October is here and that means that that the Halloween festivities are in full force! There is not only a flurry of events going on in and around Boston, but there are so many fun things that you can do in your own home. For visitors coming from abroad, it is possible that they may have experienced Halloween or something similar in their country, as the origins of Halloween are based in Celtic and European traditions. In other places, like Mexico, there is a different holiday to celebrate the dead, called Dia de los Muertos. With so much spooky activity going on this month, we thought we would hone in on Halloween in Boston – both in the city and at home!
There are no shortage of fun fall and Halloween activities to participate in with your visitor, without having to even leave the house. One tradition a lot of our hosts love to engage in is carving pumpkins together. You can get the pumpkin at a pumpkin patch or just at your local supermarket (which would have a pumpkin carving kit as well). Just lay down the newspaper and carve away!
Another great Halloween activity for those who really want to embrace the holiday is decorating the house. Whether it is spider webs on the bushes, spooky lights up the walkway, a ghost in the tree, or even more, it is a great way to make the house look and feel festive.
Lastly, one of the most arguably important Halloween activities is picking out your costume! Some people like to go out to a thrift store or a special Halloween pop up store to see what treasures they can find there, while others look in their wardrobe to try to find any costumes they may have left over from prior year.
If you want to get out and experience what Halloween in the city, there are lots of options available to you! Here’s just a short list of the many events happening in Boston, and you can also click here for Boston’s Ultimate Halloween Guide:
Boston is also close to one of the towns that contains supernatural attractions year-round – Salem, Massachusetts! Known for the Salem Witch Trials, this town is a hot-bed for psychics, mediums, magic, and, in October, the “Haunted Happenings” festival. Taking place throughout the entire month of October, this festival includes a Psychic Fair & Witches Market and the Ghosts & Legends Trolley, along with all the year-round attractions like the Salem Witch Museum and the Witch Mansion haunted house.
Every family has different traditions for the day itself. Some people go to Halloween parties, some like to hand out candy to kids from the neighborhood, and some are actually going out trick-or-treating with their little ones. Either way, it is a chance to dress up and make a night of it! Happy Halloween!
Sources: History.com, Haunted Happenings
