Monday, August 24, 2009

Halloween’s Day


Halloween's origins date back to the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain (pronounced sow-in).The Celts, who lived 2,000 years ago in the area that is now Ireland, the United Kingdom, and northern France, celebrated their new year on November 1. This day marked the end of summer and the harvest and the beginning of the dark, cold winter, a time of year that was often associated with human death. Celts believed that on the night before the new year, the boundary between the worlds of the living and the dead became blurred. On the night of October 31, they celebrated Samhain, when it was believed that the ghosts of the dead returned to earth. In addition to causing trouble and damaging crops, Celts thought that the presence of the otherworldly spirits made it easier for the Druids, or Celtic priests, to make predictions about the future. For a people entirely dependent on the volatile natural world, these prophecies were an important source of comfort and direction during the long, dark winter. To commemorate the event, Druids built huge sacred bonfires, where the people gathered to burn crops and animals as sacrifices to the Celtic deities. During the celebration, the Celts wore costumes, typically consisting of animal heads and skins, and attempted to tell each other's fortunes. When the celebration was over, they re-lit their hearth fires, which they had extinguished earlier that evening, from the sacred bonfire to help protect them during the coming winter.

By A.D. 43, Romans had conquered the majority of Celtic territory. In the course of the four hundred years that they ruled the Celtic lands, two festivals of Roman origin were combined with the traditional Celtic celebration of Samhain. The first was Feralia, a day in late October when the Romans traditionally commemorated the passing of the dead. The second was a day to honor Pomona, the Roman goddess of fruit and trees. The symbol of Pomona is the apple and the incorporation of this celebration into Samhain probably explains the tradition of "bobbing" for apples that is practiced today on Halloween. By the 800s, the influence of Christianity had spread into Celtic lands. In the seventh century, Pope Boniface IV designated November 1 All Saints' Day, a time to honor saints and martyrs. It is widely believed today that the pope was attempting to replace the Celtic festival of the dead with a related, but church-sanctioned holiday. The celebration was also called All-hallows or All-hallowmas (from Middle English Alholowmesse meaning All Saints' Day) and the night before it, the night of Samhain, began to be called All-hallows Eve and, eventually, Halloween. Even later, in A.D. 1000, the church would make November 2 All Souls' Day, a day to honor the dead. It was celebrated similarly to Samhain, with big bonfires, parades, and dressing up in costumes as saints, angels, and devils. Together, the three celebrations, the eve of All Saints', All Saints', and All Souls', were called Hallowmas.

The word itself, "Halloween," actually has its origins in the Catholic Church. It comes from a contracted corruption of All Hallows Eve. November 1, "All Hollows Day" (or "All Saints Day"), is a Catholic day of observance in honor of saints. But, in the 5th century BC, in Celtic Ireland, summer officially ended on October 31. The holiday was called Samhain (sow-en), the Celtic New year. One story says that, on that day, the disembodied spirits of all those who had died throughout the preceding year would come back in search of living bodies to possess for the next year. It was believed to be their only hope for the afterlife. The Celts believed all laws of space and time were suspended during this time, allowing the spirit world to intermingle with the living. Naturally, the still-living did not want to be possessed. So on the night of October 31, villagers would extinguish the fires in their homes, to make them cold and undesirable. They would then dress up in all manner of ghoulish costumes and noisily paraded around the neighborhood, being as destructive as possible in order to frighten away spirits looking for bodies to possess.

Halloween’s Day

Oct. 31, the eve of All Saints' Day, observed with traditional games and customs. The word comes from medieval England's All Hallows' eve (Old Eng. hallow = “saint”). However, many of these customs predate Christianity, going back to Celtic practices associated with Nov. 1—the beginning of winter and the Celtic new year. Witches and other evil spirits were believed to roam the earth on this evening, playing tricks on human beings to mark the season of diminishing sunlight. Bonfires were lit, offerings were made of dainty foods and sweets, and people would disguise themselves as one of the roaming spirits, to avoid demonic persecution. Survivals of these early practices can be found in countries of Celtic influence today, such as the United States where children go from door to door in costumes demanding “trick or treat.”

Trick or treat, you're so neat.

Give me something good to eat.
Nuts and candy, fruit and gum.
I'll go away if you give me some.

The Story of the Jack O’Lantern

A stingy drunkard of an Irish blacksmith named Jack had the misfortune to run into the Devil in a pub, some say on Halloween night. Jack had too much to drink and was about to fall into the Devil’s hands, but managed to trick the Devil by offering his soul in exchange for one last drink. The Devil turned himself into a sixpence to pay the bartender, but Jack quickly pocketed him in his purse. Because Jack had a silver cross in his purse, the Devil could not change himself back. Jack would not let the Devil go until he promised not to claim his soul for ten years.

The Devil agreed and ten years later Jack came across the Devil while walking on a country road. The Devil wanted to collect, but Jack, thinking quickly, said “I’ll go, but before I go, will you get me an apple from that tree?” The Devil, thinking he had nothing to lose, jumped on Jack’s shoulders to obtain the apple. Jack pulled out his knife and carved a cross in the trunk of the tree. This left the Devil in the air, unable to obtain Jack or his soul. Jack made him promise to never again ask for his soul. Seeing no way out, the Devil agreed. No one knows how the Devil ever managed to get back down!

When Jack finally died years later, he was not admitted to Heaven, because of his life of drinking and being tightfisted and deceitful. When he went to apply for entrance to Hell, the Devil had to turn him away because he agreed never to take Jack’s soul. “But where can I go?” “Back where you came from!” the way back was windy and dark. Jack pleaded with the Devil to at least provide him a light to find his way. The Devil, as a final gesture, threw a live coal at Jack straight from the fire of Hell. To light his way and to keep it from blowing out in the wind, Jack put it in a turnip he was eating.

Ever since, Jack has been doomed to wander in darkness with his lantern until “Judgment Day”. Jack of the lantern became known as the symbol of a damned soul.

People believed that spirits and ghosts left the grave on Halloween and would seek out warmth in their previous homes. Villagers, fearful of the possibility of being visited by the ghosts of past occupants, would dress up in costumes to scare the spirits on their way. They would also leave food and other treats at their door to appease the spirits, so they would not destroy their homes or crops, but instead move on down the road. They also began to hollow out turnips with a face wither painted or carved into it, and place lighted candles inside, hoping the image of a damned soul would scare the spirits away.

The Irish used turnips as their "Jack's lanterns" originally. But when the immigrants came to America, they found that pumpkins were far more plentiful than turnips. So the Jack-O-Lantern in America was a hollowed-out pumpkin, lit with an ember.

Top 10 scary movies



Halloween is often more light-hearted and fun than scary. Still, there are those of us who seek the horror-filled thrills of shock and fright. For a good scare, our crack research team at the Daily Top 10 peeks through trembling fingers and lists the most terrifying scary movies.

As always, feel free to disagree or weigh in with your choices in our comments section.

1. The Shining -- One of many unforgettable performances by Jack Nicholson. This Stanley Kubrick classic is a showcase of cinematography, acting, direction and psychological terror.

2. Scream -- A trend-setter. This movie made horror hip with a cast of young stars and an impressive soundtrack. Scream also inspired a Halloween mask that has all but displaced Jason's hockey mask from Friday the 13th.

3. The Ring -- Oh, this one was scary. With long, narrative scenes broken up by flashes of intensely disturbing imagery, this movie easily leaves a lasting impression. The way the ghost girl moves out of the well is so sickly and exaggerated that it may scar you.

4. The Exorcist -- Perhaps one of the best films of all time. The Exorcist not only frightens, but also questions commonly held religious beliefs and makes a statement about the power of evil.

5. Psycho -- What would this list be without Alfred Hitchcock? From this movie we get the shower scene, now clichéd in horror films, as well as that high-pitched sound effect that accompanies knife stabbings.

6. Blair Witch Project -- You never really saw anything scary in this one, just scared people. The directors left it up to the imagination. The concept was interesting, but the unsteady camera was enough to make you sick.

7. Halloween -- There's no forgetting this major movie franchise. Michael Myers predated Jason as the mute, faceless killer. Besides, the name is only fitting. Would we do this list if tomorrow weren't Halloween?

8. A Nightmare on Elm Street -- The original "Nightmare" introduces Freddy Krueger, another horror-movie character who produced real nightmares for plenty of psychologically scarred children. As with many franchises, the first was creative as well as horrifying -- the sequels not so much. It's worth being on the list just for the creepy, sing-song nursery rhyme.

9. Saw -- No, not "Saw 5." Do these things keep coming out? The horror movie sequel is no longer a surprise, though the bloody gore of the "Saw" movies may come as quite a shock.

10. Plan 9 from Outer Space -- So bad, it's scary. This Ed Wood cult classic combines science fiction and zombies to make the most ill-directed movie of all time. Every cinematographic mistake shows up in this movie, from continuity errors to meaningless closeups. The acting is just as bad, to boot.

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

Great Halloween Costumes For Kids

In the past, around fifty years ago, mothers use to make costumes for their children during the festival of Halloween and there were no Halloween costumes available for the children in the stores. So the children's costumes were very simple and mostly comprised of gowns with plastic masks and there were as such no designer kids' costumes for the children to wear at the Halloween parties. But nowadays, kids' costumes are available in the market in a vast variety of designs and color patterns. They are gowns only with plastic masks but now they cost around hundreds of dollars which were made free of cost at home by children's mothers. There are various kids' costumes of cartoon characters like superman and batman or there are costumes like that of Captain Jack Sparrow of Pirates of the Caribbean. There are also costumes available for girls like that of a princess or a witch costume. Today there are no boundaries to the variety of the costumes that are available for the kids in the market for Halloween.

The first step to find a good kids Halloween costume is to listen to the kid about what type of costume he wants for the Halloween. If a girl wants a princess dress then her parents should give her a princess dress. Even a low cost simple princess dress would do the work but if she gets something else then her Halloween would go waste as she would not become happy after getting the dress. So it is very important to listen to the child before buying a kids costume to make the Halloween successful and happy. Mostly boys demand for a superhero dress like superman or power rangers and girls either go for a princess dress or naughtier ones go for a witch dress so that they would have fun in scaring their friends on the Halloween night.

Parents should consult their children about the plans for Halloween and this would make the family's Halloween more enjoyable. It depends on the child that for what purpose he would use his Halloween costume. He might use it for scaring friends or neighbors or join a league of friends who would have decided to wear similar dress in a Halloween party. Some children like to just dress up with nice clothes and show it to other people. These children mostly include girls who like to dress as princess. So it is up to the parents that they seek the purpose of their child's costume.

2009 best Halloween Costumes

CORRECTIONS OFFICER - Halloween Costumes




NAUGHTY NICE TEEN COSTUME


FRENCH MAID - Halloween Costumes


BOXER GIRL - Halloween Costumes





Friday, July 24, 2009

Should you wear French maid costume or school girl costume?

H for Hot and Hot for Halloween! Surely, the spirit of Halloween has changed to a considerable extent. Not only can you see a change in the way of celebration but you can also see a great deal of change in the outfits. The trend has moved from scary dressed to a totally new type of outfits, which are sexier, raunchier, and naughtier. The most popular dress codes include the French maid costume and the sexy school girl costume.

For boys, things are much the same but not for girls. It is strange but true that costumes for girls have changed from ghoulish and girlish to revealing and racy. To know what it means, just have a look inside a costume shop selling Halloween costumes. You will be amazed to see that saucy witches are more in demand as compared to scary witches.

Well, that’s a change in trend – a revolutionary change in fact. Where there were girls wearing cool dresses, now there are girls wear hot dresses. The difference in "cool" and "hot" is nothing but the size of skirt and shirt. Show more skin and you will be hot. Enough of rhetoric, but the simple thing is that Halloween is no longer the same as it was in your grandma` s time. If you want to keep up with the current trend, you need to find a right outfit for this Halloween and what could be better than a French maid costume or a sexy school girl costume.

Both these costumes are wonderful for showgirls but let's find out the better option. For French maid costume, the demand is still high. Lots of girls want to wear it on Halloween. One big reason why you must opt for this great costume is its resemblance with traditional Halloween costumes. In many of the horror movies, you can see girls wearing a French maid costume. When you use a right dress in black color with right accessories, it doesn’t only make you look sexy but also helps you to wear what you are supposed to wear on Halloween.

On the other hand, sexy school girl costume is more on the sexier side. It might not be the best choice for Halloween, especially if you think you must wear something scary and gloomy to fulfill the requirements of Halloween, but it is in demand nevertheless. Sexy school girl costume is more in fashion because a wide majority of girls now likes wearing skimpy and sexy costumes. Sexy school girl costume is just to go with the trend.

After reading these particular details you must have understood that both costumes have their own value and place. But, the choice of dress depends upon your preferences. If you just like to look sexy like everyone else, there is nothing as amazing as sexy school girl costume. But, if you want to have the best of the both worlds, you must get French girl costume as it is not only sexy but also quite close to the traditional Halloween costumes. So, it's all about choice and the choice is entirely yours!

Thursday, July 23, 2009

Superheroes And Movies Characters For Adult Halloween Costumes

Adult Halloween costumes are just as great-looking as the ones kids wear nowadays. Wearing a Halloween costume, one can go from a regular guy to an amazing airline pilot or a male trooper. The choices abound and the truth is that the prices are more than appealing. Let’s see what other types of classic costumes are in style right now!

Do you like stories? How about fairytales? Many people prefer adult Halloween costumes that remind them of the stories they read when they were little. This is probably one of the main reasons why the Hansel Halloween costume is in high demand right now. The Big Bad Wolf, the Indian Warrior and the Cave Man are just as popular, being considered classical choices. But the options do not stop there. One can also choose to come costumed as a ladies’ man, a simple mailman or even as the great Nero. Talk about some cool choices!

One of the most interesting categories that virtual stores offer to their clients is the one for Super Heroes. If you’ve always pictured yourself as Batman, then there’s no better time than the present to purchase such a Halloween Costume. You will definitely make an impression appearing like your favorite movie character. Is Spiderman your favorite? Then take a look at the adult Halloween costumes that depict this popular comic’s character. Other popular costumes remind one of Superman, Iron Man or the Incredible Hulk. For one night, you too can be a superhero. Which one do you like best?

Superhero costumes are perfectly suited for Halloween, with Wolverine, Captain America and Thor sitting at the top of the popularity list. Adult Halloween costumes also depict well-known characters from Justice League, Hercules or Robin. If you are a movie enthusiast, you can opt for a costume that reminds one of famous actors and the roles they’ve played. We are talking about a Halloween costume from the movie 300, an adult costume that presents you as Ken (Barbie’s partner) and even one showing the infamous Freddy Krueger from a Nightmare on Elm Street. These are just few of the choices you have and come to think of it, they are really amazing.

Think of all the great movies you have seen. Then take a look at the adult Halloween costumes that specialized stores put to the disposal of their clients. Among the most appealing choices, you have the Dark Knight from Batman (scary and imposing), Borat (unique, there’s no doubt about it) and Willie Wonka from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. You can purchase Halloween costume and appear as Elvis, the Dare Devil or even as the Grinch who stole Christmas. And if you really want to go all out, then you have a CSI Jumpsuit available for purchase online. Nobody move anything, this is a crime scene! Does it sound familiar?

Whether you come costumed as an actor from Grease or the Incredible Hulk, you are going to have tons of fun at your Halloween party. It makes all the difference in the world to wear a costume and take pleasure in seeing what other people have decided to costume themselves into.

Tuesday, July 14, 2009

Scary Movies for Halloween

I'm celebrating Halloween once again by offering an alphabetical listing of the best classic scary films ever made, along with links to help you purchase them if they're available. (All links have been updated as of 2006.) In keeping with the theme of this site, I've listed very few films made after the 80s, but it's hard to avoid the breakthrough sci-fi and horror films made during the late 70s and early 80s. There are also some special horror/sci-fi sites listed in the Classic Films Horror/Sci-Fi Movies list. I've added many new ones to the list this year. Your suggestions, of course, are always appreciated -- just don't ask me to include anything made in the past few years!

* Abbott & Costello Meet Frankenstein (1948)
First on the list alphabetically, but shouldn't be the first one you see, because much of the humor is in knowing something about the various monsters and watching how the boys play off them. Very funny, and even scary.

* The Abominable Dr. Phibes (1971)
Before "Seven," there was "nine" -- the nine biblical plagues, which Dr. Phibes visits upon his victim in one of the best of the Vincent Price horror movies.

* Alien (1979)
In my opinion, this movie has one of the most frightening alien monsters ever created. Sigourney Weaver is a great heroine, smashing the mold of the helpless damsals in distress of the traditional gothic horror films.

* The Birds (1963)
Leave it to The Master to turn a flock of birds into malevolent monsters.

* The Black Cat (1934)
A psychological horror film based on a Poe story, the first joint effort for Boris Karloff and Bela Lugosi. Read the review by Tim Dirks of The Greatest Films site.

* Bride of Frankenstein (1935)
Considered even better than the original, the movie boasts a great campy performance by Elsa Lanchester.
Review by Tim Dirks.

* Burn, Witch, Burn (1962)
A very nice little low budget, black and white horror film based on Fritz Leiber's novel Conjure Wife. Known as Night of the Eagle in the UK.

* The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (1919)
A stunning experiment in cinematic surrealism and psychological horror that set the tone for many later works. Werner Krauss stars as the hypnotist/showman who travels through a weirdly distorted German countryside and unleashes Cesare, his somnambulist slave, on the townspeople.

* Carnival Of Souls (1962)
A car plunges off a bridge, and a young woman emerges, apparently unscathed. Wandering off, her odyssey takes her to a strange small town and a carnival pavilion whose patrons walk the line between the living and the dead. Director Herk Harvey's atmospheric low-budget chiller has achieved a cult following. (Includes both the original black-and-white and the newly colorized versions.)

* Curse Of The Demon (1956)
A psychologist and occult "debunker" played by Dana Andrews finds himself up against a centuries-old blood cult attempting to bring a demon to Earth, and must use lots of skills to pass the runes. Directed by Jacques Tourneur (Cat People). (Includes both the American version and the complete, restored British version, alternately titled Night of the Demon.)

* Dawn of the Dead (1978)
George Romero's popular follow-up to his seminal 1968 zombie flick, Night of the Living Dead.

* The Day The Earth Stood Still (1951)
This breakthrough film set the tone for many sci-fi flics which followed. Its intelligence and theory that humans are more of a threat to the universe than vice-versa were refreshing for the times.

* Dead of Night (1945)
This British film consists of five interwoven stories, all of which have been ripped off more than once, particularly the one about the ventriloquist dummy.

* Dracula (1931)
Bela Lugosi's signature performance as the great vampire.

* Dracula (1979)
Frank Langella did such a great job in this film, based on his Broadway performance, that he was almost typecast in the role. Olivier's in it, too, but the play was better, or so they say.

* The Exorcist (1973)
Recently chosen by TV Guide as the scariest movie of all time. The religious element made it a big draw in the mid-seventies.

* The Fly (1958)
Half man, half fly, with Vincent Price thrown into the mix. Pretty scary at the time.

* Forbidden Planet (1956)
This was the first great sci-fi movie I ever saw, and the ending still packs a punch, despite some of the "Lost in Space" aspects at the beginning.

* FrankensteinFrankenstein (1931)
The acknowledged king of horror films may look like a cliche today, but it created most of those cliches.

* Freaks (1932)
Tod Browning's disturbing story of circus "freaks" and their special form of revenge on a "normal" woman was and is a cult favorite, banned in many places when it was first released.

* Halloween (1978)
This early John Carpenter effort set the tone for many slasher flicks to come. None of the sequels measured up. 25th Anniversary DVD

* The Haunting (1963)
One of the greatest of all haunted house movies makes its point without ever really showing us a ghost. Avoid the recent remake at all costs.

* Horror of Dracula (1958)
The first of the Hammer horror films, with Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee together for the first time, is thought by some to be the best vampire movie of the classic era.

* Horror Hotel (1960)
A curious co-ed in pursuit of her history studies visits a ramshackle Massachusetts town that had been the site of witch burnings... and lands in the clutches of a coven that has risen from the ashes. Starring Christopher Lee.

* House On Haunted Hill (1959)
A sinister host, played by Vincent Price offers a group of people $10,000 each if they'll spend the night in his macabre mansion, then does his best to see that no one collects. Directed by the legendary William Castle. (B&W and colorized versions)

* I Was a Teenage Werewolf (1957)
The best of the "teenage" movies starred Michael Landon as the scary pubescent lycanthrope.

* The Incredible Shrinking Man (1957)
Richard Matheson wrote the novel and the screenplay for this film in which common cats and spiders become frightening monsters, thanks to a man's exposure to nuclear radiation.

* Invasion of the Body SnatchersInvasion of the Body Snatchers (1956)
When I was a kid, this was the first horror/sci-fi film that I was forbidden to see (probably had something to do with the word "body" in the title). The 1978 remake wasn't bad, either.

* Island of Lost Souls (1933)
The original version of H.G. Wells' novel, The Island of Dr. Moreau. Charles Laughton makes a very creepy Dr. Moreau, and Bela Lugosi is equally creepy as The Sayer of the Law. If you've seen later versions, particularly the recent Brando remake, be sure to catch this one if you can.

* The Invisible Man (1933)
Directed by the legendary James Whale (Frankenstein), this original version of the H.G. Wells tale stars Claude Rains, who is a scary character, even though he's rarely seen in the flesh. The film also stars Gloria Stuart, of Titanic fame.

* Jaws (1975)
Not to be outdone by Hitchcock, Spielberg managed to make people afraid of a fish. In a totally different class from the sequels.

* King Kong (1933)
Excellent special effects for its day, a beautiful heroine, and a sympathetic monster make this one a keeper.

* The Legend of Hell House (1973)
Roddy McDowall and Pamela Franklin star in this haunted house film that's a somewhat weaker version of "The Haunting," though still plenty scary and entertaining.

* The Legend of Sleepy Hollow 1958)
One of the scariest Disney animations ever created. I still have childhood memories of the scene where the Headless Horseman threw his pumpkin head at poor Ichabod! It's not Alien, but it's not a Mickey Mouse cartoon, either.

* Val Lewton Horror CollectionThe Val Lewton Horror Collection
Along with Cat People, I Walked with a Zombie, The Curse of the Cat People, The Body Snatcher, Isle of the Dead, and Bedlam, this five-disc boxed set also includes two exclusive double features. First, a remote New Mexico town is filled with fear when a killer jungle cat is on the loose and a series of savage murders follows in The Leopard Man (1943), with Dennis O'Keefe and Jean Brooks; and the new third mate of a ship discovers his captain is a sadistic maniac in The Ghost Ship (1943), starring Richard Dix and Russell Wade. Next, a young woman comes to New York City to look for her missing sister and uncovers a deadly devil-worshipping cult in The Seventh Victim, starring Kim Hunter, Tom Conway and Jean Brooks; followed by Shadows in the Dark: The Val Lewton Legacy, a documentary look at how the producer's '40s RKO tenure changed the face of screen horror.

* Mad Love (1935)
Peter Lorre as Dr. Gogol, who grafts the hands of a murderer onto the arms of a great pianist, whose wife Dr. Gogol happens to be in love with.

* Masque of the Red Death (1964)
Roger Corman and Vincent Price combined for this classy but low-budget version of the Edgar Allen Poe story.

* The Mummy (1932)
It may look a little creaky after more than 70 years, especially compared to the 1999 remake, but Boris Karloff and the Mummy make a pretty scary combination, nevertheless.
DVD Legacy Collection

* Night of the Demon (1957)
Given the highest rating by voters in the Internet Movie Database poll among all English-language horror movies made before 1982. Starring Dana Andrews.

* Night of the Living Dead (1968)
George Romero's seminal but low-budget 1968 zombie flick is still about as scary as they get, because in spite of the black and white, it looks real. 1978 sequel was better, but this was the first.

* Nosferatu (1922)
F.W. Murnau's masterpiece is thought by many to be the greatest vampire movie of all time.

* The Old Dark House (1932)
Six travelers seek refuge from a storm in a decrepit mansion in Wales, inhabited by a creepy, eccentric family (especially hideously scarred butler Boris Karloff). A classic mix of thrills, scares and laughs from Frankenstein director James Whale. With Charles Laughton, Melvyn Douglas, Ernest Thesiger, Gloria Stuart.

* The Omen (1976)
Great stars Gregory Peck and Lee Remick star in this story of a little boy discovered by his father to be the Antichrist. Though the movie was actually listed in the book 50 Worst Movies Of All Time, many feel it is one of the best horror movies ever made, and almost Hitchcockian in some of its shots. Hollywood thought enough of it to remake it recently.

* The Pit and the Pendulum (1961)
One of Vincent Price's best classic horror vehicles, based loosely on the Poe story.

* Poltergeist (1982)
A very scary film, with an excruciating climactic final scene taking place in a muddy pit full of decomposed corpses. Read the review From The Greatest Films.

* PsychoPsycho (1960)
Hitchcock might not be happy to hear that he started the slasher flick craze, but this is still his most popular film, and one which influenced generations of filmmakers.

* Rosemary's Baby (1968)
Roman Polanski scared moviegoers in the late sixties with this tale of a woman, played by Mia Farrow, who gives birth to the Devil's child.

* The Shining (1980)
We couldn't forget this one by Stanley Kubrick, who teams up with Jack Nicholson for a gothic tale with a difference.
Reviewed by Tim Dirks.

* The Spiral Staircase (1946)
Dorothy McGuire is a servant left mute by a childhood trauma, caring for invalid Ethel Barrymore in a spooky Victorian New England mansion with a killer of handicapped women on the loose. "Don't go down the cellar!"

* The Uninvited (1944)
Ray Milland and Ruth Hussey star in one of the classic haunted house films, set in an old house on the English coast that holds a terrible secret.

* The Wolf Man (1941)
One of a handful of the most remarkable horror films. Lon Chaney, Jr.'s best-known role. The rest of the cast is excellent, as well.

Monday, July 13, 2009

4 Best Halloween Costumes Themes to Dazzle Your Looks

Halloween is back again! Are you ready to take to the floor with awe struck gazes? You can look dazzlingly bizarre, funny, scary, and sexy if you have decked yourself with the hottest and trendiest of Halloween costumes. Almost all of the online an offline stores are flooded with amazing Halloween costumes and accessories. What are you waiting for? Go and grab your pick and get ready for the grand celebrations. Are you waiting for some tips on Halloween costumes? Here you go! You can get your theme from some of the latest and popular Halloween costume ideas enlisted below:

Historical figure Halloween costumes: This is one of the popular themes. In every one of us there is a craze for some historical personality and we try to emulate ourselves into the figure so much so that at times we become oblivious to our present surrounding. Still, such desires of becoming a French revolutionist or some other historical figure gets restrained. Halloween is the right time to unleash that desire to put on the garb of Queen Elizabeth or the robe of Henry VIII of England.

Hip culture Halloween costumes: These Halloween costumes are taken right from movies of 70s, and 80s era, cartoons, Classic TV series, Charlie Chaplin comic flicks, pop and rock stars. Elvis Presley costumes had been a rage once. Similarly, in contemporary times Hanna Montana is the latest hip teen rage for Halloween costumes trend. Scooby Doo, Barbie, Cinderella, Genie, or space ghost characters costumes are too in for kids. Not to forget the latest movie character Jack Sparrow who has revolutionized the pirate figure and has become one of the most sought after in Halloween costumes.

Scary & bizarre Halloween costumes: Of course Halloween is meant to celebrate the peace for dead and bygone memories, why not dress up like a pumpkin with a candle in hand. You can also don a black robe with terrible looking mask that will scare the wits of a normal being and add eerie charm to the Halloween night. Get your self a pair of long vampire teeth stained with blood to add on to that devilish charm and a hooded robe just like Dracula. Lots more are available in the stock of Halloween costumes and accessories including witches robes, ghosts, airy spirits, ugly monsters, demonic eyes, wigs, long claws, studded rings and neck pieces.

Medieval romance Halloween costumes: Young couples and teenagers just love to dress up in Halloween costumes that are fashioned after the medieval period of knights, princesses, young damsels, fairies, jesters, elves, kings, queens and pages.

Just keep juggling various ideas and themes to come up with some unique Halloween costumes and become the center of attraction at this years Halloween party.

Saturday, July 11, 2009

Womens Halloween Costumes: Great Halloween Costumes for the Ladies

You do not have to be issued an invitation when going to Halloween party nights. Anybody can go trick and treating in their best Halloween costumes. Nobody is ever too old or too young to dress up in role playing get ups. This is the one night of all festivities in the whole year that you live out your fantasies. Imaginations can run wild. Women’s Halloween costumes are probably the most creative and attractive. Women normally do the competing trying to outdo their counterparts.

Hollywood Exoticwear will make sure that you have the best Halloween costumes worth the best prize for the night. The nightmare black widow costume most likely will top the best Halloween costumes for women’s Halloween costumes. The costume comes with a black velour floor length gown with attached black lace with web-like bell sleeves. When don with the right make up surely this will win hands down. However the Halloween costumes are made it is probably how you wear them that make for the best part.

But at Hollywood Exoticwear you can have your cake and eat it too. The best Halloween costumes however you wear them can still make the grade. These are cut above the rest. All selection, a whole variety of them are made to fit comfortably look fantastically and make for the best Halloween costumes for women. Women’s Halloween costumes range from pirate costumes to renaissance costumes, to funny costumes and alluring pieces will know your socks off. Picking out one can be difficult but at Hollywood Exoticwear anything is possible.

Women need not find selecting a Halloween costume daunting because the best Halloween costumes are found at Hollywood Exoticwear, your one stop shop for women’s Halloween costume. From theatrical quality costumes to playboy costumes, fairy and angel costumes, witches and gothic beauty costumes and so much more. A day will never end without you taking out one of the best Halloween costumes.

Hollywood Exoticwear supplies the best Halloween costumes all throughout the year. With its grand and choicest selection the online store is the right place to shop for women’s Halloween costumes. It gives women the chance to show their individuality in costumes that are extraordinary, far out but fantastic and spectacular. Hollywood Exoticwear knows women a lot. The online store carries only superb and first-rate quality Halloween costumes for women. Fun costumes top their list too. Since Halloween nights like any other nights are always fun for women. Be dressed with the best Halloween costumes from Hollywood Exoticwear. You will never know what hit you when you go trick and treating. For whatever Halloween costumes you require Hollywood Exoticwear is a very good choice.

The online store can boast of first-rate quality products. The products are durable and long lasting that you can wear again the next time around. This helps you save time and money. Any woman can practically shop at the online store since their huge collection is of diverse sizes, shapes, and colors. Whatever your moods there is a costume for that desired effect. And Hollywood Exoticwear can come up to expectations and face can face the challenge.

With its easy and simple navigation tools, you can be sure of getting your orders right. Delivery and shipping are equally fast and orderly. Pricing is never a problem and question. Everything turns great when you think Hollywood Exoticwear for those women’s Halloween costumes.

Friday, July 10, 2009

Comic-con costume do’s and dont’s: Superman

Do

I’m sure this guy smells like cigarettes, black coffee and PBR! The lack of dedication here is kind of endearing. Not only did he not shave or cut his hair, but he’s rocking aviators. He just woke up all hung over and threw on an oversized Superman Halloween costume. This is the most interesting guy at the convention. I guarantee it!



Don't

This is the epitome of delusional, and the absolute embodiment of every negative stereotype of those who collect comics.


Tuesday, July 7, 2009

How To Make Couples Halloween Costumes

Visualize this: A man and a woman each wear plain black pants. The left leg of one is tied to the right leg of the other, as in the game, "Three-Legged Race." Together they wear a giant oversized t-shirt that they've clearly had custom-made. The punch line is the t-shirt slogan: "Co-" reads one side; "Dependent" reads the other.

I saw this very Halloween costume once and in my mind it doesn't get any better than this-brilliant, inspired and conceptual. But hey, you can dress however you'd like come Halloween; it's the one holiday that really has a place for everyone. So if you're considering going en deux, here are some ideas to get you started:

1. Well-known couples: Think Sid and Nancy, Boris and Natasha, Tarzan and Jane, Bonnie and Clyde, Frankenstein and his bride, Hansel and Gretel, Ken and Barbie, Hugh Hefner and Playboy bunny. Anyone remember Captain and Tennille? What's nice about dressing as a pair that is already well-known is that their iconic status does some of the legwork for you: Because people know what to expect, they fill in the blanks themselves. Be sure to know your audience: Virginia and Leonard Woolf may go over well with your book group friends and less well at the Tractor Puller Association party.
2. Well-known couples with a twist: Have the man dress up as the female of a famous couple and the female dress up as the man. A variation on this theme is to go as a well-known gay or lesbian couple. Finally, the couple does not have to be romantically involved: Think Felix Unger and Oscar Madison.
3. Television characters: You can either go retro-Pebbles and Bam Bam, Fred and Wilma Flintstone, Barney and Betty Rubble, Jeannie and Major Anthony Nelson (aka Larry Hagman)-or current.

4. Male and female variations on a theme: Take a theme and do the male and female versions of it: Cowboy and cowgirl, priest and nun, a male and female Viking, or a couple representative of a particular decade (i.e. he is in bell-bottom pants with a velvet jacket, she in a miniskirt and white go-go boots).

5. Costumes with a sense of humor: Many of the costumes listed within this article can be given a humorous twist with just a bit of imagination. For example, for the priest and nun costume mentioned above, make the nun pregnant. Or if you have a male magician, have his female assistant dress with stitch marks through her middle.
6. Current trends: I can't really give you ideas for this category since by the time you read it, the concepts will be old. But look to the news for a current event, and run with it. A good example of this out of the past would be Bill Clinton and Monica Lewinsky.

7. Things that come in twos: Think mustard and ketchup or salt and pepper.
8. Things that go together: Think beer and lime, nut and bolt, plug and socket, sperm and egg, hot dog and bun. Playing with people's expectations can give your costumes some extra oomph in this category: Have the woman dress as the hot dog and the man as the bun.

9. Things that oppose: Consider categories that have a built-in natural opposition to them such as Republican and Democrat and then build on the theme.

10. Costumes in bad taste. I have to admit to liking the brazen extremes that some people will go to when dressing for Halloween. We here at HowToDoThings.com strongly recommend treading lightly when it comes to poking fun. So if your ideas run along the lines of...... Cher and Sonny (with a giant tree attached to his head) or Siegfried and Roy (post-attack), please reconsider. If you plan to do something in bad taste, at least let it be at your own expense, and not someone else's.

Hopefully this list will help to get your own creative juices flowing so that you can create couples Halloween costumes that suit you and your better half (wait, that just gave me another idea.....)

Monday, July 6, 2009

Celebrate Halloween at Chessington

The summer is barely upon us but Chessington World of Adventures & Zoo is already preparing to offer some UK holiday ideas with its Halloween celebrations.

The gates at will creak open for Halloween Hocus Pocus from October 23rd until November 1st 2009 to reveal plenty of spooky goings-on.

As is traditional with Halloween Hocus Pocus - scary creatures of all ages can join in the fun by donning your best Halloween costumes. So, get your ghoulish gear on and head down to Chessington World of Adventures & Zoo.

Test your nerve with the brand new Black Forest Trail, an interactive walk through adventure. Challenge yourself to take the walk without screaming or laughing depending on how brave you are.

Be warned - scaredy cats had better take someone with them to cling on to!

Also new for 2009, a mythical Fiery Faun will be weaving enchanting tales of his homeland using magic and fire to delight the younger members of your family.

Head over to Hocus Pocus Hall Bewitched, those who have already encountered the 3D attraction where goblins run riot may be surprised to find a few extra frights to help liven up the day!

Guests can ride hair-raising rollercoasters, including Vampire and Dragon’s Fury into the night, and get up close and personal with the Zoo’s spiders, snakes and glow-in-the-dark scorpions.

Special days in the USA

Independence Day

Independence Day celebrates the birthday of the United States of America. On July 4th 1776, the 13 colonies of North America signed (podepsala) the Declaration of Independence (nezávislost). This said that they were no longer under the control of Great Britain (né pod vládou VB) and were an independent country.This famous deslaration, which marked the birth of the USA, is celebrated every year on the 4th July
The 4th of July is a time for the Red White and Blue. A time for picnics, parades and flying the flag (vlajka), which has a special importance (význam) to Americans. At night there are parties, barbecues ans concerts.

Hallowe´en

-is a holiday celebrated on October 31st . Children dress up like ghost or witches ang go ´trick or treating´ in their neighbourhood. The neighbours are expected (očekávají) to give them candy or money.Halloween costumes are traditionally those of monsters such as ghosts, skeletons, witches, and devils. Costumes are also based on themes other than traditional horror, such as those of characters from television shows, movies, and other pop culture icons.
The tradition of Hallowe´en came over with German immigrants, and other celebrations came with different groups. Irish Americans, for example, celebrate St Patrik's Day, as he is the patron saint of Ireland. In new Orleans, there is the colourful festival of Mardi Gras (masopustní úterý), with parties and carnival, which was brought over by French immigrants.

Thanksgiving

- is the fourth Thursday in November. Many people také a day off on Friday to make a four-day weekend, and they may travel long distances to visit friends and relations because Thanksgiving Day is a special family occasion.
The holiday dates back to 1621, the year after the Pilgrims (poutníci) arrived in Massachusetts, in their search for religious freedom. (hledání náboženské svobody)
After the horrible winter, in which nearly half of the Pilgrims died, they turned for help (obrátili se na pomoc) to the Native Americans, who taught (naučili) them how to plant (pěstovat) corn and other crops (obilí). The next autumn's harvest (hárvist-žně) was wonderful.
Thanksgiving dinners always include some of the foods served at the first: roast turkey (opékat krůtu) cranberry sauce (brusinkovou omáčku), potatoes, pumpkin pie (dýňový koláč). Before the meal begins, families or friends usually pause to give thanks for their good fortune (hodně štěstí) and for being together for the occasion.

Tuesday, June 30, 2009

8 Halloween Costumes That Will Scare Environmentalists

Your green friends are carefully planning their Halloween costumes (made out of recycled materials, of course), and they'll be showing up to the costume party as Mother Nature, T. Boone Pickens, and Al Gore, while all you can do is roll your eyes. As they plan a green Halloween, you'll want to spoil their eco-minded celebration in the most passive-aggressive way possible. Try these costume suggestions:

* Safari Hunter—Tell environmentalists, "I have a blatant disregard for the well-being of wildlife," with a sexy safari costume, complete with a shotgun and victims. To enhance this costume, take some red paint and apply it to a few stuffed animals to sling over your shoulder or string around your belt. When you talk to people at the costume party, be sure to share your views about how the Bush administration is being a little too generous with the amount of creatures added to the endangered species list.

* Grocery Bag—Who needs reusable grocery bags when the store gives out the plastic and paper ones free? Show environmentalists that their conservation efforts are all for naught by making yourself a grocery bag costume (or "gross-ery" as this child has done—instructions are the same). Cover a box in butcher paper to make your bag, and then fill it with overpackaged food that has traveled halfway across the country to your store—kiwis and triple-plastic-wrapped white bread, along with plenty of bottled water and eggs that aren't free range.

* Sushi—We learned last week that sushi chefs across the country aren't always using sustainable seafood in their ingredients. If you decide to make this California roll costume, be sure to carry your sushi guide with you and point out that you're made of imported king crab.

* Lumberjack—You're a lumberjack, and you don't care about the environmentalists, who will hear about the resources you consume. Be sure to tell them you don't recycle paper, either. Sub out the ax or chain saw for a rifle and earmuffs, and this costume can easily be transformed into aerial wolf hunter.

* Gas Pump—Show those green hippie wusses what America really runs on. Now that the price of gas is lowering, couple your "told you so" smugness with plenty of mentions of your Hummer limo, conveniently idling outside for the duration of the party. Here's a gas pump costume (note: it contains an off-color but safe-for-work joke).

* Steak—Real Americans eat meat, so when you wear this T-bone steak around, be sure to remind all of your vegetarian and flexitarian friends how delicious the taste of grilled, seasoned animal flesh can be, with a cheerful "Enjoy your tofu burgers, suckas!"

* Sarah Palin—One of the most popular costumes of the year, our candidate who said that the cause of climate change "kinda doesn't matter" would kinda be a great costume to irritate your green friends. Get a Sarah Palin mask, and accessorize with shotgun, canned salmon, and dead polar bear stuffed animals.

* Cow With Whoopee Cushion—Cows are the biggest animal contributors to global warming because of the methane they, to put it politely, emit. Get a cow costume and a whoopee cushion, which you can use on yourself or place under the chair of anyone dressed as Al Gore.

Wednesday, June 24, 2009

Halloween Open Creativity

Halloween is a time for both adults and kids alike to delve into their creative sides and dream up inventive Halloween costumes. It is also a time when people want to be something that they cannot be in their everyday lives. Some people choose to use their minds and try something clever, while others stick to the traditional choices of ghost or witch. They also want their costumes to be unique and very different from everyone else's that they may see on that particular day

Some people are talented enough to create their own Halloween costumes while others stick to store-bought. Have fun with your costume this year and go over the top! Make your costume the best at the party!

If you're dressing up for a Halloween party, you're naturally going to want to look at some sexy Halloween costumes before choosing the right costume for you. That's kind of the whole point of dressing up for Halloween. You have the perfect excuse to go over the top and surprise everyone with your sexy alter ego.

You will easily find sexy versions of traditional Halloween costumes. If you're thinking of being a witch or a devil, you can easily make them sexy Halloween costumes. Some of these costumes feature very short tops or bustiers and mini skirts combined with more traditional costume elements. They also often feature sexy materials like vinyl and lace. Add heels or, even better, patent leather or vinyl tall boots with high heels, and you've made the costume.

Don't forget to add fishnets, which come in white, black, and red. Just know that white are a little harder to see. Consider wearing regular nylons underneath the fishnets for more contrast and to give your legs a more toned look. Black fishnets work with basically everything. They're like the nude of fishnets. Otherwise, another kind of stockings is necessary. Thigh highs are a lot of fun, and extremely sexy.

Accessories and props will make sexy Halloween costumes. If you're a devil, make sure you have horns. If you're a cat, mouse, or bunny, get your ears and tail. The ears actually make a great headband and they also are great for hiding a wig line. Halloween is a fun time to try long wigs (or short if you have long hair).

Using Halloween decorations such as candles, jack o lanters, table cloth and settings, Halloween props and Dracula teeth along with a costume makes it possible to tell a whole story. What character is truly complete without his or her props? No matter who or what your costume is seeking to portray, there is most likely a way to play the part more fully with the help of Halloween
decorations.

One way to come up with a prop idea is to establish a character and think of something that he or she might want with him or her more often than not. Think of a cowboy. He may want a gun, a campfire nearby or a horse (this last prop might have to actually be played by a friend). An angel could do well to carry a harp in her hands, or a fairy would likely need a wand.

On a more creative note, a way to make a costume that seems serious more amusing is by incorporating the right Halloween props. This will be easier for some people than others, for there are just those who tend to get really inspired about some small detail and it takes them far.

Perhaps, in the case of using props to hint at something, act as an insight or to make a sarcastic statement, decide to dress as a friend, a celebrity or a politician. This person might be well known for an association with something in particular. Carrying around an item that suggests that well-known personality trait (an alarm clock for the guy who is never on time, a mirror for someone
vain, etc.) can end up being a big hit as you hear people exclaiming, "Oh, I get it," followed by laughter.

Halloween began thousands of years ago Celtic people inhabiting the area that is now England, Ireland and Scotland celebrated their new year on November 1st. The Celtic religious order known as the Druids held a great festival each year on the evening before the their new year. This festival was celebrated in honor of the god, Samhain, the Druid god of death and was known as All Hallowtide. The Druids believed in the supernatural and tried to placate the Lord of Death with offerings. This is the action that "Trick-or-Treat" emulates today. The community also sacrificed animals and offered fruits and vegetables so the spirits would keep their distance. The cold and darkness of winter and the presence of spirits are reasons why Halloween is connected with images of death and evil.

Halloween is spooky, but taking Halloween pictures shouldn't be. From a jack-o'-lantern's scary stare to frighteningly fun costumes, this holiday offers unique picture-taking opportunities. The tips below will ease your mind about the unusual challenges that Halloween presents for a photographer. And we'll also show you a few tricks to capture bewitching jack-o'-lantern pictures.

Halloween is a time for both adults and kids alike to delve into their creative sides and dream up inventive Halloween costumes. It is also a time when people want to be something that they cannot be in their everyday lives. Some people choose to use their minds and try something clever, while others stick to the traditional choices of ghost or witch. They also want their costumes to be unique and very different from everyone else's that they may see on that particular day

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

It's Not Too Early To Be Thinking About A Great Halloween Mask

Although historical Halloween has some sinister beginnings, today Halloween means dressing up in costumes and having a wonderful time. Parties, dressing up at work, decorating the house all are part of the festivities that have become Halloween. To really get into the whole Halloween thing however must include not only a great costume but also a great Halloween mask. The costume is rather simple to obtain as there are costume shops in most major cities and it's even possible to order a particular costume on the web for delivery just before Halloween. Although you may now have the clothing to look like your favorite character or monster, your face still is easily recognizable. This is where a high quality Halloween mask can really come into play.

If there's a choice between a fancy costume or a great Halloween mask and makeup, definitely take the mask. The reason is that although the costume can complete a certain "look" any character you can imagine can also wear basic street clothes. Consider the strong heavily made-up character, a clown. Yes, it's great to have a funny costume and big shoes, but a clown could also wear a business suit or some pajamas and be just as fun. How about a basic witch or warlock? A good Halloween mask and makeup and a cape can make a wonderful witch. So if the character you want to be for Halloween needs face or hand makeup, remember it's the Halloween mask and interaction with the character that will be memorable, not the costume.

Halloween masks come in a variety of styles and types. The most popular and easiest to obtain is the full head latex type masks. These are the type that are available in all the Halloween shops that seem to open up the first part of October and disappear November 1st. These masks come pre colored and decorated and unfortunately also look like you're wearing a mask.

Another option is simply makeup. Theatrical makeup is easily obtained and does a fairly good job if used along with "stick on" type appliances. Appliances are small pieces of pre formed costume latex in shapes like scars, gashes and other more gruesome things. The only problem is that many of the appliances that are easily available tend toward the more gruesome type characters, The idea is to apply the scars etc. first then finish off with the makeup to hide the edges of the appliances. All in all, a good, though somewhat limited Halloween mask idea.

The best idea of all however are full facial appliances. These are theatrical grade latex masks that can are applied directly to your face and give an extremely realistic appearance. These appliances can literally transform anyone into a wide variety of characters. Wizards, warlocks, clowns, monsters, etc. They can even age someone into their 80's or 90's. The biggest benefit of these types of Halloween mask is that they allow you the opportunity to become the character. You friends and guests will not remember that you "dressed up" for Halloween but that you actually were that favorite hobbit or troll.

Monday, June 22, 2009

Adult Halloween costumes – the right choice!

Each year, millions of people celebrate the scary night of Halloween. They dress as their favorite characters, carve up pumpkins and go from door to door asking for candy. A wonderful celebration, Halloween would not be the same if people did not wear costumes. Whether we are talking about a simple Halloween costume or something more sophisticated, the basic idea is that being costumed is great. And considering the wealth of adult Halloween costumes existent out there, how could we think otherwise?

You can dress yourself like the Court Jester, appear at the party as the Lady of the Court or just wear a simple cape instead of a regular Halloween costume. There are many choices out there and the truth is that we all welcome the opportunity to wear a unique-looking costume for one night. Court Jester adult Halloween costumes are quite popular, being represented by an assortment of the following: hood, shirt and pants. As you will probably be informed, you will have to take care of the shoes and the gloves, as these are not included within the package. Another interesting Halloween costume is the Evil Jester adult costume, one that you can match the Evil Royal Goblet to, or the Playing Card King adult costume.

Friday, June 19, 2009

Why The Halloween Costume Industry is Growing

The Halloween costume industry has been expanding for years. That's because more and more people are interested in wearing the latest Halloween costumes at parties, birthdays, and other dress-up events. That means Halloween costumes aren't just for Halloween anymore. The typical fancy costume party is enough to generate a lot of money for a local Halloween shop. There are many more reasons why the Halloween costume industry is booming right now. They are as follows:

More adults are wearing Halloween costumes. Adult costumes are disappearing from the shelves quickly as the more traditional norms of society have begun to disappear. Before, it was practically taboo for an adult to sport a Halloween costume on Halloween. Now. its common place. Another thing that has added to the popularity of Halloween costumes are costume parties. Generally attended by adults, costume parties are the perfect places to wear outrageous Halloween costumes. Why? You'll get a good laugh or a good scare because of all the unique Halloween costumes.

Adults have been known to attend costume parties in all kinds of getups. Some of the more popular adult costumes are waitress, witch, princess, and movie character. People like to dress up in these costumes because they appeal to other people's emotions easily. For instance, who doesn't get a few childhood memories when they see the wicked witch of the west from the wizard of OZ?

Another reason the Halloween costume business is booming is because consumers are getting a little richer each year. Nowadays, there are more and more opportunities to become a millionaire. The Internet makes it easy for the average adult to start selling items from a personal website and marketing them using Search Engine Optimization or other internet networking techniques. And when consumers have more money, that only means one thing, they buy more stuff. And they buy more Halloween costumes. They buy the costumes both for themselves and their kids.

Kids costumes are the traditional hot seller in the Halloween industry, and there's no lack of parents who annually come into Halloween stores looking for the perfect kid costume for their child. Since there's no shortage of customers, there's also no shortage of costumes. Stores sell all kinds of children's costumes, from cartoon characters to superheroes to religious figures.

Kid costumes have also become popular because schools have programs that encourage children to come to school dressed-to-impress around Halloween. Schools usually have Halloween parades and afternoon Halloween parties. At the parties, kids usually enjoy cookies, cakes, and other sweet treats. And kids come dressed to the hilt in every kids costume imaginable. No one wants to be outdone.

The Halloween costume industry is expected to continue to grow. As more and more babies are born and technology advances, costume makers should be able to produce costumes quicker to end up in stores well ahead of Halloween. Also, as TV and film continue to develop new popular characters, more and more people will want to "become" these characters in costume form.

Thursday, June 18, 2009

What's Hot For Halloween?

If you are taking your Halloween party seriously this year, and want it to be the best in the neighbourhood, then it is worth getting up to date with what may be big on the coming Halloween scene. There are several aspects to holding a Halloween party, and to put on the best “show”, knowing what might be the most contemporary themes, the latest in horror props and scene setters, scary gadgets and costumes, will give you a big advantage over those who have not checked out the Halloween scene for a few years.

Many of the old Halloween favourites will still be there this year, and long may it be so. Ghouls, vampires, pumpkins, witches and skeletons and other vintage Halloween stars, will no doubt be there again in their thousands, but even they may be looking better, and in some cases more realistic and scary, than ever.

If you do not feel up to date with throwing a Halloween party, here are a few ideas that may help you plan a screaming success of a party:

Halloween Costumes

If you and your family are holding a Halloween party, you definitely need to be dressed for the hosts' role, so choosing convincing costumes is an important start. Many Halloween costumes are available in child,even baby and infant, sizes, so if you have children there is no need for them to be left out when it comes to costumes.

Halloween costumes need not be scary. In fact, there's a good chance that some of the most popular costumes will be based on Hollywood movies. A hot favourite is likely to be pirates, thanks to the release of Disney's Pirates of the Caribbean Dead Man's Chest; and especially Captain Jack Sparrow. Other Disney movie characters will also be popular for Halloween costumes, such as Jack Skellington of Nightmare Before Christmas, and for children Sulley Monster from Monsters Inc.

Apart from Disney movies, the return of Superman is sure to feed into the costume market for Halloween, and Harry Potter will no doubt be widely featured. Spiderman looks like being a common costume choice too.

Away from the movies, masks and costume generally seem to get more convincing by the year. the old frighteners such as Dracula and other vampires, zombies, ghouls will be given fresh facelifts for the new Halloween. Not every party goer wants to be a monster, though, and sexy costumes will undoubtedly be in demand again, even such vintage costumes as sexy nurses, chambermaids, belly dancers and sexy cops.

Halloween Props and Scene Setters

It is worth having a good look around at what's available in the way of modern props to help you set the party scene at your home. You can consider setting up your garden, too, to become part of the atmospheric creation.

Some useful props for the garden after dark, especially the front garden and around the drive to greet your guests, are tombstones. Having a garden cemetery can really give you the scope to set the right mood even before the guests come inside the house. Adding to that atmosphere could be a fog maker, pumping artificial fog around the tombstones and any other garden props. A few decapitated heads (artificial of course) with horrific expressions, and other frighteners, could be lit by setting up a low intermittent light near each one, to take visitors by surprise in the swirling fog. Air blown large scale monsters are another possibility for outside or inside the house.

Inside the house, there is a wide choice of scene setters around these days, which you can fix to the walls. These scenic backdrops can help to set up a haunting feel to the house. Your lighting needs to be carefully arranged to have maximum effect, while maintaining safety for family and guests.

Body parts (again, artificial!) such as severed hands, feet, legs and heads, can be used, with strategic placement, to provide the odd surprise around the house. You could even a full skeleton lying in the bath, with just a glimpse through the curtains in a candlelit bathroom. All these Halloween props are easy to find nowadays, so it is just up to your imagination and budget as to how you make use of them. With thousands of props available, the options are immense.

Wednesday, June 17, 2009

Dress In A Sexy Halloween Costume For A Fun Night Out

Sexy Halloween costumes for a fun night out can mean a variety of things from having a fun night out for just you girls, couples acting out and simply having a good time to being something different for one night a year. Now, when we think of Halloween Costumes, we think of only wearing them for one night - October 31st. Yet this is simply not true. Many not only put on their costumes for more than trick or treating, but for masquerade balls, holiday festivals and to simply role-play for the day.

Getting dressed up is not only about wearing a scary mask or haunted houses full of Witches, Mummies, Bats, and Skeletons but about having fun. Halloween is a celebration of All Hallow's day, All Saints Day and the Celtic Samhain all rolled into one night of revelry and fun. You can dress in your favorite Theatrical costumes, like vampires, a pirate, fairy, angel, and even a werewolf. Both men and women can have fun on this Holiday wearing fashions they never thought to wear. It doesn't matter if you choose a Sexy Halloween Costume or a silly one, you will have fun dressing up.

Sexy Costumes can allow a couple that has an attraction to each other to simply dress up in something they would normally not wear. It is not about being scandalous but about having fun. You can pretend you are a historical hero or heroine right out of the history books, or choose something more modern, like your favorite mascot. Many Halloween costumes are a way to mimic a supernatural creature, or someone seen on TV.

While at your costume or Halloween party, you could bob for apples, have contest on which Costume is the best, Carve jack-o'-lanterns, go to a Bonfire and in some places like Ireland see Fireworks. It is not only about the sweets though that is a major part, it can also be another way to give gifts and have fun. Imagine you and your friends dressing as the same characters and not only be the bells of the ball but have a great laugh as well.

Halloween was originally called Samhain and was a Pagan Festival among the Celts of Ireland and Great Britain. This tradition spread to North America and Scottish immigrants brought their customs with them. Halloween is celebrated in many parts of the Western World and though the most common is the United States, places like Canada, Australia, Ireland and New Zealand celebrate it as well.

This time honored tradition of dressing up and having fun can be a trying time for some. The boom of online costume stores has changed this, however, and many can be bought worldwide. If you are worried that something does not fit, then you might like to know that there are charts and even customer service specialists to help you find just the right size and look.

These stores carry everything from 20s, 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s and the 80s clothing to Egyptian, Medieval & Renaissance, which are also great for the Renaissance Fairs popping up all around. They also have fairytale legends, military and uniforms, maids, and of course, the belly dancer as well. Belly dancing has become a popular exercise and what better way to show off all your hard work than with a sexy belly dancing costume.

Tuesday, June 16, 2009

Popular halloween costumes

Every year you can see some trendy costume that swarms past your door in droves. Many youngsters may be dressing up like politician Barack Obama, Mc Cain etc. Look for celebrity costume like Bernie Mac, George Carlin, Heath Ledger, Tim Russert etc. It is very difficult to convince your child to be something different when he wants to be a Batman and she wants to be Hannah Montana. It would be better if you allow them to dress up the way they want to, otherwise you may feel guilty later. This season some of the hot costumes for kids are High school Musical characters, Iron Man, Speed racer, Transformers, Harry Potter, Power Rangers and Chronicles of Narnia. Many youngsters would love to wear Twilight series characters. Some teens may love to wear Prom Night and other horror flicks. Popular couple costumes include Ketchup and Mustard, Salt and Pepper, Flintstones, Jet sons, disco couples, Adam & Eve. Couples can choose Ball and chain, Tacky Travelers, Indiana Jones characters, Batman and Joker. Regis and Kelly, Santa and Tooth Fairy, a sexy doctor and nurse, Dog the Bounty hunter character, Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt are all good couple choice as well.

Some funny Halloween costumes this year include Taco, Caveman, King Crab, Nerd, and Ninja etc. If you want to look vulgar this year you have a new range of costumes to choose from like Genie in the Lamp, Anita Waxin and Borat Mankini etc. This year wear a costume of your own style. You and your partner can go with a funny local personality, or as TV characters, or dress up like a ghost of your choice. Have fun this Halloween.

It would be nice if you celebrate environmental friendly Halloween. Challenge the kids to reduce, recycle and reuse. Some Green Halloween costumes like poke around the house, in the attic, in the basement, in the garage etc. can be worn by kids. Kids will have a great time going through the fashions of the ages and laughing till they ache that mommy actually wore a cowboy hat and leather-fringed jacket. In addition to recycled green costumes, families can think outside the plastic pumpkin candy box. Halloween is a great time to start learning to celebrate sustainability.


You can also dress up like Star signs. Arians are born leaders so boys would love to look like a superhero: Batman, Spider Man and Superman. Girls would dress up like Batgirl or Catwomen. Taurus is very conservative. They don't like attracting a lot of attention to themselves. So people who are born under this sign might choose: Batman, Bat woman, Pinocchio, Ghost, Vampire or Werewolf. Gemini's are fun loving person. They can enjoy in any occasion. They can wear a witch, devil, mummy costume. You can dress up the way you want to in a Halloween night.

Monday, June 15, 2009

Safety Measures for Halloween Costumes

Halloween is a beautiful day which comes up with more excitement and value for the children and parents. Halloween is an excitement day which cherishes the children and enrich them with full of happiness. Most of the children may cause injury, due to their carelessness and happiness. Halloween safety is insisted on the child to preserve any accidents and injuries. Safety measures should be taken for the day, to flourish the day with memorable incidents. Sometimes the child may cause accidents or injuries due to their dresses or costumes. To avoid such accidents, safety measures should be taken on the costumes. Selection of dress on the day should be made carefully and it should be fire proofed dress.

It is the responsibility of the parents to keep the child carefully and prevent against any accidents or injuries. Safe Halloween makes the day forgettable and memorable day for both the children and parents. Proper selection and good designing of costumes makes the child safety. Proper selection of costume is an important and essential should be taken by the parents for their children. Most of the parents do not take proper care for their children and they face the problem of accidents and injury for their children. Halloween costumes should be selected and designed properly, to protect the child against accidents and injuries.

Some of the measures used to avoid accidents and injuries are

The Halloween costume selected for the day should be designed in such way it is a fire proof material. Halloween costumes should be designed in loose costumes, so that the child can be protected. Sometimes, warm clothes may cause injury to the child. Halloween costumes should not be so loose or tight. It should be produced properly and normally. Costumes designed should not be too long, because sometimes the child may falls down in the crowd and cause severe injury. Proper selection of costumes is must and selection should be made in such way that the child will not get any accident or injury.

Proper tips and measures should be taken fir the day to make the day a memorable and remarkable one. Halloween costumes are the remarkable costumes which every child concentrates more on that. So, that Halloween costumes should be selected based on the weather, climate, and safety. The above said measures are the important measures which both the parents and children have to concentrate more. These measures will surely protect the children against any damages. Halloween measures are more required for the children and parents and cherish the day with happiness and sweet memories.

Wednesday, June 10, 2009

Amazing, Fast And Simple Halloween Costume Ideas For Kids

For toddlers Halloween costumes are available all around and even few Grocery stores sell them. You may opt for a Produced Halloween costume or you can make one of your own if you've got sufficient amount.

From popular people costumes are not only famous but also they are easy to put in. The perfect manner to dress up your toddler in a famous person costume is to go with the outfit the popular person. Best instance is that one can dress up like Waldo from the Waldo books by wearing on a red striped red/white shirt along with blue pant and finishing touch with a red and white cap.

Over 30 year's superman costume is the best liked costume by the kids. This costume has a range of varieties available in commercial and homemade versions. Nearly all the costumes comprise with tights, bodysuit in red and blue and a red cape. Most of the kids cover their neck with a towel around their necks when acting like a superman and therefore superman costume is of great fun and joy even after Halloween.

There will be smiles on all faces brought by the clown. These clown costumes can be simple and toddlers may use wigs and also make use of colored hair spray in order to change their color. In order to bring the look of the clown use make up or a big nose. Either you can use make up which are available in different types or can also use a mask. Main three things to keep in mind with this clown costume are just have fun take it light and happy. This costume is to stay happy and just bring happiness on others face. As it is a Halloween day you also make your child wear scary costume if he/she is well enough to handle it.

Another idea which all of fun is dragon costume. Along the center of the back works well for a dragon costume a body suit that has scales/spikes. A lot of commercial costumes are available for toddlers who want to dress up like dragons.

Knights who kill dragons may go trick-or-treating with your dragon. Dressing your kids with the theme of dragons and knights is of great joy and may help to motivate a playful theme amid your kids for Halloween. With movies such as Eragon becoming so famous, these costumes are going to augment in popularity.

Sponge Bob is full of fun and joyous character that children can dress up as for Halloween. A pair of brown shorts, black belt, and a yellow shirt with circles to make it appears like sponge holes, and a silly look on their face will inclusive your Sponge Bob costume. If you are in need of more realistic Sponge Bob costume, you may find them for comparatively low-priced commercially as well. With all the possibilities which are available there ought to be quite a varied range of costumes at your next costume party.

Tuesday, June 9, 2009

Monday, June 8, 2009

Spooky Astronomy - Halloween is a big night for astronomers.

October 27, 2005: According to the National Retail Foundation, the most popular Halloween costume last year was Spiderman. Next was "a princess," followed by witches and vampires, SpongeBob, Barbie and Harry Potter.

Sounds about right. But if you read the complete list of top costumes, you'll notice something missing: astronomers. There are no Sagans, no Galileos, not even a Hubble.

see captionAnd that's funny, because Halloween is an astronomical holiday.

It has to do with seasons: Halloween is a "cross-quarter date," approximately midway between an equinox and a solstice. There are four cross-quarter dates throughout the year, and each is a minor holiday: Groundhog Day (Feb. 2nd), May Day (May 1st), Lammas Day (Aug. 1st), and Halloween (Oct. 31st).

Right: Red crosses mark the year's cross-quarter dates. [More]

Long ago, "the Celts of the British Isles used cross-quarter days to mark the beginnings of seasons," says John Mosley of the Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles. "Winter began with Halloween, [or as they called it, 'Samhain']. Halloween marked the transition between summer and winter, light and dark -- and life and death."

"On that one night, according to folklore, those who had died during the previous year returned for a final visit to their former homes. People set out food and lit fires to aid them on their journey -- but remained on guard for mischief the spirits might do."

And, so, something astronomical became something spooky. It's not the first time. Have you heard that comets are bad omens? Or that a full moon brings out werewolves? Astronomy and superstition are old friends.

This year Halloween has a new astronomical significance:

On Oct. 31st, the planet Mars is making its closest approach to Earth for the next 13 years. (13 years? Cross your fingers.) Technically speaking, the moment of closest approach occurs on Oct. 30th, a day before Halloween, but the difference in distance between the 30th and the 31st is too slight to matter.

Trick or Treaters will notice Mars rising in the east at sunset: sky map. It looks like a pumpkin-colored star, so intense that people in brightly-lit cities can see it. Some say it's blood red, but maybe that's just Halloween talking.

Mars will soar almost overhead at midnight (as seen from North America) and stay "up" all night long. Halloween 2005 is truly the night of Mars.

Above: Mars rising over Payson Arizona on Oct. 25, 2005. Credit: Chris Shur.

Because Mars is so close--only 69 million km away, which is close on the vast scale of the solar system--it looks great through a backyard telescope. Lately amateur astronomers have been watching dust storms swirl around Mars. They've seen icy-blue clouds gather over the Martian north pole, where it is winter. And they been sketching and photographing strange dark markings that dapple the planet's surface.

So--nothing against Spiderman, mind you--you might wish to reconsider your costume. Grab a telescope and be an astronomer. It is Halloween, after all.

Thursday, June 4, 2009

Women costume Sexy on Halloween! Why?

Remember when you were a child, and for Halloween you would dress up in costumes similar to a cheerleader, a witch, or a cat? Well, as you got older, you were still able to dress up as those characters, just with fewer fabric and more push-up bras.

Celebrating Halloween in the 21st century for a woman means that it is the one night of the year you can walk during the streets in skimpy lingerie and as long as you have animal ears or a nurse's hat on, you can say it's just a Halloween costume.

For women, Halloween costume options are apparently endless. Halloween costume sites feature well over 700 different costume choices, all of which barely cover a person's body. Police costumes, nurse, bumblebee, sailor, school girl, and many more are options obtainable on nearly every Halloween costume website in every size.

Why is it that on one day of the year, women find it more socially satisfactory to bare their skin in a way they would frequently label badly?

In reality, many women aren't at ease enough with their bodies to sport risqué clothing on a regular basis. Because of the ease in which society labels women "sluts" or "skanks", now more than ever, females are tip-toeing around what they do, say, and where in order to avoid the harsh typecast.

However, on Halloween night it's become usual, almost expected, that women run around bars and parties, scantily clad in costumes that unclearly resemble animals or figures of authority. In the movie "Mean Girls", Lindsay Lohan's character Cady is ignorant of the "sexy Halloween costume" rule, and shows up to a party dressed in a full Zombie Bride costume, complete with unattractive fake teeth and a dress that covered most of her body. She was unsurprisingly out of place.

It's most probable that the trend of sexy Halloween costumes evolved from teenagers and young adults still deficient to celebrate Halloween, but in a more adult way. With the fame of events such as lingerie themed parties and wet t-shirt contests, it seemed only fitting that Halloween be twisted into a holiday to celebrate the near-naked female body.

It can feel empowering for a woman to wear a skimpy French Maid costume and be able to parade around self-assuredly in it. On Halloween, women aren't judged on the clothes that they wear, and are instead highly praised for accentuating their body confidently.

Halloween also allows some women to spoil in their fantasies of role-play or dressing sexy without fear of apparent strange or awkward.

Wednesday, June 3, 2009

A Few Good Halloween Face Makeup Ideas




There are numerous Halloween face makeup ideas that anyone with reasonable skills can try and benefit from. In the case of children there are especially many good ideas that can be used to paint the faces of kids of all ages, and some are equally as interesting when used for making-up an adult's face. The first idea in regard to Halloween face makeup is painting a pumpkin on each cheek. For this Halloween face makeup idea you will need to make use of black paint that will cover your nose, eyes as well as mouth with edges painted light gray to create an outline.

Orange Colored Pumpkin Face

You can also choose to follow a simple Halloween face makeup tip that invites you to paint the entire face as a pumpkin of orange color that along with black triangles over the eyes and a black colored nose as well as the same colored mouth can prove to be an exciting option.

Another Halloween face makeup idea is to paint the face in the form of a skull. This design can be used for the entire face in which you will be required to create large and black colored panda eyes along with lips painted in black and white stripes that along with a trace of blood trickling from each side of the face can create a very striking countenance. This is a particularly bright Halloween face makeup for a more spooky Halloween party.

In a similar vein, you can use other Halloween face makeup ideas such as painting the face as a vampire which requires using white color for the face with lips painted red and with fangs protruding out of each corner of your lower lips. The eyelids can be colored a shade of gray and the eye brows can be exaggerated with black colored and sweeping strokes.

Finally, you can transform your face into the shape of a bat by using another Halloween face makeup idea. Here again your face will have a white colored base with a bat's face being painted on your forehead and in black color; the body of the bat can also be painted black and should decorate your nose with the wings extending out from the bat's head and body and covering your eyes and toward the temple and down again to mid cheek level. The lips can be painted dark gray with a big curl at the corner of each lip.

When applying Halloween makeup it makes sense to choose using a good Halloween makeup kit that often comes with accompanying instructions to help you get the desired effect. These kits can make the daunting endeavor of getting the Halloween makeup right that much easier and so is well worth considering.