Halloween just wouldn’t be the same to me without…

If you've ever read this blog before during Octobers past (and/or your follow me on Pinterest), than chances are you may already know that I'm one of those folks who eats, sleeps, breathes, and most definitely blogs about Halloween. Yes indeedy, though, naturally, my passion for All Hallows Eve springs to life most vividly during October, throughout the whole year I think about this spooky, enchanted, pumpkin and black cat filled day and pretty much become as giddy as a child when this month finally rolls into town again.

Out comes my treasured little collection of decorations, festive recipes, beloved seasonal movies, and photographs of Halloween past to wax nostalgically about with my relatives. Though there's much to get done and experience this month before all of those delightfully eerie little hobgoblins come knocking at the door for sweet treats once more, it's never too soon to talk about Halloween. On this nippy early October morn, as a rather fitting layer of frost glistens like a specter across the lawn and a dozen more ruddy cheeked maple leaves flutter to the ground before I even finish this sentence, that's precisely what I'm going to do.

There are certain things that are almost universally beloved and/or seen as steadfast signs of this holiday. Jack-o-lanterns, flocks of bats screeching in the crisp night air, witches stirring cauldrons, crumbling old headstones, the sound of heavy chains rattling, dressing up and filling your tummy with a rather substantial amount of chocolate, to name but a few.

These shared, fabulous, elements of Halloween are all things I adore, but there are plenty more as well - some of which many of you will no doubt also treasure, others which are traditions in my family (such as pizza - something my mom made from scratch almost every Halloween night when I was growing up, and which I continue to the same myself now as an adult), but perhaps not as universally associated with Halloween.

Most though, are things we all eagerly look forward to and which the season simply wouldn't seem the same without. Here's to the fun, magic, and cobweb covered memories of each and every one of these 31 (one each for every day of the month) Halloween must-haves!

{It's the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown}

{Reading Mary Shelley's Frankenstein}

{Candy Apples}

{Michael Jackson's Thriller song & video}

   

{A trip to the local pumpkin patch}

{Homemade pizza}

{Faux cobwebs}

{Vintage (Halloween) pin-up photographs}

{Apple cinnamon flavoured or scented anything - food, air fresheners, candles, you name it!}

{Disney's classic movie Hocus Pocus} 

 

{Festive fireworks}

{Roasted pumpkin seeds}

{Campy mid-century scary movies}

{Vintage Halloween candles}

{The Addams Family}

{Dressing up in any costume you want}

{Green Ghost board game} 

 

{Carving pumpkins}

 

{Ghostbusters}

{Halloween themed foods}

{Staring up at the moon and secretly hoping you'll see a witch fly past it}

{The Halloween edition of Martha Steward Living Magazine}

{Haunted Houses}

{Making Kleenex ghosts}

{Caramel popcorn} 

{Decorating your house (and/or yard)}

{Telling ghost stories}

 

{Dry Ice}

 

{Halloween themed episodes of Home Improvement} 

{Throwing festive parties}

 

{All that delicious candy!!!}

{To learn more about a specific image, please click on it to be taken to its respective source.} 

♥ ♥ ♥

Ahhh, I so knew this was going to happen! I'm now even more excited, having put together this list, than I was yesterday. Can a person go twenty-five days without sleep? I kid, of course, but only slightly. I really do get so blissfully happy and endlessly excited for Halloween, that come the last few days before the Witching Hour arrives, it's all I can do to force myself to sleep a wink.

Yes, it's been many a year since I last traipsed around the neighbourhood, pillow case in one hand, the other holding my witch's hat on or vampire cape around my neck, but that doesn't mean I don't still go equally gaga over this mysterious, fun filled, fabulously cool night and the whole month that houses it.

To me Halloween is about the past and the present. It sings in playfully ominous tones of All Hallows Eves from years gone by, and gives me so much to look forward to in the moment. This day, for all its history and mystery, association with horror and grimness, is also terrifically lighthearted and (naturally) high spirited.

Halloween, much like the costumes we don for it, can be whatever you want it to be. Serious, sweet, mischievous, playful, darling, silly, lively or serene. There's no right or wrong way to celebrate October 31st and the spooktacular days that proceed it, just the way that you love, complete with all of the things that ensure Halloween feels like it should for each of us.

Here's to an incredible month and All Hallows Eve, my dear ghouls and boos, may it be a fabulously awesome one for everybody!!!



*PS* Speaking of seriously wonderful Halloween things, one of Chronically Vintage's lovely blog sponsors, Blue Velvet Vintage, is holding a super cool Pinterest centered Halloween giveaway contest this month for those located in US.

For more on this contest, pop on over to Blue Velvet Vintage's beautiful blog or Facebook page. Festive Halloween themed pining with vintage looks and garments - now that sounds frighteningly fun! :)