Halloween Decor

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CREATIVE RESOURCES

• free BAT template found here
• FLYING BATS clipart found here
• free RAVEN template found here
• free WITCH template found here
• free PORTRAIT MASK templates found here

I just love this vintage photograph!

The Haunted House

I came across this article and thought a few of you may be inspired by the unique way doors were opened to share the gospel. :)  Read if you dare!
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click photo for link to photo credit

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The Haunted House, by Kristine Stones Keele, New Era, October 1983

 

Near my home in the north woods of upper Michigan, there once stood an old turn-of-the-century home. For years it had been abandoned, its black, weather-beaten frame cracking with age and crawling with snaky tendrils of ancient vines that wrapped and coiled themselves across the windows and around the doors. Various out-buildings were scattered here and there, but they were barely distinguishable beneath the creeping tangle of brush and brier. The house towered three stories high and cast a forbidding shadow on the bleached and withered ground. This shadow had spread throughout the community and entered the fearful heart of every child around.

 

When I entered the ninth grade, however, I decided it was time to get over being frightened of the old place. I wondered if perhaps I couldn’t use it for a party. Now, being the only Latter-day Saint in my high school, I had heard and tolerated some pretty cruel things. I figured I could stand up to jokes and criticism for not smoking and drinking, but what I couldn’t take was hearing over and over again about how Mormons just didn’t know how to really have fun at parties. Because of that, my bishop (who was also my dad and a biology professor at the nearby university) came up with an idea to prove my friends wrong. On Halloween night he would temporarily move into the local neighborhood haunted house. But by then—thanks to the efforts of my dad, brother, and missionaries—it would be transformed into a terrifying realm of horror and fright. According to plan I invited about 20 of my closest nonmember friends. Since all of them lived in town, about six miles away, I assumed none of them had ever heard of the old Sutinen home. I assumed correctly.

 

At 7:00 the party began at my house; and after about an hour of games, pizza, and root beer, I suggested we visit a poor old man named Toivo. I explained he lived alone but always had treats ready for any trick-or-treater who dared venture down the lonely, overgrown trail that led to his home. My suggestion was enthusiastically received until they saw Mr. Sutinen’s home. Even I, who knew my dad waited within, felt a shiver of fear creep along my spine, like a spider on a web of nerves. We approached cautiously toward where the house loomed up, outlined starkly against the moonlit sky. To add to the eerie effect, a single light flickered from behind the drawn curtains. Ghostly wisps of fog clawed at our legs, and branches whipped wickedly against our faces. We were considering bravely marching on, when shrill laughter split the tomblike quiet. Some of the group turned, running wildly for home, while the rest huddled near and bombarded me with questions. “Are you sure this is the right house?” “How long have you known this man?” “Are you positive he’s harmless?” and finally, “If this is a joke, you’re gonna be sorry!”

 

Reassuring them that everything was fine, I boldly knocked upon the blistered door. Like something out of a horror movie, the door slowly creaked open, and I gazed into the red-rimmed eyes of a madman. With a start I realized this white-haired maniac was my father!

 

“Trick-or-treat,” my friends whispered as Toivo Sutinen ushered us into his parlor. This room was dimly lit by two flickering candles perched on large polished skulls. Nice touch, Dad, I thought as I gazed at the skulls, the cobwebs, and the coffin set back in a corner.

 

“Wall now, ain’t dis a surprise. Ten purdy gerls cum ta visit ol’ me,” muttered Mr. Sutinen in a slurred drawl. “Ah was jist gunna eat ma supper. Join me, hey?”

 

Carol, the Good Samaritan of our group, slapped “old” Toivo on the shoulder and heartily agreed. The rest warily glanced around. And Mary, still hovering near the door, asked the question on everyone’s mind. “Uh, Mr. Sutinen, what were you planning to eat?”

 

“Why, ma favorite,” happily responded Mr. Sutinen, “barbecued bat wings!”

 

Too late we noticed the dozens of murky specimen bottles crowding the counters and shelves of the kitchen.

 

“Unless, of course,” finished Mr. Sutinen, whacking something near him, “you want ta wait until Mabel here thaws out.”

 

Looking up, we saw a row of frozen cats hanging stiffly from the rafters!

 

This, of course, made sense when one remembered my dad was a professor of biology and used such things in his labs. But to my friends it was a ghastly spectacle and required a hasty exit by the nearest door—which was locked! Mary promptly began to cry, and several others looked like they wanted to. I begged my friends to stay and humor this crazy old man a little while longer, and they agreed.

 

“Wall, ah kin see yer not hungry,” cheerfully said the old man, picking up one of the candle skulls. “Why don’t ah take you on a tour of ma home?”

 

Happily accepting any excuse to leave the kitchen and its occupants, we followed Toivo Sutinen up the rickety, wooden steps and into a narrow hall.

 

“First room on the left here was ma dear Mildred’s” explained Toivo opening the door wide and allowing us to enter.

 

Except for a dusty end table on which lay a bloodstained knife, everything in this room was covered with enormous sheets. Avoiding eye contact with the knife, we halfheartedly listened to Mr. Sutinen reminisce about his dear departed wife. Uncomfortably we began to realize he was talking about Mildred as if she were still alive.

 

“Yep, ma heart was near broke, couldn’t stand it no more. So went out late one night and brought ma Mildred back home.”

 

With a flourish, Mr. Sutinen pulled back the bed sheet. And there, in all her skeletal beauty, lay the former “Mrs. Sutinen”!

 

That was too much; my dad had gone too far! Screaming frantically we ran from the bedroom and down the stairs. We must have triggered something because as we ran ghosts in Victorian dress swooped past, bats squeaked, and howls echoed through the empty corridors. The door was now wide open, but as we bounded down the steep steps, something huge and hairy jumped out from behind a nearby tree.

 

I don’t remember much after that except a lot of screaming and running. Within minutes we were safely back in the security of my home, breathlessly reliving each terrifying moment. My mother insisted I tell my friends the truth, but it took some doing to convince them crazy Toivo was not only my father but the “minister” of my church.

 

Later, when my dad, brother, and the missionaries returned, everyone wanted to ask them questions. I’m not sure that much gospel doctrine got discussed that night, but all in all the experience had a positive effect on my friends. Two of them later joined the Church and four others seriously considered it. The greatest result, however, was that from then on there wasn’t a single Church activity that wasn’t attended by as many nonmembers as members.

 

A couple of years ago, the old house burned to the ground. I’ll never forget that day. Standing with a crowd of interested bystanders and frustrated firemen, I remember thinking that no one would be sorry to see this place go. It had stood too long, frightening children, and reminding others of ghosts, goblins, and things that go bump in the night. With a crash the house collapsed, showering sparks and ashes on everyone. For a brief moment I felt a twinge of regret. And then it was all over. The firemen doused the glowing coals with buckets of water, and the crowd broke up.

 

As I wandered back down the path that led to my home, I thought once more of that terrifying, yet zany, Halloween party. It was ironic, but comforting to know, that a place of such indescribable horror had served as a site where good opinions of the Church had been formed and, I hoped, would be nurtured for many years to come.

A Treat To Serve

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Each year before Halloween, Kathy's ward goes trick-or-treating for their local Deseret Industries.  The young men and young women visit their neighborhoods to collect donations. I have yet to hear all the details - I just saw this on Kathy's FACEBOOK page - she is the cute Waldo below! It sounds like it could be a great tradition to start. :)

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Halloween 2012

I had to show you what my sister, Kathy, just made. She said she found the idea on Pinterest. So cute!

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In the Graveyard: Games and Activities

Here are just a few games and activities for your Halloween parties. What are some of your favorites?

Supplies needed: lots and lots of toilet paper rolls!
Game play: Everyone will need a partner for this game. One will be the mummy, the other will be the wrapper. The wrappers have to wrap their mummy completely in toilet paper within the time given. The team closest to wrapping the mummy in the time given wins!

Whether you make it part of an official Halloween party or challenge another family (or more) to a game of Which Witch is Which Hunt... I promise you trick-or-treating will a bit more fun.

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Game Play: Each team needs to have a camera or video camera and a list of Halloween characters to find while trick-or-treating. Have a meeting place and time for the judging to take place later in the evening.

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Example list:
Witch
Superhero
Princess
Animal
Ghost
Policeman
Dracula
Cartoon Character
Doctor
Astronaut
Knight in Shining Armor
Football Player
Frankenstein
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At the end of the night, gather 'round the television set and view or watch each other's video footage. You could always have prizes for:
1. most characters on the list found
2. most unique costume found
3. best decorated yard ... etc.

The good ol' game of O' So Gross! A guessing game, played in a darkened room.

*Read the story below to see what needs to be prepared beforehand.

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Game Play: Have everyone sit in a circle. Pass out paper and pencils to each person. Explain the game - A story will be read. As the story is read, cups will be passed around one-by-one. As the cups are passed around everyone will FEEL what's inside - then WRITE DOWN what they think is really in the cup. Shut out the lights and start *the story:
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Once in this town there lived a man named Brown.
Twas years ago this very night that he was murdered out of spite.
They say these are his remains:

Here is his brain, which now feels no pain.

(Pass around a cup with something like a wet squishy tomato inside it.)

Here are his eyes, still frozen with surprise.

(Pass the second cup which hold two frozen peeled grapes.)

Here is his heart. Be careful lest it start!

(Pass around a cup with a large lump of uncooked liver.)

Now we have his hair, which once was so fair!

(This cup contains a handful of corn silk or wet fur or yarn.)

Feel these drops of his blood. All the rest turned to mud.

(A cup with a little ketchup thinned with warm water.)

One hand all alone, just rotting flesh and bone.

(A damp plastic glove filled with mud or ice.)

Now touch his ear. He nevermore will hear!

(Pass around a cup holding a dried apricot.)

This is his nose. T'will never smell a rose.

(Use a soft piece of chicken bone.)

These worms are all that's left to feel. For them Brown was a lovely meal!

(Pass around a cup filled with wet, cooked spaghetti noodles.)

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When the story comes to an end and everyone has finished writing down their guesses, turn up the lights and collect the papers. As you check their guesses, you can show everyone what was really in the cups.

Supplies: All you need is a package of index cards (or slips of paper), something to write with, and a room full of imagination.

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Game Play: Write a line on each card that makes you think of Halloween. Then, pass around the deck of cards, face down. Have the first person choose a card. Have someone begin the story using the line on their card. They have 60 seconds (or less) until the person on their left takes the deck of cards from them. They choose a card and take the story in another another direction using the line on their card. This continues until everyone has had a chance to take a card from the deck (go around as many times as you would like). The last one to choose a card ends the story.

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Here are some ideas:

the crystal vase was filled with blood the door opened. It was Count Dracula!

there was a ghost, rising from the grave

in the corner, lay a body. It was...

the candlelight flickered

it was a cauldron, and a skull bobbed inside

it was a giant swamp spider

the hand belonged to a wolf man!

the skeleton shook itself, and moved toward me

the casket creaked

rats scattered across the floor

from beyond the grave

the burial certificate had my name on it

it was a zombie nightmare

the severed head spoke

a ghost coughed

I tried to run, but I couldn't move!

Howl at the Moon: Halloween Songs

A few years back, I was Activities Director (just one of my many responsibilities) at a wonderful Assisted Living Facility in Orem, Utah. In my search for something fun to do with the residents, I found these Halloween Carols along with many more. The tunes are easily recognizable and easy to sing or even hum along with. These are also fun for children's Halloween parties.

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TRICK OR TREAT

(Tune: Jingle Bells)
Dashing through the streets,
Meeting goblins as we go,
Wearing contour sheets,
Wishing it would snow.
Bells in doorways ring,
Making spirits bright,
What fun it is to come and sing
And get some food tonight.
Trick or treat, trick or treat, trick or treat we say!
Try to get the treats before the ghost takes us away!
Trick or treat, trick or treat, trick or treat we say!
If you don't have treats for us we'll never go away!
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DECK THE HALLS
(Tune: Deck the Halls)
Deck the halls with poison ivy,
fa la la la la, la la la la.
'Tis the season to be slimy,
fa la la la la, la la la la.
Don we now our strange apparel,
fa la la, la la la, la la la.
Troll the ancient Halloween carol,
fa la la la la, la la la la.
See the goblins rise before us,
fa la la la la, la la la la.
As we sing the Halloween chorus,
fa la la la la, la la la la.
Follow them as they ascend,
fa la la, la la la, la la la.
Join with all your loony friends,
fa la la la la, la la la la.
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SPIRIT WONDERLAND
(Tune: Winter Wonderland)
Screech owls hoot, are you listening?
'Neath the moon, all is glistening.
A real scary sight, we're happy tonight.
Waitin' in a spirit wonderland.
In the streets, we're begging for some candy.
We've been waiting for this night all year.
We've tried to embarrass everybody,
And to make a costume filling you with fear.
Later on, while we're eating
What we got trick or treating.
We'll share all our sacks
Of Halloween snacks,
Waitin' in a spirit wonderland.
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GREAT PUMPKIN IS COMING TO TOWN
(Tune: Santa Claus is Coming to Town)
Oh, you better not shriek,
You better not groan,
You better not howl,
You better not moan,
Great Pumpkin is coming to town!
He's going to find out
From folks that he meets
Who deserves tricks
And who deserves treats;
Great Pumpkin is coming to town.
He'll search in every pumpkin patch,
Haunted houses far and near,
To see if you've been spreading gloom,
Or bringing lots of cheer.
So, you better not shriek,
You better not groan,
You better not howl,
You better not moan,
Great Pumpkin is coming to town!
Songs for the little ones:
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I'M A LITTLE SPIDER
(Tune: I'm a Little Teapot)
I'm a little spider,

Watch me spin.

If you'll be my dinner, I'll let you come in.

Then I'll spin my web to hold you tight,

And gobble you up in just one big bite!
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PUMPKIN SONG
(Tune: Mary Had a Little Lamb)
We are pumpkins big and round, big and round, big and round.

We are pumpkins big and round sitting on the ground.

See our great big shiny eyes, shiny eyes, shiny eyes.

See our great big shiny eyes, looking all around.

See our great big laughing mouth, laughing mouth, laughing mouth.

See our great big laughing mouth, smiling right at you!
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THIS OLD GHOST
(Tune: This Old Man)
This old ghost, he played one,

He played peek-a-boo on the run.

With a Boo! Boo! Boo! and a clap, clap, snap!

This old ghost is a friendly chap.

This old ghost, he played two,

He played peek-a-boo in a shoe.

With a Boo! Boo! Boo! and a clap, clap, snap!

This old ghost is a friendly chap.

This old ghost, he played three,

He played peek-a-boo behind a tree.

With a Boo! Boo! Boo! and a clap, clap, snap,

This old ghost is a friendly chap.
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GOBLINS IN THE DARK
(Tune: Farmer in the Dell)
The goblin in the dark, the goblin in the dark,
Hi ho, Halloween, the goblin in the dark.

The goblin takes the witch, the goblin takes a witch,

Hi ho, Halloween, the goblin takes a witch.

The witch takes the bat, the witch takes a bat,

Hi ho Halloween, the witch takes a bat.

The bat takes the ghost, the bat takes a ghost,

Hi ho, Halloween, the bat takes a ghost.

The ghost says, "BOO!" The ghost says, "Boo!"

Hi ho, Halloween, the ghost says, "Boo!"
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RIDING WITCHES
(Tune: Yankee Doodle)
A witch went riding on a broom

On a cold October evening;

She met a ghost and a big black cat,

And down her neck they were breathing.

"Jump up on my broom," she said,

"Let's come out of hiding,"

"Jump up on my broom," she said,

"And let's all go a-riding!"
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IN THE GRAVEYARD
(Tune: Darling Clementine)
In the graveyard, in the graveyard,

When the moon begins to shine

There's a doctor, crazy doctor

And his monster Frankenstein.

Oh, my monster, oh, my monster,

Oh, my monster Frankenstein,

You are looking very scary,

Sweet old monster Frankenstein.