TRICK OR TREAT: THE BITTER AND THE SWEET

Halloween is my favourite holiday after Christmas. Previously I felt like it was under appreciated in the United Kingdom, but I see things gradually changing. 

Although our parent's generation and the generation before them pooh-poohed All Hallows' Eve I notice my peers embracing it (I'm a 90s kid for future reference, 1990). Perhaps we'll be the first generation of parents to go all out for Halloween. At least I know I will!

Traditional Halloween activities include:-

• Trick or Treating - though if you're old enough to go without a supervising adult, you're probably too old! Get your great hauls of sweets and money while you can, but once you're in your mid to late teens you'll probably be more interested in...
• Halloween Costume Parties - house parties and from the age of 18 the Halloween club nights are open to you. Try to keep it classy ladies, I know Mean Girls said that Halloween was the one night a year when you couldn't slut shame but be imaginative with your costume! Pick something that's actually Halloween themed at least. "Sexy bees" would be turned away from my house party, though sexy cats would be admitted.

If you're throwing a party this year, here are my Top 25 Halloween Songs for your playlist.

1. The Monster Mash by Bobby 'Boris' Pickett and the Cryptkickers
2. Witchcraft by Frank Sinatra
3. Ghostbusters Theme
4. Pet Semetary by The Ramones
5. Thriller by Michael Jackson
6. Halloween by The Dead Kennedys
7. Spooky by Dusty Springfield
8. Black Magic Woman by Santana
9. The Addams Family Theme 
10. I Put A Spell On You by Screamin' Jay Hawkins
11. Are You Ready for Freddy? by Fat Boys feat. Robert Englund
12. Halloween by Siouxsie and the Banshees
13. This is Halloween by Danny Elfman
14. Thriller/Heads Will Roll Mash-up by Glee cast
15. Psycho Killer by Talking Heads
16. Halloween by Misfits
17. Don't Fear the Reaper by Blue Oyster Cult
18. Seven Devils by Florence + the Machine
19. Heads Will Roll by Yeah Yeah Yeahs
20. Zombie by The Cranberries
21. Grim Grinning Ghosts by Disney
22. Highway to Hell by AC/DC
23. Devil Woman by Riot
24. Alfred Hitchcock Presents Theme
25. Halloween Theme by John Carpenter

Another popular activity is Horror Movie Nights - this has been my personal tradition for the past 3 years. I prefer to stay in, don some footie-pyjamas and invite a few friends round to get comfy on the sofas, turn down the lights and prepare to be scared.

My Best Horror Movies of All Time

1. A Nightmare on Elm Street (Original 1984 Wes Craven Version)
2. The Shining
3. The Scream Quadrilogy
4. Carrie (1976)
5. Rosemary's Baby
6. The Exorcist
7. Psycho (Original 1960 Hitchcock Version)
8. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (Original 1974 Version)
9. Halloween
10. Poltergeist

Whatever you do this year, have a HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

All photos sourced from thecherryblossomgirl.com (a mind-blowingly good blog, check it out!)