Three things to do this Halloween (and a few more...)

For us, the more intentional and slow the celebration, the more special it tends to be. It can still be exciting and magical, but I’ve found that when we take away a lot of the thrills and the noise we’re able to have more time together as a family and create some really treasured memories. I like creating a celebration almost on the periphery, weaving festive elements into our rhythms rather than the other way round.

I have always loved Halloween and Samhain, I think it stems from my younger self’s love of magic and perhaps the slightly macabre, but nowadays it’s all about the atmosphere for me. As with most celebrations these days, we prefer a much calmer nod to Halloween, shrugging off trick or treating and dressing up for quieter and more conscious activities. Be true to your family culture and their personalities for your celebrations, while we love a quiet one, you might be all about the bright and colourful and exciting. Go with your gut and your children’s wishes, and don’t let other people lead you in the direction of something that doesn’t feel like ‘your family’.

For Halloween, I envision our everyday spiced with cinnamon, the orange glow of candles in pumpkins and the smell of biscuits baking in the oven. But in a warmer climate and without the steadily drawing in nights. I thought I’d share with you some of our plans for a slow and trick-or-treat-free Halloween.

Here are three things to do this Halloween if you want a little inspiration, and a quick list of others if you’re still wanting more.

Make some simple, child-led decorations:

Last year we did some finger paints and turned them into a pumpkin garland with some scissors and thread, but you could do the same with ghosts, or make a bunting with all kinds of different combinations. Perfect for the youngest of toddlers.

Or bring the outside in by preserving leaves in beeswax. Gently heat the beeswax in a bowl over simmering water and then dip each one carefully. Sewing them together with needle and thread is a great activity for an older child, and the smell of beeswax combined with the crunchy leaves is a nod to autumn even if you are in the midst of celebrating Halloween in spring. Last year we strung them up like bunting along shelves, or you could hang them like a mobile.

I’m going to try my own version of a super relaxed God’s Eye to make some spider webs from found sticks and some string. Tie at least four sticks together with your string around their centre, and then weave round to create your web. You or an older child can do this alone, or together you and your preschooler can make one.

Don’t just carve your pumpkin…

Make sure your pumpkin is for more than carving. Roast the seeds for snacks or put them aside to create a bird or squirrel feeder from the carcass when Halloween night is over. To do this, cut your carving into chunks and tie around them with string, leaving enough to hang. Spread low sugar peanut butter on each slice and roll them in your seeds, feel free to add a bird seed mix for extra aviary enjoyment.

Or, the best thing, make pumpkin soup or risotto. Tonight for dinner we’re going to follow our usual risotto recipe and then chuck the leftover pumpkin in the oven to roast. Stick it in at the end and stir through.

learn some verses

I’ve written a couple down for tomorrow, and we will probably recite them over breakfast. I’ve linked to a couple so you can hear the tunes, but I couldn’t find all of them online.

I’m a little pumpkin
This one is sweet as you can do some actions together to accompany the words, sung to the tune of I’m a Little Teapot.

I’m a little pumpkin
orange and round.
Here is my stem
I grew in the ground.
When I get carved up
I won’t shout!
Just open me up
and scoop me out!


Glimmer, Lantern, Glimmer
This song is technically for Martinmas, but we use it for any opportunity as it’s so lovely.

Glimmer lantern glimmer, little stars a-shimmer.
Over meadow, moor and dale flitter flutter elfin veil.
Pee-wit pee-wit, tick-a-tack-a-tick, coo-coo-roo-coo.

Glimmer lantern glimmer, little stars a-shimmer.
Over rock and stock and stone wander tripping little gnome.
Pee-wit, pee-wit, tick-a-tack-a-tick, coo-coo-roo-coo.


Jack O’Lantern

Jack O' Lantern, Jack O' Lantern
you are such a lovely sight!
As you sit there in the window
shining bright in the night.

You were once a little pumpkin
growing on a pumpkin vine!
Now you are a Jack O' Lantern
shining bright in the night.


The Little Bat

Flutter, flutter little bat,
how I wonder where you’re at.
Swooping through the darkest night,
you find your way without a light.
Flutter, flutter little bat,
how I wonder where you’re at.

The extras:

• Follow Amy’s tutorial to make a little pumpkin doll.

• Read a book with a festive nod to Halloween, try this Little Blue Truck book, Room on the Broom or Pumpkin Soup.

• Make sure you’re aware of what is cultural appropriation and what is acceptable when it comes to dressing up. Rabya of @sheflourished_ shared an informative post on this.

• Light a little fire inside or make extra lanterns by painting or decorating spare jars.

• If you’re going to dress up, shop around for second-hand costumes or upcycle what you already own.

• Take your lanterns for walk in the early evening as it gets dark to take in the evenings closing in.

• Have a little family feast.

• Update your nature tables.

  How are you planning on celebrating Halloween with your families?