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Halloween
October 31, 2026
The Spooky Season Countdown
Halloween is my favorite holiday to countdown to. There's something about October 31st that makes everything more fun - decorations go up early, horror movies are everywhere, and even adults get to be kids again for a night.
I built this countdown partly for myself. Watching the days tick down while planning costumes and decorations is half the fun. Plus, it reminds me to buy candy before the good stuff is gone.
Halloween Prep Timeline
Here's my annual Halloween schedule that I've refined over the years:
Decorations go up. Start watching horror movies. Begin costume planning (the good ones sell out fast).
Buy or make your costume. Get pumpkins if you want them to last. Test any electronics in decorations.
Carve pumpkins (not too early or they'll rot). Buy candy. RSVP to parties. Plan your route if trick-or-treating.
Turn on the porch light. Put out the candy bowl. Check costume for any last-minute issues. Enjoy!
Costume Ideas By Effort Level
🎭 Low Effort
Wear all black + cat ears. Flannel shirt + axe = lumberjack. Suit + name tag = "Hi, I'm Dave." Tourist (camera, fanny pack, socks with sandals).
⚙️ Medium Effort
Classic monsters (vampire, zombie, witch). Pop culture characters from recent movies/shows. Group costumes (easier than you'd think).
🏆 High Effort
Full cosplay, handmade props, moving parts or lights. Start in September if you're going this route. Worth it for the reactions.
👨👩👧 For Kids
Superheroes never fail. Classic monsters. Their favorite characters. Pro tip: make sure they can walk/sit/use the bathroom in their costume.
Pumpkin Carving Tips
I've ruined my share of pumpkins. Here's what finally worked:
Timing Matters
Carve 3-5 days before Halloween max. Coat the cut edges with petroleum jelly to slow decay. Store in a cool place (garage, not outside in sun).
Better Tools
Those cheap carving kits actually work better than kitchen knives. A dry-erase marker is perfect for sketching your design first.
Lighting
LED tea lights are safer than real candles and last all night. Multiple lights inside create a better glow. Battery-operated string lights work great too.
Halloween Facts
Ancient Origins
Halloween started as the Celtic festival Samhain 2,000+ years ago. They believed the dead returned on this night. Costumes were originally to confuse ghosts.
By The Numbers
$10+ billion spent annually. 600 million pounds of candy bought. Most popular costumes: witches, vampires, zombies, superheroes. Full moon on Halloween is rare - once every 19 years.
Jack-o'-Lantern Origin
Originally carved from turnips in Ireland. The name comes from "Stingy Jack," a man who supposedly tricked the Devil. When Irish immigrants came to America, they found pumpkins were much easier to carve.