Aside from offering prayers to their loved ones, many people celebrate the Halloween season through parties! This is the time of the year that people enjoy scaring and being scared through Halloween costums and other decorations that fit the Halloween theme. Come Halloween season, some of the things that people look forward to are Halloween costumes, prepared foods, Halloween gifts and treats, and the games during the party.

Indeed, what good is a Halloween party if there are no games for the kids? Compared to adults, teenagers and the younger ones enjoy the thrill and feel of the Halloween not only because of the costume for the games as well. Why? Because these kids look forward to playing Halloween games, winning them, and bringing home lots of Halloween-themed goodies.

All night fun!

Some adults may deny it but everyone enjoys Halloween games? And why not? Aside from the thrill and excitement, people playing these games will definitely have one of the funniest days of their lives. For those who are planning to organize a Halloween party, they should be thinking of Halloween games as early as now. This is because it is one of those things that will ensure that success of party.

Aside from the costumes, the foods, the venue, and the decoration, people who are planning to hold or organize a Halloween party should be very well prepared to Halloween games because many people—regardless of age and gender—will be looking forward to these.

If you don’t have the time to make your own craft for the Halloween games, you can buy ready-made one in bookstores and specialty stores. But if you do, you can come up with variations—in terms of crafts—which will make your party the most popular “Halloween party of the Year”!

The following are just some of the popular Halloween games for the season, it is up to you to make variations for the props and in the mechanics of the games as well.

1. “Halloween Who Am I?” This is a simple and fun game suitable for everyone. For this game, you will be needing names or photos of various items, pieces of paper, pins, and your limitless imagination! In this game, the guests are asked to find out what or who they are by asking other guests in the party simple “yes” or “no” questions. Once a guest arrives, he or she will be pasted with a tag on his or her back and will asked to guess what the paper says before the party ends. When they answer correctly, a prize is waiting for them to bring home!

2. The “Spooky Walk”. This game is “musical chairs” type of game less the pushing and running around. Here, you will be needing picture cut outs, supplies for crafts, and music which can be spooky or fun. This game—which involves funny graphics, spooky walking and music—will be a surefire hit to all attendees. The good thing about this Halloween game is that you can play it as many times as you would want to. And since it involves movements, sights, and sounds, it will also save you and your guests from getting bored or from getting sleeping during wee hours of the night.

3. The “Pumpkin Bowling”. This is probably one of the funniest Halloween games there are because it involves messy and funny antics as the participants run and roll the pumpkins everywhere. Here, you will be needing small pumpkins, empty clear soda bottles, white spray paint, black marker, and a bag of pebbles that will be placed inside of each bottle.

Halloween happens once a year and this is the only time that you can get away with a few snacks that may sound gross but are great to fill anyone’s stomach. Here are a few examples.

1. The first is the Bat Sandwich. You will need some sharp cheddar cheese, soft chive and onion flavored cream cheese, drained diced pimiento, chopped toasted pecans and bread slices. After you mix the ingredients mentioned, put the spread onto one side of the bread and then put another one on top. Cut this to shape like a bat and then serve.

2. Something light you can also serve is Goblin’s Taco Chicken salad. You will need skinless chicken breasts, tomato based salsa, salad greens, cheddar cheese, ranch dressing, green olives and sour cream.

Cut the chicken breasts into small strips. When you are finished, cook this with salsa at medium high for ten minutes until the chicken is cooked. Mix this with greens and cheese in a large bowl then add any remaining salsa together with the dressing. You can also put in tortilla chips and sour cream which helps make it crunchy.

3. Next is Brain Cell Delight. For this, you will need some jello, cottage cheese and blueberry soup. One you mix the jello with water, put this in a bowl and then let if chill in the refrigerator. Mix blueberry syrup with cottage cheese until it is well blended. To give it a graying color, add some food coloring. Now take out the jello, cut a slice so you can put this on the place then add the blended mixture.

4. Ever eaten a hotdog that was also a pizza? Well you can when you make the Halloween Mummy Dog. For this snack, you will need some pizza dough rolls, mozzarella cheese, non-stick spray, pizza sauce, assorted vegetables and hotdogs.

5. Halloween is not the same without the pumpkin. If you carved one, you can use the contents to make Pumpkin Pie. Aside from the pumpkin, you will also need sugar, cinnamon, ground cloves, ground allspice, ground ginger, slat, eggs and evaporated milk.

Cook the contents of the pumpkin pie and then let it cool. Then get the rest of the ingredients and mix this all together before putting this into the pie bowl as this will form the pie’s crust. After heating this in the oven, it will harden. Now pour in the pumpkin filling and cover it up with the remainder of the crust on top and leave put into the oven for 45 minutes. When it’s finished, cool the pie in a rack and refrigerate.

6. One game that people get to play during Halloween is apple bobbing. Instead of playing with food, you can enjoy it by making Apples on Stick. After you rinse the apples and pat it dry, you remove the apple stem and insert a popsicle stick. Roll this in peanut butter then raisins, dried cranberries and shredded coconut then serve.

Guests who come over will enjoy the different Halloween snacks you prepared. What is even better is that these are all easy to make so the kitchen will not be that messy. So people will know what these snacks are, don’t forget to write the names of each one on a small card so if they really like it, you can give them the recipe.

Now it’s time to go get your Halloween costums and have a fun and happy Halloween.

For most trick-or-treaters the house that has their porch light out on Halloween is not a fun thing. It’s important for children to understand the meaning of lights out, thereby, bringing about respect for the people who choose not to give out treats or celebrate the festivities.

Possible reasons people do not choose to meet trick-or-treaters at the door.

Economy: In 2009, thousands of people have lost their jobs. People will more than likely be looking for an alternative for their children and to giving out candy. Out of your own experience, you may fully understand this and can explain to your child that the cutbacks may have dictated the amount of dark houses they may find this year.

Harvest or Fall Parties: Over the years, people have turned to having neighborhood parties. Parents form together and have a get together for the neighboring children. This is becoming popular for a lot of reasons. Sometimes these are held in back yards, churches and some are even held at pizza shops or restaurants that host parties. These neighborhoods may have a lot of dark houses.

Religious Beliefs: There are people who choose not to participate in Halloween at all. You may find that their porch lights are off and yet their inside lights are on. A porch light that is off is an indicator to those doing the trick or treating that particular house will not be participating.

Elderly: Oftentimes elderly people just don’t have the money or the time to participate in Halloween trick or treating activities. Sometimes their supper is at 4:00 and bedtime shortly after. Considering that they may have done trick or treating for years, possibly through their children and grandchildren, they may just be tired of it too. On the other hand some of the housing units catering to the elderly do like to participate. You will find these lights on and they are waiting for you. Some do not and their wishes need to be respected.

Many neighborhoods, townships and cities normally set their own trick-or-treat hours. Check your local newspaper or radio station to get your times. Daylight is obviously the best time for safety. Unfortunately, a lot of people don’t have their porch lights on at that time. Be prepared for that as well.

Before dusk, you can often tell houses that are participating in trick or treating by the window decorations or the pumpkins that line the walkways or porches. Being respectful at Halloween is important. Inform your children of the dos and don’ts in order to make the night rewarding to everyone.

Halloween is not just about wearing scary Halloween costums. You will also have to decorate your house and instead of buying these from the store, you can make some of these on your own. Here are a few of them. Thanks to Paparutzi for the photo

1. You might think that ketchup is the only thing around to make fake blood but you are wrong. You can also make some using a cup of corn syrup, a tablespoon of water, 2 tablespoons of red food coloring and tablespoon of yellow food coloring. Once you mix this all together, you will realize that it looks more realistic than ketchup.

2. If you want to make people think that there are wild animals in the bushes, you will need a string of Christmas lights and some 35mm film canisters. With the canisters facing you, drill two holes on each one so you can create the eyes. Now put the string of Christmas lights so that the light will come out of each hole. To make it stay in place, put a piece of tape over it.

Should you be using white lights, cut a small piece of red cellophane wrap and put this over the lights to create the impression that there are wolves behind the bushes.

3. In order to create tombstones, you will need some Styrofoam, a can or two of grey sprain paint and a marker. Cut the Styrofoam to the desired size and height, spray it over using the spray paint and then write down the name of the person on the gravestone. When you are finished, plant these on your porch.

4. To create some home made bats, you will again need some foam. Another option will be to use construction paper. When you have the materials, cut them out in the shape of bat. Paint these black and then stick this to you ceiling or plaster this on your window.

5. If you have a chandelier inside your home, go to the forest and see if you can pick up a few dead branches. When you bring them home, try to put these around your chandelier.

6. You can also create some Halloween décor using some old glass jars. Put in some plastic insects and body parts and then mix this up with food coloring and water. To make it look more authentic, put in ragged gauze or a waxed string then put this on the dining table.

7. Spiking the punch bowl is probably something you did back in college but for Halloween, people will surely laugh when they see a hand inside. For this, you will need a plastic glove and some ice. Put the ice inside the glove then close it so the ice will not go out and the glove will be able to float in the bowl.

8. Halloween is not the same without a pumpkin. You can’t make this so you have to buy one from the store. You can take out the contents inside then put a candle or just buy the already carved one and place this in front of your house.

There are other Halloween decorating ideas you can do inside and outside your home. All you need to do is browse for a few ideas online and then follow the instructions.

Instead of Halloween costums, let’s talk about pumpkin seeds and yummy snacks this time. Before you throw away those pumpkin seeds you carve out of your Jack-O-Lantern this year, think twice!! There is good dietary benefit in those seeds, not to mention a yummy snack that even the kids will love. Here’s how to prepare and cook your pumpkin seeds.

Prepping the Seeds

First, after you have scooped your pumpkin, put the seeds in a glass bowl. Next, separate the seeds from all the stringing pumpkin meat. You’ll need to do this fairly quickly because once you’ve let them sit and they’ve gotten too dry, they will be harder to clean.

Using a cold-water rinse, finish taking off what is left of the stringy meat (there will be some little bits left more than likely) off the seeds. Place a strainer in the sink so you don’t lose all that pumpkin goop in your sink drain.

Once your pumpkin seeds are completely clean, put them on a waxed paper cookie sheet to dry. You’ll leave them to dry overnight. Sorry, you can’t eat them until tomorrow.

Optional: If you like your seeds salty, you may want to let them sit in a bowl of salt water overnight. Be careful though and don’t over salt the water. Remove from bowl of water and dry as stated above.

Now that your pumpkin seeds are prepared, let’s get to the actual cooking of them. Here are both a microwave and oven baked recipe for you to choose from. Note: Preparation is the same for both of the following recipes.

Microwave Pumpkin Seed Recipe

Place salted butter in a microwavable rectangular baking dish and heat for about 30 seconds. Place seeds into pan and toss through the melted butter. Spread the seeds out evenly into one layer on the bottom of the dish. Microwave on high for about 8 minutes or until seeds are a light golden color. Make sure you stir the seeds every couple of minutes while in the microwave to prevent burning.

Oven Baked Pumpkin Seed Recipe

Spray your seeds with butter spray. Cook for 1 hour at 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Watch for them to be lightly brown. When they are done, take them out and season with your favorite seasonings. Some popular seasonings include salt and garlic. Let them completely cool before enjoying.

Pumpkin seeds (pepitas) are not the only seeds that can be eaten this way. The seeds from butternut and acorn squash can also be cooked just like pumpkin seeds. Give them a try too.

Leftover Storage

You can store any leftovers of your pumpkin seeds in airtight containers at room temperature for up to 3 months. If you choose to refrigerate them, they will last for about a year in an air tight container.

Baked pumpkin seeds provide a great source of dietary fiber along with a nutty flavor. So, instead of popping that bag of popcorn tonight, grab your favorite Halloween movie, sit back with your toasted pumpkin seeds and enjoy.