Halloween is nearly upon us, as September gives way to October and the start of fall. For many of us, October means one thing and one thing alone, Halloween!
But when exactly is Halloween? And when is Halloween celebrated? Join us as we explain what you need to know and a few simple pointers that will help you prepare for this much-loved festival.
When is Halloween 2024?
The good news for anyone planning a spooky season is that Halloween is on the same date every year – October 31st.
In this respect, it’s just like Christmas and different from Easter, which regularly changes months, let alone days!
Therefore, Halloween is actually one of the easiest holidays to plan for, as most shops start getting their supplies in at the end of summer, perhaps the last week of August or the start of September.
This way, you can buy decorations for the house, plan your outfit, and consider which snacks to buy when the trick-or-treaters arrive at your front door!
A brief history of Halloween in October
The reason why Halloween is celebrated on the same day each year is because October 31st is the day before All Saints Day, which is a Christian festival on November 1st.
All Saints Day isn’t recognized as much as it used to, with many people today unaware that November 1st is actually a Christian festival.
Halloween celebrations on October 31st first took place in the Southern Colonies, but it wasn’t until the early 1900s that Halloween became something celebrated by the masses.
Retailers in the early 20th century jumped on the opportunity to make money from selling costumes, decorations, and gifts, essentially creating a holiday the day before the Christian festival.
Why is Halloween celebrated each year?
Like many festivals celebrated today, Halloween has ancient origins. It is a Celtic festival that was originally known as Samhain.
The Celtics believed that on Samhain, the spirits of the dead returned to their homes. This led family members to dress in costumes to ward off the arrival of these spirits and to protect themselves from being haunted.
Originally, people would also build and light bonfires to try and keep ghosts away from their homes.
As with every festival, Halloween has changed a lot over the years and today, it’s very much a commercial affair which sees children dress up as their favorite superheroes or spooky characters like ghosts and witches.
It’s customary in countries like the United States and the United Kingdom for kids to dress up and visit their neighbors. This is very different from the original Celtic festival, which was a much more solemn affair.
Planning for Halloween – How to prepare for October 31st
If you’re keen to celebrate Halloween this year on October 31st and need some pointers ahead of October 31st, here are some things to consider:
Plan your costume in advance
The sooner you prepare your costume, the easier it will be to get what you need. Whether you dress up as your favorite witch from Harry Potter or put together a homemade ghost outfit, plan your costume at the start of October.
Order the clothes you need and don’t forget your hair. Use the Laifen Swift to style your hair in any way that you choose, whether you need to spike it up like a Werewolf or accentuate your curls under your witches hat.
Decorate your home
You don’t have to go crazy with decorations, but placing a pumpkin on your porch or some spooky lights in the front window indicates to trick-or-treaters that you’re open for business. You should grab a box of candy to hand out to the kids that arrive to scare you throughout the evening!
Host a party
Do you want to take Halloween 2024 to another level? Why not plan a party for your nearest and dearest. Halloween parties are so easy to throw together and people arrive in all sorts of costumes. If you dare, put together some homemade punch and celebrate this festival in style with your closest friends.
Do people give gifts for Halloween?
Some people do, while others don’t. Some families keep things simple with gifts of homemade pumpkin pies or bags of candy for the kids.
At the same time, other families are a bit more elaborate with Halloween gifts, ordering presents online for their relatives ahead of the event. The Laifen Swift Special hair dryer with up to 40% discount could be a great Halloween gift for a loved one, and it could help them prepare their hair for whatever costume they decide to wear!
Recap
Halloween 2024 is just around the corner, and we’re very excited about it! We can’t wait to see people dressed up as everything from Voldermort to Beetlejuice, and this festival always brings the streets alive with color.
Don’t forget – Halloween is celebrated every year on October 31st, but the earlier you start planning your outfit and decorations, the easier it will be to dress as you wish.
FAQs
When is Halloween – how many days?
Halloween is on the same day every year – October 31st and it is celebrated for just one day. Some people don’t even celebrate the holiday during the day and wait until nightfall to add a spooky, creepy feel to the festivities!
When is halfway to Halloween?
Halfway to Halloween is May 1sr, which is exactly six months until October 31st. Some people refer to May 1st as “Halfoween” and it’s similar to those who celebrate the mid-date to Christmas in the middle of July.
When is the NYC Halloween parade?
The Halloween Parade in New York City starts in the Village and begins at 7.00 PM ET. You can tune in online or on TV, or if you’re in the city, why not dress up and visit?
When is the next full moon on Halloween?
You have to wait a long time until the next full moon on Halloween – 2039, to be precise. 2020 was the last time there was a full moon on October 31st, and it’s something that only happens once every 18-19 years.
