Celebrating Halloween in Australia has started to gain momentum as we embrace whimsical costumes, decorations and treats with kids, friends and neighbours.
Although quite commercialised, I love the idea of costumes and themes, but most of all, the community connection and involvement.
In a time where we hardly know our neighbours, and we rarely let our kids play in the street, Halloween gives us an opportunity & an excuse to get outside, take a walk around the neighbourhood and scare the living crap out of each other for a laugh.
My Top 6 Reasons Why You Should Make an Effort this Halloween:
1. It's crafty, and that's good for your health
Seen the latest fad of Adult Colouring-In books? Getting crafty engages your right brain, creative thinking and problem solving. It is also therapeutic and relieves stress.
Spray paint a pumpkin, decorate a few scary cupcakes, create yourself, or your kids, a halloween costume - its not about perfection, its just for fun.
2. Connecting with your community
We are so buried in our mobile technology and social media that we rarely speak, laugh, engage and connect with anyone outside our inner (online) communities. Halloween is the only national holiday that encourages you to go outside and talk to your neighbors.
There's a whole world of interesting humans out there, you never know who you might meet and what you might learn, about others and yourself.
3. It's not just for kids
Horror movies aren't made for children, so a holiday where scary is fun just has 'groan up' party written all over it. Throw a Horror Film dinner party, make the scariest, most gruesome costume you can and scare the crap out of something just for laughs.
4. It's good for the economy
Yes it's commercial but spending money in retail stores is good for the economy, it's good for local small businesses and it also means that we will get better quality products.
It's also a great time to plan ahead - you will see things in the shops now that you don't see at any other time of the year, so if you know you'll need something in a few months time stock up now . I'm not talking about jack-o-lanterns and fake vampire fangs - Think Murder Mystery Dinner, kids dress up costumes for parties or school projects, skulls for cinc de Mayo and black feathers.
What kids party themes have you got planned for their next birthday? If it's Monster High or zombie apocalypse, or you are heading to a fancy dress New Year's Eve part - you're in luck!
And if you need it after Halloween there's a good chance you can pick it up on sale.
5. The range is better than ever
There will always the cheap & cheerful China plastic Halloween items in the stores, but I have noticed now that the retail stores have dramatically increased the quality, quantity and variety for Halloween. They are working hard for your dollars and it is worth it.
6. There are free events
From library events to street parades, Local councils have a number of events on and around the city that are free and family friendly.
grt
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