Scary Ghosts, Zombies, Mummies and Pharaohs walk the streets at night knocking door to door saying “trick or treat”. At this time children of all ages and parents plan what they shall do with friends, or families. They gather and carve pumpkins, paint faces to look like a scary zombie, or even prepare desserts for an upcoming party or festival. Either way many traditions are portrayed during this time of the year and with every individual person these traditions vary. Some people would rather make their own costumes instead of buy one off the shelf at the nearest Wal-Mart.

Lots of parents make custom costumes for their children to wear on Halloween, and some children even make them on their own so that they can be different from the rest. Being unique, however, is not a teenager’s best interest, but some do not care and go all out.

At this time thrift stores are packed with people finding clothes that they can use for their costume; they are even in Hobby Lobby finding the right fabric for their costumes, or going on a shopping spree to make a costume for their children. Painting is a very popular and creative way for people to mask themselves to be scary witches or superheroes. Costume design is not only for fun but in many cases costume contest are held every year. Many cities hold a yearly contest and give prizes for the best costume or best interpretation.

Nevertheless costumes aren’t the only things that can be made on Halloween. Food is really the only other reason why people go to a party or trick or treating. From mixing the ingredients to make a freshly baked cookie in the shape of a ghost to buying a 20 pound bag of candy off the supermarkets shelf.  Candy is the most popular thing served on Halloween. But just because candy is served that does not mean that other desserts should be neglected. One of the most popular homemade deserts to serve on Halloween is candy apples. You may be asking yourself, why are they the most popular dessert? The answer is that they take about 20 min at most to make; we’re lazy. We associate the fall with Winter and Thanksgiving break, and sleeping gives us all happiness as teenagers. The idea of curling up to a good movie, with the smells of salty popcorn, sweet caramel, and spices brings almost everyone joy.

Candy and dressing up is fun, but what really makes the time of year stand out from the rest is, the pumpkin carvings. When thinking of Halloween people’s minds generally will gravitate towards the idea of pumpkin carving. Pumpkin patches and signs reading “Pumpkins for Sale” or “Pumpkins TWO for ONE” everywhere you look. When carving pumpkins its anybody’s time to show their talent and creativity.

By making desserts, carving pumpkins and making custom costumes, good or bad the fall season is a really good time to bring out the creative side of yourself. From baking shaped cookies and carving pumpkins the Halloween season will always bring back old memories of hand crafted and home made things for that one special night that comes around once a year. So go to the store to either buy a 10 pound bag of candy or material for your costume, pumpkin or sweets, get ready to hear the three words “trick or treat”.