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October 2020

Halloween at Home

This year we're highly likely to be asked to take a 'safety break' from 'Trick or Treat' around the neighbourhood to prevent spreading Covid. There's a noticeable lack of homes decorated even mid October and we suspect few households will be answering the door to any callers.

Halloween at home will require a little more planning but with the whole family participating it will keep the Spirit of the Event going.

Here's our Top 10 popular things to do.

1. Costumes

The usual dress up can still go ahead and without the nerves of being seen in public Mum and Dad can participate.

To share the experience use video calls to show off your creations.

2. Candy

Trick or Treat around the neighbourhood could be replaced with a treasure hunt around the home.

Incorporate video calls to friends and family to obtain clues from them and help both to share the experience and to make the treasure hunt more spooky.

3. Jack-O-Lantern

The lantern has moved on from it's Irish roots as a turnip to become dominated by its more popular American pumpkin. Whether the Celts carried home an ember from the communal bonfire or if it's to keep Jack's wandering soul away there are some amazing carvings to be made with online tutorials.

Don't forget that you can toast and eat the seeds or break up the pumpkin the next day to feed to the wild birds and squirrels.

4. Bairín Breac

Whether you call it 'barn brack', 'barm brack' or simply 'brack' this traditional speckled sweet loaf with sultanas and raisins has hidden objects baked in to signify fortune :

Ring - Marriage
Coin - Wealth
Rag - Poverty
Thimble - Old Maid

5. Apple Games

Associated with love and fertility the simple apple games are challenging and they also help take face makeup off. The games are thought to be associated with the Celts being obsessed with finding out the identity of their future spouses. We like them because they're simply fun.

Bobbing

Trying to remove an apple floating in water using only your mouth is probably the most well known Halloween game. Getting wet is part of the fun so get the towel ready.

Snap

Apples suspended from a height by string is very tricky to eat using only your mouth. For those with a sweet tooth try round donuts instead.

Paring

Here the challenge is to peel off the skin with a fruit knife and to see who can make the longest peel. Traditionally thrown over the left shoulder the letter which the peel resembles on the floor will be the first initial of the person's future husband or wife.

6. Autopsy

Blindfolded try to identify what the gooey 'corpse' object using your hands - cringe worth, very messy but a game full of giggles.

Eyeballs: peeled grapes or olives .
Teeth: popcorn kernels.
Tongue: halved strawberries
Skin: Softened lasagna pasta sheets.
Fingers: boil small whole carrots till soft.
Finger Nails: pistachio shells
Toes: cooked cocktail sausages.
Kidneys: peeled plum tomatoes
Entrails: long wiggly balloons filled with a bit of water (not much) covered in tomato sauce.
Blood: water and cornstarch mixed.

Essential to wash your hands afterwards but the mess should make this obvious!

7. Wrap the Mummy

Simple fun with Halloween being an excuse to wrap someone up completely in loo roll.

8. Are Fairies Naughty or Nice?

It was once believed that fairies and goblins collected souls on Halloween night so perhaps make them a door to go home.

9. Ghost Stories

Set the scene with candles, dim lights and some background sound effects from one of many Apps.

The right outburst of a 'scary voice' is usually enough to make them jump in shock. The more 'over the top' the effects the more laughs to be had.

Instead of a hidden prankster jumping out at the right moment use your mobile phone with a pre planned video call to a themed neighbour to provide a suitable 'fright'.

10. Scary Movie

Special effects have taken over the screens in recent years with too much realism and very little left to the imagination.

If you're looking for age appropriate movies visit www.commonsensemedia.org to help you make an informed choice.

Halloween Safety

Have you decided to have a 'Stay Inside Halloween'? Perhaps you're pre arranging for your children to 'safely' call on specific homes.

Whatever you decide we hope everyone takes on board the advice about the annual dangers at Halloween in their Facebook Video

Gardaí Launch Halloween Safety Video

Video Source: An Garda Síochána

Halloween Events

📺 Oct 31st

Púca Festival

World premiere: Púca Festival lights the Samhain fires

8pm online via Facebook and YouTube

Visit their website www.pucafestival.com

Image Source: pucafestival

CANCELLED EVENTS

In Line with Level 5 restrictions all the following public attendance events have been cancelled and organisers are contacting those who've bought tickets.

Pumpkin & Fun Family Halloween

10am - 6pm at Navan Adventure Centre.

Bookings

Image Source: Navan Adventure Centre

The Wicked Adventures at Tayto Park

Several dates in October via website.

Image Source: TaytoPark

Bee Tricked and Treated

Outdoor socially distanced event. Have a fun walk around Bee Wise Nature Trail where you’ll meet witches, ghosts, ghouls, skeletons and receive some spooky goodies from their cauldrons.

Facebook Event

Image and Text Source: BeeWise