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 The
tradition of dressing in costumes and masks
on Halloween finds its roots in both European and Celtic
history. On Halloween, when it was believed that ghosts came back
to the earthly realm, people thought they would encounter the ghosts if
they left their homes. Therefore, to avoid being seen by these ghosts,
people would wear masks when they left their homes after dark so that
the ghosts would mistake them for fellow spirits.
 Nowadays the
fear is not of running into visiting ghosts, but trying to find a cool
costume in time for a party or trick-or-treating. And in these modern
times, dressing in costume is one of the most popular Halloween customs
for both children and adults. Traditional costumes usually included
witches, ghosts, and vampires. However, costumes inspired by
contemporary popular culture, such as politicians or movie characters,
have become increasingly common in recent years.
Popular adult costumes have
satirical or humorous overtones. It is not uncommon to see Clinton,
Nixon, Reagan or Bush running around the streets on Halloween.
There are tons of websites
offering clever and fast costume ideas for the last-minute Halloween
shopper. How about dressing as a bag of jelly beans? You'll need a
clear plastic bag. Step into it making holes for the legs and arms out
the side. Fill the bag with different color balloons and use a flashy
scarf to tie around the top of the bag. You may want to place a sign
that says Jelly Beans 5¢ in front of the bag. For the clothing
underneath just about any color leotard and leggings will work.
 This year, forget the usual
Jason hockey mask or the Scream ghost headgear, be extravagant
and unique by wearing one of those ultra-elegant masquerade
mask...they are VERY arty and beautiful. They are sometimes referred as
Mardi Gras masks.
We have found a place in
New Orleans that brings the creative art of mask-making to the
public. You can visit their gorgeous website:
http://www.themaskstore.com/
For cheaper masquerade
masks, we found another site that offers Italian-style and Mardi
Gras-style masks:
http://www.costumeshopper.com/masquerade-masks.html
Some unusual and ornate
masks:
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Celebrate the Halloween season
with your pooch or kitty - as long as they don't
mind wearing a vampire cape or butterfly wings! If you see them making a
fuss while wearing a tomato on their head, oh please just take it off!
Below are some ideas for some
hilarious halloween costumes for your best friend (arf! arf!):
Some excellent places to find
costumes for your dog or cat:
http://www.halloweencostumes.com/pet-costumes.html
www.trixieandpeanut.com
www.spoiledrottendoggies.com
www.spoiledrottenkitties.com
Come as you
like, but leave the fish alone!
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 Dressed for
Thrills: 100 Years of Halloween Costumes and
Masquerade
By
Phyllis Galembo, Mark Alice Durant, Valerie Steel
A whimsical
array of ghosts and goblins, spooks and skeletons, vamps and vampires
parade through this unparalleled collection of more than 100 years of
American Halloween attire. From Little Bo Peep with lamb in hand to
beatniks and pirates, from monsters and witches to clowns and animals,
this veritable "carnival" of costumes visually captures All Hallows' Eve
like no other book before.
Amazon.com
 The Original Duct Tape Halloween
Book
By Jim Berg
and Tim Nyberg
Need a creative
costume?? The Original Duct Tape Halloween Book is a
four-color, fully illustrated holiday sourcebook offering more than 101
clever costume ideas, plus dozens of other creative and mischievous uses
for duct tape. Halloween and duct tape-it's a marriage made in nutty
heaven. Presenting the loopiest duct tape book of them all: a guide to
using the universal adhesive for disguise, decoration, tricks, and
treats on the holiday where everyone's encouraged to act a little crazy.
Amazon.com
 Halloween: A Grown-Up's Guide to
Creative Costumes, Devilish Decor & Fabulous Festivities
By
Joanne O'Sullivan
Finally, here's a Halloween
book that's definitely for adults. It's brimming with practical and
inventive ideas for parties, decorations, and costumes, and with an
amazingly atmospheric design that's a luscious treat for grown-up eyes.
Take the dread out of a costume party with creative and playful ways to
dress for success on All Hallow's Eve; there are even actual costume
elements to use, from wings and tails to masks and hats. You'll find
ways to repurpose items right out of your own closet or benefit from a
quick trip to the thrift shop. Unique make-up tips for a ghoulishly
great appearance will complete the effect.
Amazon.com
 The Halloween Handbook: 447
Costumes
By Bridie
Clark, Ashley Dodd and Janette Beckman
"The Halloween Handbook"
is jam-packed with 447 costume ideas from the spooky to the hilarious.
There are clever twists on old favorites as well as timesaving tips for
getting dressed up at the last minute. "Drape a light green sheet around
your body like a toga, make a construction paper crown, and wrap a
flashlight in tin foil to become a real-life Statue of Liberty." Or,
"Make four holes in a clear plastic garbage bag for your arms and legs,
and fill the bag with inflated balloons. You are a bag of jellybeans."
Amazon.com
 Illegally Easy Halloween Costumes
for Kids
By Leila
Peltosaari
Simple patterns and shortcuts
for easy no-sew Halloween costumes for kids. The 100 different Halloween
costume choices include bunnies, pirates, witches, octopus, skeleton,
storybook characters, animals, clowns, swamp monster, etc. Each costume
idea comes complete with matching treat bags and accessories. he simple,
step-by-step instructions are enhanced with detailed full-color photos
and illustrations. This book can help you whip up an original costume
with very simple inexpensive ingredients or with whatever you have in
the house even at the very last minute!
Amazon.com
 Glue & Go Costumes for Kids:
Super-Duper Designs with Everyday Materials
By Holly Cleeland
With readily available supplies
and basic tools such as scissors and a glue gun, even the most
sew-phobic parent or teacher can create unique, oversize, eye-catching
children’s costumes. You won’t believe just how simple it is to
transform a kid into a corn on the cob, cupcake, pencil, racecar,
monster, basket of flowers, birdhouse, hot air balloon, plate of bacon
and eggs, or create other unforgettable disguises. The 28 clever ideas
are showcased in fabulous full-color photographs and are made with
easy-to-find materials, including plastic cups and plates, cardboard
boxes, fabric, and foam core.
Amazon.com
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