiece.

Howl to Be Safe
Set the seasonal mood by decorating trees and sidewalks with lights and lanterns while making it easier for trick-or-treaters to find their way from door to door. Neat, well-lit landscapes make everyone feel more comfortable and confident.

Another simple way to help ghosts and goblins find their way door to door is to use makeup to finish a costume as an alternative to masks. Face paint makes it much easier for trick-or-treaters to see … especially at night.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

Where Did “Trick or Treat” Come From?

Perhaps one of the most popular and widespread Halloween traditions is ringing the doorbell and saying “trick or treat” in exchange for candy.  This is done by millions of children every year, but few could tell you where this practice comes in the history of Halloween.  It was not always a part of the holiday.

For thousands of years, Halloween was merely a blend of pagan rituals and Christian customs.  Ceremonies and festivals were held on the day, and people did dress up in costumes.  However, it wasn’t until the second half of the nineteenth century that these traditions, along with others, began to make it to America.  An influx of new immigrants meant new traditions, and these contributed to how Halloween is celebrated today.

“Trick or treat” was one such tradition brought from England.  During all Souls’ Day parades, the poor would beg for food.  More fortunate families would give the poor “soul cakes” in return for the promise that the poor would pray for their dead relatives.  This idea eventually trickled down to children, and led to the Halloween tradition we know and love today.

A Group Gathering

By the 1950’s, Halloween and trick-or-treating had become a fun way for communities to spend time together.  Halloween parties became popular, and many neighborhoods would go trick-or-treating together.  Trick-or-treating was an inexpensive activity that people could bond over.  Though by this time the history of Halloween had already been forgotten the traditions continued to grow.

The Tricks and Treats of Today

Halloween has changed very much throughout its long history.  While as little as 50 years ago, people handed out candy apples and caramel corn, today the goodies typically consist of Butterfingers and Hershey’s Bars.  Yet, despite the change that has occurred throughout the history of Halloween, the traditions that began the holiday are still remembered by a few select people—and it is their responsibility to make sure that it is never forgotten.

Howling Dogs

One of the most chilling sounds is that of howling dogs, especially if they are middle to larger sized dogs who can mimic the low “ooooo” that wolves do.  If you have such a dog, then all you need to do is teach the dog to howl on command.  Either that, or find out what noise sets the dog to howling.

For example, this writer lives on a street that has many dogs.  We also live near a fire station.  Guess what happens every time a fire siren goes off?  That’s right – howling galore.  If you can get a recording of a fire siren or fire engine, which should set the dogs howling and you have a really effective Halloween sound effect.

Slinkeys

Remember those coiled toys that walked themselves down stairs?  Timed right, they can make a really spooky homemade Halloween sound effect.  They shake like a rattlesnake and get louder as they get closer to you.  It is better to use several for the sheer noise. You can either set them off down your darkened steps or suddenly shake them behind some unsuspecting soul’s head.

Popping Balloons

It’s all in the timing that makes this vintage homemade Halloween sound effect still marvelously heart-stopping after all of these years.  For best effect, don’t even let the guests see that there are blown up balloons anywhere nearby.  When they’ve turned around or when the lights suddenly go out, then pop the balloons.  They sound a lot like gunshots.  Be prepared to clean up some messes.

Megaphone

The most effective homemade Halloween sound effects are created by the hu8man voice.  With experimentation, you can create some pretty weird noises all by yourself. But they can play havoc on your throat. If you can, get a megaphone or a voice distortion apparatus.  These have gotten smaller and cheaper over the years.  Voice distortion toys can even be found in Halloween costume stores.  Some people even use a karaoke machine in order to suddenly startle their lucky guests.

An Apple, Even Today

One of the most popular homemade recipes on the Halloween circuit is the candy apple.  Candy apples are easy to make, and they are perfect for treat-seeking kids and sweet-toothed adults alike!  To begin making candy apples from Halloween recipes, the following ingredients are needed:  1.5 cups of sugar, 10 apples, 2/3 cups of water, 1 pack of Cherry Kool-Aid, and 2 teaspoons of vinegar.  You will also need skewers to put the apples on.

First, mix the sugar water and vinegar.  Boil this mixture until it reaches 300 degrees.  At this point, set the mixture aside to cool.  While waiting for the mixture to cool, you can put each apple on a skewer to prepare them for dipping.

Next, add the Kool-Aid to the cooled mixture and stir well.  It is now time to dip the apples in the mixture.  Do so quickly and then set aside on wax paper.  Make sure to individually package these treats before handing them out on Halloween.

Pretty Poppin’

Another easy and delicious treat that can be made from Halloween recipes is the popcorn ball.  The popcorn ball is also another longtime favorite—any child would be happy to see this treat in their goody bag!  To make popcorn balls from a Halloween recipe, you will need: 8 cups of popcorn, ¼ cup of butter, 1 cup of candy corn, and 1 bag of marshmallows.

Place the popcorn (make sure it is popped) and the candy corn in a large bowl.  Melt the butter in a saucepan.  When the butter is fully melted, add the marshmallows to the mixture, stirring them until melted.  Pour the marshmallow-butter mixture over the popcorn-candy corn mixture, and stir with a large spoon.  When the mixture is cool enough to work with using your hands, grease your hands with butter and begin working the mixture into small balls.  To give out on Halloween night, package individually.

A Break from the Ordinary

Kids are used to looking into their bags on Halloween and finding the usual loot—Snickers Bars, Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, and 3 Musketeers Bars.  Halloween treats made from recipes that are just a little out of the ordinary will make for an unexpected surprise that trick-or-treaters will never forget.

A Salty, Seedy Snack

One function of the pumpkin is to make traditional Halloween recipes, such as roasted pumpkin seeds.  These are a classic favorite that are both delicious and easy to make.  All that is needed to make this traditional Halloween recipe is a pumpkin, cooking spray, and salt to taste.

The first step in this recipe is the most difficult, and certainly the messiest!  The pumpkin must be gutted so that the seeds can be removed from the inside.  If you plan on using the pumpkin for other traditional Halloween recipes, then you will need to scrape all of the stringy stuff out of the pumpkin’s inside.  You can leave this “pumpkin gunk” on the seeds, however; it adds flavor to the dish.

After you have a bowl full of pumpkin seeds, spray a cookie sheet with cooking spray.  Spread the seeds across the sheet evenly, and sprinkle with salt as desired.  Roast in the oven at 325 degrees for 30 to 45 minutes.  Serve hot, or wait until they cool.

A Pie from the Pumpkin

Pumpkin pie tastes great on Thanksgiving, but try having it on Halloween too!  It might not be traditional on Halloween, but this pie is a delicious recipe any time of the year.  You can make pumpkin pie using canned pumpkin, or you can make this treat using an actual Halloween pumpkin.

Simply scrape out all the seeds and stringy stuff.  Then, cut the empty, cleaned pumpkin so that it can fit into a microwave-safe bowl.  Add several inches of water in the bottom of the bowl.  Cover the bowl and cook the pumpkin for fifteen minutes on high.  Continue to cook the pumpkin on high in smaller increments of time until it is softened.  This process usually takes 20-30 minutes all in all.  Now, you have delicious pumpkin that can be used in a traditional pumpkin pie recipe.

Rituals, Old and New

Whether traditional or untraditional, Halloween recipes are delicious and meant to be enjoyed.  However, those with a tradition allow the history to be enjoyed as well.

Halloween masks are also great for the budget conscious; you don’t have to spend a whole lot if all you are getting is a mask and some accessories. These are also great for older children who might feel self conscious about dressing up but still want to trick or treat. Find the perfect Halloween masks by looking for certain things.

Quality

The quality of your Halloween masks varies on the price. A very cheap mask is uncomfortable and hard to breathe or see in. if you plan on keeping your mask on for long periods of time then make sure that you have a comfortable mask. Halloween masks that are poorly made can also set off allergic reactions.

If you have sensitive skin then you should be especially careful about the types of Halloween masks that you wear. You might have to spend a little more on quality masks but it goes a long way to helping you feel comfortable. Not to mention that the more expensive ones usually look better.

Easy Costume

Masks are the perfect way to get together a costume with minimal effort. The right grotesque face and all you have to do is throw a cloth over your clothes to be a monster or goblin of some kind. If you are running short on time then this is the way to go.

In fact certain Halloween masks can complete a look beautifully. If you have a beautiful gown and are intending to go as a princess, why not add some mystery to your costume by buying a beautiful masquerade mask that you can use to hide your identity for a while.

Buy or Make?

You might think about making your own mask but this is quite labor intensive and you might not come out with something that you would want to wear. Buying a mask is much easier and it doesn’t have to be expensive. There are many price ranges.

If you want you can start with a store bought mask and then work on it yourself. Adding finishing touches to it that will make it unique and your own. Whatever you decide a Halloween mask is a great accessory to have. You can even reuse it later; there’s little chance of outgrowing it.

Free Image Hosting Sites

This is a dicey area among website developers and photographers.  Many online publications use images like Halloween graphics pulled from free image hosting services like Flickr or Photobucket.  Even if you go to websites that claim to be a collection of all of the free stock photos, images or graphics, quite often they will link you to images from these free image host sites.  Some of these are copyrighted – but usually they will have a watermark on them or you will be able to download them onto your computer.

Web Eye Candy

If you are looking for moving Halloween graphics for your website or blog, then you will have a much easier time of it.  There are many websites that collect graphics and clip art of all kinds of categories – even those that collect just smileys and emoticons will usually have several moving Halloween graphics to choose from.

Search for these sites for Halloween graphics yourself – NEVER download anything from a pop-up ad or an attachment from an email.  Even be wary of a friend sending you an attachment – especially if it’s file sharing in a peer to peer (P2P) network.  These often contain malware (malicious software) that will eventually lead to your personal information being stolen or your computer going haywire.

For Traditional Publications

If you are an editor or designer for a traditional print publication, then you can still go to websites to find non-animated Halloween graphics for free.  This is assuming that you rely on a computer system to set up your publication.  You might even be able to download the Halloween graphics off of the site onto a disc and then transfer the images from the disk into your publication software.

Sometimes, the best way to be sure you can do it is just to try.  You can find not just images for your publication, but borders, backgrounds and spooky fonts.  Sometimes you can even find free coloring pages, cut out tags or decorations that you might want to give to your readers.

Most years, we don’t attend. I’m usually sick or just getting over a cold at that time of year, or we already have plans, or sometimes I just can’t think of a good costume.

But one year, not only did we attend, but we went all out. And when I say “all out”, I do not mean we spent $$$ at a costume shop (which is fine, by the way). I’m old school when it comes to Halloween costumes, so we went the DIY route.

Behold, Frankenstein and the Bride of Frankenstein, made possible courtesy of Halloween makeup purchased at the grocery store, a white sheet, hair spray paint, and generous backcombing of naturally-curly hair (bride); and black clothes, Halloween makeup, and fake neck bolts purchased at the same grocery store.

Bride of Frankenstein

Frankenstein

Total cost, about $15.

Reaction from party goers? Priceless!

Children and adults should be aware of Halloween safety tips that everyone should practice while out trick or treating so that it can remain a fun holiday. No one wants his or her Halloween to turn into a horror movie. Simple things can save lives and avoid injury too.

Costume Safety

Costumes are all part of Halloween but the wrong kind can be dangerous. Masks need to have eyeholes that are large enough for children to have peripheral vision. Otherwise your little one will have trouble walking without bumping into things and may even have trouble crossing the road. You also don’t want your child decked out in something flammable; so make sure the costume is fire proof.

Knives, scythes and other weapons are often part of Halloween costumes. Although these props are plastic and never sharp there is still a danger of a child tripping and falling on his or her prop. If it’s a hard plastic prop it could still injure a child. Make sure such props are pliable and soft to avoid unnecessary bumps and scratches.

Parental Guidance

If you are not out with your children trick or treating then make sure you know the route they are taking. You should also make sure that children have at least a teenaged brother or sister accompanying them if not an adult. All sorts of things can happen when children are out on their own even in a big group and before it gets dark. Avoid unnecessary danger by having someone responsible with trick or treating youngsters.

Curfews are important on a night when many children want to be out as late as possible collecting as much candy as they can. Make sure that you tell your children well in advance when they have to be home and why they have to be home on time. It’s never a good idea to have your children out too late even with an adult around.

Halloween is about fun, and fun does not include vandalism. Tell your children that egging people’s houses and other such activities are absolutely a no-no. Tell them they will have to clean up the mess if they are caught doing something like that.