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The Best Halloween Deals for a Frightful Stay
It's that time again. The scariest night of the year is coming up. And no, we don't mean your mother-in-law's birthday! It's Halloween again! The perfect time for kids to snag some sweets and for adults to hopefully party for more fun than horror. As every year, Halloween is the night before All Saints' Day. So from October 31st to November 1st. So let your creativity run free with the knife on the pumpkins, choose a good costume and enjoy the spookiest night of the year!
What Actually is Halloween?
We all know how big Halloween is in the US. But did you know Halloween dates back to Celtic traditions? Originally, a festival of the dead called "Samhain" was celebrated, when the Celts said goodbye to summer and winter began. At that time it was believed that summer is the time of life and winter is the time of death. Both worlds met on the night of the Feast of the Dead. Only when the Gregorian calendar was introduced did the festival always fall on the same day. October 31st is the day when Halloween is still celebrated.
Many descendants of the Celts emigrated to the United States in the 19th century. Of course, they also took their traditions with them. Customs and traditions have changed a lot since then, but Halloween is still celebrated on October 31st in many parts of the world.
Now if you're just wondering how the name of the festival changed from Samhain to Halloween, we have that answer for you too. "All Saints' Day" has been celebrated by Catholics for over 1,000 years on November 1st. This holiday is called "All Hallows" in English. Accordingly, the evening before the festival, i.e. October 31st, is called "All Hallows Evening". The short form of it, "Halloween", has become the term that every child knows today.
What Do You Do on Halloween?
Well, nowadays it's quite classic for all big and small children to go from house to house and collect sweets. In the US, people like to hear the saying "trick or treat!" while moving around. According to Halloween customs, anyone who doesn't offer sweets to the disguised children may be scared. Traditionally, however, it should only be a harmless prank.
For older horror fans, there is a suitable Halloween party almost everywhere. Mostly with disguise, decoration and lots of "drinks". Of course, it's a matter of taste whether you want to celebrate Halloween in a bar, club, or at a friend's house. Haunted Houses and Haunted Corn Mazes have become increasingly popular in the states.
Pumpkin Festival in Laconia, New Hampshire
Annually during a weekend in October, a small lake town in New Hampshire holds a pumpkin festival displaying thousands of lit-up jack-o'-lanterns. The festival always hosts live music, many food stalls, a horse-drawn carriage, and even a few fair rides. Thousands of people flock to the area for this event. This year it'll be hosted on Saturday, October 29th. You can find out more information here
Visit Salem, MA on Halloween: A Historical City with a Haunting Past
Less than an hour's drive from Boston is the city of Salem, MA—Famous for the witch trials that took place during the time of the Puritans in the late 1600s. Here you'll be able to uncover so much history from the witch trials, with many museums, shops, and theater productions depicting the horror that unfolded. During the month of October, streets are filled with vendors and people dressed in their best Halloween costumes. It's also the setting for several popular Halloween-themed movies such as Hocus Pocus and Hubie Halloween.
Sleepy Hollow, New York: The Home of the Headless Horseman
From haunted hayrides to Halloween parades, the town of Sleepy Hollow goes all out for the holiday. Thanks, to the famous story of the Headless Horseman, everyone has at least heard of this spooky town.
Experience Chicagoween in Chicago
The city of Chicago goes all out for Halloween, with a lot of the city decorated in spooky decor and fountains spewing orange and red colored water. The most popular attractions on Halloween are the Northalsted Halloween Parade and Night of 1,000 Jack-o’-Lanterns.
New Orleans Isn't Just Fun During Mardi Gras
With tons of haunted mansions to explore, costume contests, haunted bar crawls, a vampire ball, and so much more—New Orleans may be the best city to explore on Hallow's Eve.
The Best Horror Movies of All Time!
What would Halloween be without a few scary movies? Slasher, psycho, ghost, or zombie movies. For fans of the genre, there are more than enough movies to choose from. We give you a few lists of the best horror movies of all time!
1. The Classics
Psycho (1960)
The Shining (1980)
The Exorcist (1973)
Dawn of the Dead (1978)
Nosferatu (1922)
2. The Halloween Classics
Halloween (1978)
A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)
Friday the 13th. (1980)
A Nightmare on Elm Street 3 (1987)
Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974)
3. Korean Horror
I Saw the Devil (2010)
Memories of Murder (2003)
The Wailing (2016)
Oldboy (2003)
The Chaser (2008)
4. Our Pirates' Favorite Movies
Shaun of the Dead
The Hills Have Eyes
What We Do in the Shadows
Blair Witch Project
Martyrs
5. Horror Bangers That Are Left
It (1990)
The Thing (1982)
Alien (1979)
Gremlins (1984)
Saw (2004)
Our Favorite Haunted Hotels for a Spooky Stay
The Heathman Hotel
The Heathman Hotel in Portland, Oregon, represents a historical landmark for the city; but for some guests, it may have too much history within its walls. There have been reports of towels moving, sounds of someone crying, and the feeling of a ghostly presence throughout the hotel.
Jekyll Island Club Resort
This historic Georgia resort opened in 1886 and was once a regular spot for wealthy families. There have been sightings of a bellman from WWI days, as well as ghostly guests enjoying the hotel amenities even after death.
Omni Parker House
This hotel, located in Boston, Massachusetts, is one of the longest-operating hotels in the United States. The hotel’s founder, Harvey Parker, was said to have truly deep dedication and love for his hotel. To this date, he can sometimes be seen asking customers about their stay.
The Stanley Hotel
The Stanley Hotel in Estes Park, Colorado, is probably the most known hotel on this list and served as inspiration for Stephen King's novel The Shining. It is said that the ghost of the hotel's original owner, F.O. Stanley, has been seen wandering through the property with his wife.