HALLOWEEN'S ROUND THE CORNER

A HALLOWEEN-ISH STARE GIVEN TO ME BY MY NEIGHBOUR'S CAT

Halloween for me, all these years, was just a festival celebrated in the Western world with kids haunting the neighbourhood for Trick or Treats in various ghostly costumes. However, this year I get to explore the culture of Halloween more closely than ever. The festival proper, is scheduled on the 31st of October but I remember seeing the preparations begin even before I landed in Manchester. By mid-October every pamphlet distributed to the people, every newspaper and its supplement, every general store books and brochures have the topic of Halloween broadly discussed in it. From what to wear to how -to- do safe body make-ups; from what food to prepare to what decorations to make ; from what tricks and treats are popular this season to which store houses what during this festival -all are covered at length. I remember picking up a certain magazine issue from the TESCO's which exclusively dealt with only Halloween.

Halloween is of Christian origin which marks a three day remembrance of the dead. Thus, witches, wizards, ghosts, graveyards, pumpkins, spiders, bats and zombies are natural symbols of this festival. Most markets have specially manufactured costumes for costume parties.Safe make- up crayons are also found to draw on the face and body. Every shopping mall especially market street, Manchester ARNDALE and intu TRAFFORD CENTRE has kept a variety of masks, make -ups, accessories, chocolates etc. for the festival. 

A SHOP IN INTU TRAFFORD CENTRE 

People have started cleaning their house for parties and celebration. Menus have been decided and shopping is in full scale. Kids are accompanying their parents everyday to get one of their favourite ghostly fancy dresses. This week is full of Halloween programmes in pubs and markets, Horror movie screenings, treasure hunts, special buffets, drinks, games and lots more. Children and especially young college and university goers are most enthusiastic about the 31st. They have already started preparing plans with friends and family as to which party to go to and which pub to hang out in. 

PUMPKIN SURPRISE 

GINGERBREAD ZOMBIES

SEVERED FINGERS

FRANKENSTEIN'S PUNCH

My university campus too has organised ATMOSFEAR a Halloween party on the night of 31st. With fancy dresses, ghostly atmosphere, movies, trick or treats, amazing food this is a party that one cannot miss. 

Wondering how I would celebrate my first Halloween ? By making a trip to the legendary destinations of Oxford and Warwick Castle. More on these two places in my subsequent posts. 

Happy Halloween Everybody!!

KIDS MAKE-UP

Note: Most photographs in this post have been photographed from the TESCO October 2015 brochure