Interior Decorate the Abode to Celebrate Halloween

Before decorating the abode for Halloween it is a great idea to learn where this tradition began. Halloween has come about out of a mix of traditions and religious rituals.  A combination of ancient Celtic practices, Catholic and Roman religious rituals, and European folk traditions have been blended together over time to create what we know today as Halloween.

Superstitions follow Halloween. Many believe that the dead can return to the earth on Halloween. The ancient Celts would light bonfires and wear costumes to ward off the living dead.

The carving of Jack-o-lanterns has become synonymous with Halloween for centuries. The practice originated from an Irish myth about a man nicknamed “Stingy Jack.” You can learn more about the story of Stingy Jack and his deal with the devil at http://urbanext.illinois.edu/pumpkins/history.cfm. Stingy Jack tricked the devil resulting in his inability to enter Heaven or Hell upon his death. The devil instead sent Jack off into the dark night with only a burning coal to light his way. Jack put the coal into a carved out turnip and has been roaming the Earth with it ever since. The Irish began to refer to this ghostly figure as “Jack of the Lantern,” and then, simply “Jack O’Lantern.”

“In Ireland and Scotland, people began to make their own versions of Jack’s lanterns by carving scary faces into turnips or potatoes and placing them into windows or near doors to frighten away Stingy Jack and other wandering evil spirits. In England, large beets are used. Immigrants from these countries brought the jack o’lantern tradition with them when they came to the United States. They soon found that pumpkins, a fruit native to America, make perfect jack o’lanterns.” (Source: http://urbanext.illinois.edu/pumpkins/history.cfm).

The Halloween mask is derived from early times when people wore hideous, scary, masks when disaster struck to frighten off the demons who where bringing them the misfortune.

The witch flying on the broomstick has become a symbol of Halloween. The name “witch” comes from the Saxon wica, which means wise one. Many witches carried broom sticks to aid them in vaulting over streams. In England witches were initiated by being blind folded and smeared with a psychedelic laced ointment that confused their mind, sped up their pulse, and numbed their feet. They were then placed on a broom stick and told that they were flying.

Interior decorating for Halloween is fun. The entire household gets involved and caught up in the excitement of the holiday. With the world and economy the way it at the present time it is nice to have a chance to have a day to let go of your daily struggles and inhabitations. Halloween lets us relax and forget our worries. It is now the time of year to bring the elements of Halloween into the décor.

Have fun with pumpkins:

Traditionally carved pumpkins can be beautiful but do not last too long. There are now very real looking foam pumpkins that can be found at craft stores (check out Michaels, http://www.michaels.com/Craft-Pumpkins/projects-floral-craftpumpkins,default,sc.html, for pumpkin ideas) in different sizes.

The craft foam pumpkins can be carved in the same matter as a real pumpkin. The interior foam is the same color as a fresh pumpkin, so the effect is very realistic. Use a sharp knife, and go slowly. Exercise the same caution you would when carving a real pumpkin. Use the real looking battery operated tea lights to place inside for the candle effect. Do not use real candles; they will melt the foam and become a hazard.

The craft pumpkins are hollow inside. Carve the top off and use the pumpkin as a vase for a floral arrangement. Glue a brick of floral foam inside to place your flowers in. Add some stones to the bottom if you feel you need to weight down the pumpkin.

The craft pumpkins can be painted with regular acrylic paints. Have fun painting in today’s trends of black and white theme or use your imagination and paint a zebra or cheetah pattern.

For more black and white décor ideas read my Examiner article http://www.examiner.com/interior-design-in-new-york/fall-2011-decorating-trends-for-the-abode. The hot fall 2011 color trends can be found in my article http://www.examiner.com/interior-design-in-new-york/two-hot-accent-color-s-for-the-abode-s-d-cor. To learn how to paint a cheetah pattern read my article http://www.examiner.com/interior-design-in-new-york/grab-the-cheetah-trend-to-decorate-the-abode.

Pumpkins make beautiful décor accessories and you will be able to display your realistic foam pumpkins, without worry of the pumpkin rot, through the Thanksgiving Holiday.

The miniature pumpkins, gourds, and squash, if not carved, will last a long time as well. These look beautiful in a variety of colors displayed in a bowl as a centerpiece. Add some dried grass and flowers for texture.

Today’s mask does not necessarily have to be scary. There are many beautiful and grand masks being shown off on Halloween. These masks are filled with beads, sparkles, flowers and an assortment of paint. Have fun and use your imagination.

When planning on making a mask, have a plan. Do you want it to just be a grand expression as in the fancy dress balls of England and Mardi Gras, or are you looking to replicate an animal face? The basic mask is just the base that the accoutrements, such as the fancy beads and feathers or the animal ears, horns, beaks, and noses.

There are a few different types of bases to consider for the mask. Take into account the job your mask will be doing when considering what type of base; children will need lighter masks to wear with a wide cut out for their eyes.

• Plaster cast tape face masks

• Wire frame headdresses

• Cardboard frame headdresses

• Paper masks and headpieces

• Make a mask out of clay if for décor purposes only

If you are having a Halloween party, then hand out simple masks as your guests arrive to make sure that even your unadorned guests can have costume fun.

Masks make beautiful décor. Make the masks works of art and display them year round hung on the wall in a shadow box or on a stand sitting upon the sofa table.

For more fun, decorate the walls with removable bat tattoos.

Halloween is the time to let your inner being come out. Be whatever you want to be. Wear a magnificent mask to express your thoughts. Dress up your abode and never be afraid to dance!

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