I don’t know about you, but Halloween has always been my favorite holiday. Every year, I plan my costume months in advance and eagerly await the day I can demand candy from strangers in a socially acceptable way. This year, Halloween will see some changes due to COVID regulations, but you can still celebrate! I’ve never had a Halloween like this either, but I’ve put together some ideas to make sure it retains its spooky reputation.
- Decorate! Does your family already have Halloween decorations? Go crazy and put them all up. Overwhelm your parents and neighbors with Halloween spirit. I dare you. If you don’t have any decorations, don’t worry! Jack-o’-lanterns are a classic, and carving them is a blast if you don’t mind getting your hands messy. Save the pumpkin seeds and roast them with salt as a snack for later. You could even have an outdoor socially distanced carving party/competition with your friends. Aside from pumpkins, you still have plenty of other decorating options. Make ghosts out of tissues and cotton balls, or experiment with making bats, witches, eyeballs, zombies, and black cats.
- Listen to Halloween music. Anyone who tells you Christmas is the only holiday with good music is a liar. “Spooky Scary Skeletons” and “The Monster Mash” are the basics, but the world is blessed with a variety of incredible Halloween music. If you want to branch out a bit, try listening to a horror movie soundtrack to put your whole family on edge. You could also ask your friends for recommendations, or look up whether any local radio stations are planning a special Halloween show.
- Watch scary movies. I’ve never been brave enough to watch horror movies, but if you are, go for it! Anything that totally freaks you out is a great choice, whether it’s all blood and guts, ghosts, or psychological horror. For those looking for something that’s still creepy but less terrifying, The Nightmare Before Christmas is excellent. As always, old monster movies are good for a laugh. If movies aren’t your thing, lock yourself in your room and read Dracula or Frankenstein by candlelight. Feel fancy and academic.
- Try to contact ghosts. I’m not completely sure I believe in ghosts, but I believe in them enough for them to scare me just a bit. Be that as it may, ghosts are a quintessential part of Halloween for a reason. Why not try to contact one from home? The obvious method here is using a Ouija board, but there are plenty of other ways to communicate with ghosts. You can also try to attract them with candles and/or mirrors. Make sure you’re in the dark to scare yourself just a bit. I’m no expert, but I have a theory that ghosts like music from when they were alive, so try playing some old music to set the mood. Good luck!
- Dress up and eat candy. Even though you can’t go to Halloween parties this year, you can still dress up and consume enough sugar to terrify your dentist. I’m dressing up as a walrus, but you could also be something more traditionally scary. Buy your favorite Halloween candy, put on a comfortable costume, and spend the night enjoying the spooky atmosphere. If you want to go the extra mile, spend the day baking Halloween-themed treats, and eat them at night by the light of the full moon. Enjoy!
